After a full day at Snow Canyon, we drove to Mesquite, Nevada to stay overnight before flying home out of Las Vegas the next morning, and I thought I was done birding for the day. As we walked to our hotel room, however, I heard an interesting call.
It turned out to come from this striking lesser goldfinch (Spinus psaltria) in a bush beside the parking lot. I glimpsed them in Sedona last fall, but never managed to get a picture until now.
As I was looking for the goldfinch, I also spotted this Eurasian collared dove, like the ones we saw in South Holland.
Finally, the palm trees over the RV park across the street were full of great-tailed grackles
(Quiscalus mexicanus), which I glimpsed in Big Bend last year, but never managed to get a picture worth showing.
As you read this, Anne and I should be in the air on our way back to Milwaukee, and so I have a hope of returning to Estabrook Park tomorrow morning. Wish us luck!
Signs of Life in Estabrook Park 