Marvin Meirs, visiting from New York, and I began birding today, November 16, 2004, at Corn Creek Field Station, Desert National Wildlife Refuge, Clark County, Nevada.  Weather:  clear skies, wind calm, 50-65 degrees F (estimated).  The winter Sage Sparrows have arrived.  We flushed several small flocks as we drove in from the highway.  We birded from about 7 until 10:30 a.m.  The recent rains seem to have increased the flow from the spring.  Just above the culvert which is below the upper pond, water is now overflowing from the channel and running down the old road where it crosses the path.  Species list for Corn Creek:

(single birds unless noted otherwise)
Pied-billed Grebe 
Red-shouldered Hawk, immature
Prairie Falcon
Greater Roadrunner
Northern Flicker, red-shafted (2)
Western Scrub-Jay (2)
American Crow
Common Raven (2)
Horned Lark (6) (along road driving in)
Verdin
Bushtit (20)
Bewick's Wren
Ruby-crowned Kinglet (6)
Western Bluebird (20)
Townsend's Solitaire
American Robin (2)
Northern Mockingbird (heard)
Crissal Thrasher (2)
European Starling (50)
Cedar Waxwing (6)
Phainopepla (2 males)
Yellow-rumped Warbler (2 seen, more heard)
Spotted Towhee (male)
Sage Sparrow (40)
WHITE-THROATED SPARROW
HARRIS'S SPARROW
White-crowned Sparrow (6)
Dark-eyed Junco (Oregon) (6)
Red-winged Blackbird (6)
Western Meadowlark (3)
House Finch (6)
Lesser Goldfinch (heard)

We next drove back Cold Creek Road to Willow Creek.  Some clouds were building up over the mountains and the temperature was about 50 degrees F.   Birds seen in the area were:

Western Scrub-jay (3 or more)
Juniper Titmouse
American Robin (30)
Loggerhead Shrike
AMERICAN REDSTART (female)
White-crowned Sparrow (2)

We completed our day with a Lee Canyon-Kyle Canyon loop at Mt. Charleston.  The clouds were beginning to break up.  Temperature was in the mid-40s (estimated).  There was very little snow on the ground.  I had expected full cover after our recent storms.  Birds added to our list for the day:

Steller's Jay (2)
Clark's Nutcracker (6)
Mountain Chickadee (seen only by Marvin)
Pygmy Nuthatch (2)
Dark-eyed Junco (gray-headed)

Enjoy Nevada's birds!
Carolyn Titus
Las Vegas Nevada