USA Southwest this month (2 Viewers)

[Arbu]

I'm considering making a trip to the States at some point this year, currently thinking of flying into and out of Vegas, and driving around Utah and Arizona. It sounds like the Lytle Nature Reserve in Utah would be well worth spending some time at. Happy to have someone join me, and I'd be grateful for any advice on where to go. The following would all be lifers, although I appreciate that they are spread out a bit geographically so I couldn't target them all.

Thanks

Scaled Quail

Gambel's Quail

Montezuma Quail

White-tailed Ptarmigan

Dusky Grouse

Sage Grouse

Gunnison Grouse

Sharp-tailed Grouse

Common Poorwill

Eastern Whip-poor-will

Broad-billed Hummingbird

Violet-crowned Hummingbird

Blue-throated Hummingbird

Costa's Hummingbird

Allen's Hummingbird

Black-billed Cuckoo

Virginia Rail

Mountain Plover

Northern Pygmy-owl

Elf Owl

Northern Saw-whet Owl

Flammulated Owl

Western Screech-owl

Spotted Owl

[]

Gilded Flicker

Black-backed Woodpecker

Ladder-backed Woodpecker

Buff-breasted Flycatcher

American Grey Flycatcher

Grey Vireo

Plumbeous Vireo

Chihuahuan Raven

Pinyon Jay

Mexican Jay

Bridled Titmouse

Black-crested Titmouse

Juniper Titmouse

Verdin

California Gnatcatcher

Black-tailed Gnatcatcher

Cactus Wren

Bendire's Thrasher

Le Conte's Thrasher

Veery

Evening Grosbeak

Black Rosy-finch

Brown-capped Rosy-finch

Lawrence's Goldfinch

Black-chinned Sparrow

Black-throated Sparrow

Five-striped Sparrow

Rufous-winged Sparrow

Botteri's Sparrow

Cassin's Sparrow

Grasshopper Sparrow

Green-tailed Towhee

Abert's Towhee

Rufous-crowned Sparrow

Le Conte's Sparrow

Nelson's Sparrow

Sagebrush Sparrow

Vesper Sparrow

Yellow-headed Blackbird

Hooded Oriole

Virginia's Warbler

Grace's Warbler

Black-throated Grey Warbler

Red-faced Warbler

Dickcissel

Pyrrhuloxia

 

[VonMaunder]

I'll let others chime in on the where but if renting a vehicle, I would suggest getting something with a bit of clearance and at least AWD if not 4WD- say a Jeep liberty etc. Rental outfits often have a few in the fleet, I fly into Sky Harbor, imagine Vegas will have them too. I've found it's time well spent to walk their lot and get the vehicle you want. Sometimes the keys are kept in the ignition, if so bring them to the desk as they often don't know what's in the lot! So much of where you may want to go is dirt track. What you give up in mpg, you gain in access. I even check a compressor and tire plug kit in my bag, used it too, somewhere in the AZ Strip where the supplied donut spare would have meant a real hassle and kibosh on plans. It's beautiful country, enjoy the planning and the trip! Don't forget the water, lots of water

 

[Mike Hunter]

I'm considering making a trip to the States at some point this year, currently thinking of flying into and out of Vegas, and driving around Utah and Arizona. It sounds like the Lytle Nature Reserve in Utah would be well worth spending some time at. Happy to have someone join me, and I'd be grateful for any advice on where to go. The following would all be lifers, although I appreciate that they are spread out a bit geographically so I couldn't target them all.

Thanks

Scaled Quail

Gambel's Quail

Montezuma Quail

White-tailed Ptarmigan

Dusky Grouse

Sage Grouse

Gunnison Grouse

Sharp-tailed Grouse

Common Poorwill

Eastern Whip-poor-will

Broad-billed Hummingbird

Violet-crowned Hummingbird

Blue-throated Hummingbird

Costa's Hummingbird

Allen's Hummingbird

Black-billed Cuckoo

Virginia Rail

Mountain Plover

Northern Pygmy-owl

Elf Owl

Northern Saw-whet Owl

Flammulated Owl

Western Screech-owl

Spotted Owl

[]

Gilded Flicker

Black-backed Woodpecker

Ladder-backed Woodpecker

Buff-breasted Flycatcher

American Grey Flycatcher

Grey Vireo

Plumbeous Vireo

Chihuahuan Raven

Pinyon Jay

Mexican Jay

Bridled Titmouse

Black-crested Titmouse

Juniper Titmouse

Verdin

California Gnatcatcher

Black-tailed Gnatcatcher

Cactus Wren

Bendire's Thrasher

Le Conte's Thrasher

Veery

Evening Grosbeak

Black Rosy-finch

Brown-capped Rosy-finch

Lawrence's Goldfinch

Black-chinned Sparrow

Black-throated Sparrow

Five-striped Sparrow

Rufous-winged Sparrow

Botteri's Sparrow

Cassin's Sparrow

Grasshopper Sparrow

Green-tailed Towhee

Abert's Towhee

Rufous-crowned Sparrow

Le Conte's Sparrow

Nelson's Sparrow

Sagebrush Sparrow

Vesper Sparrow

Yellow-headed Blackbird

Hooded Oriole

Virginia's Warbler

Grace's Warbler

Black-throated Grey Warbler

Red-faced Warbler

Dickcissel

Pyrrhuloxia

Hi Arbu

I saw Western Screech-owl, Pyrrhuloxia, Green-tailed Towhee, Black-throated Sparrow, Ladder-backed Woodpecker, Cactus Wren and Verdin all at Lytle Nature Reserve, and Black-chinned Sparrow nearby. I also saw American Grey Flycatcher at Lytle though that could well have been a migrant. A few on your list may not be possible at this time of year e.g. Black Rosy-finch.

Cheers

Mike

 

[Arbu]

Hi Arbu

I saw Western Screech-owl, Pyrrhuloxia, Green-tailed Towhee, Black-throated Sparrow, Ladder-backed Woodpecker, Cactus Wren and Verdin all at Lytle Nature Reserve, and Black-chinned Sparrow nearby. I also saw American Grey Flycatcher at Lytle though that could well have been a migrant. A few on your list may not be possible at this time of year e.g. Black Rosy-finch.

Cheers

Mike

Thanks. I've booked flights from 15th May to 3rd June and will probably head to Lytle straight off. Some hotels in Vegas midweek are actually really cheap - I think they hope you'll gamble in their casinos - so I might spend a night there after and before my flights.