The following photos were all taken on The Nature Conservancy's properties in southern Nevada on a single afternoon, September 29.
Seasonal changes have brought new birds to the area and woodpeckers are traveling along the Amargosa River as they shift from higher elevation breeding territories to wintering areas. 

Sapsuckers are woodpeckers that cut or drill into tree bark and lick up the sap with  long highly specialized tongues. They also eat seeds, fruits,and insects.Another food source is the moist  inner layers of bark. Their chisel-like bills are extremely versatile.

Red-breasted Sapsucker

Red-breasted and Red-naped Sapsuckers are extremely closely related and often hybridize.

Red-naped Sapsucker


The boardwalk at  The Nature Conservancy's Torrance Ranch Preserve provided a relaxing shady spot to sit,and great views of  a Tarantula Hawk Wasp, a Yellow-backed Spiny Lizard, and some excellent Dragonflies and Damselflies.

An Amargosa Toad poses for a close up.

A Greater Roadrunner showed off its hunting skills from a distance.

A little further down the road at Parker Ranch, a couple of  Great-horned Owls enjoyed the shade of tall Cottonwood trees.(If you're interested in visiting Parker Ranch, please email The Nature Conservancy at nevada@tnc.org)

A  Zebra-tailed Lizard demonstrates how to keep one's toes from being burned on an old pipe in the sun. Soon most species of  lizards will retire underground for the winter.

Oasis Valley, Beatty Nevada supports an amazing variety of wildlife. Year round resident species, winter visitors,and

migrants all depend on the habitat provided by the water and vegetation of the Amargosa River and the small springs that are its tributaries.