Las Vegas - Day 4: Overton Wildlife Management Area (12/28)

After leaving the park we drove up to Overton to get something to eat at the town's only restaurant, McDonald's. While there we decided to take a short trip over to the wildlife managemnet area. Unfortunately, like Jim Boone writes, this area is mostly closed to birders during the hunting season. When we arrived at the ranger on site showed us where the hunters were and told us where we could walk. It was a shame too since we could see all sorts of ducks coming in to land on the water.

But, we made the best of what was available. We took a short hike along the dirt road that ringed the WMA and saw a couple of nice birds including a Snipe that we spooked from the bushes. But, the highlight were the raptors. We saw Harriers, Red-tails, and what I'm guessing was a Sharp-shinned Hawk. Back in the parking lot I had a great look at a Loggerhead Shrike as it hunted from a favorite perch.

The strangest thing that we found were some tracks in the hardened mud. They were pretty large and appear to have five toes. At least this rules out any of the canines (four toes). But I don't have an idea of what could have made them. I'll have to look into it.