Birding Longstreet Spring
Birding Around Las Vegas,
Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge
Longstreet Spring.
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Description
Longstreet Spring emerges into a deep, clear, 40-foot-diameter
spring pool that is surrounded by mesquite, saltcedar, and ash trees,
plus lots of shrubs, sedges, and forbs. Away from the edge of the
spring, the vegetation quickly changes to mesquite thickets with
saltgrass, and then dry desert saltbush and old farm fields. A strong
outflow stream flows west along a cattail-filled ditch, the noise of
which makes it hard to hear the birds. |
From the parking area, you wouldn't think that there was a spring down
there (view west from the road).
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Location
Longstreet Spring is located on the Ash Meadows National
Wildlife, about 2 hours northwest of Las Vegas and about 3.25 air-miles
north of the Refuge Office.
From Las Vegas, drive out to Ash Meadows
National Wildlife. From the Refuge Office (Table 1, Site 691),
drive out to the main refuge road. Drive straight across the main road
and continue driving north (actually northwest here) on the well-graded
dirt road for about 3.4 miles to the Longstreet Spring parking area
(Site 697). Watch for a large parking area on the west (left) side of
the road with a large, upended, piece of caliche just beyond the
parking barriers. From the parking area, walk west on the closed road
for about 150 yards to Longstreet Spring (Site 590). |
No more photos, yet.
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Hours
The refuge is day-use only: open sunrise to sunset.
Fees
None.
Specialties
Longstreet Spring is a good place to see desert species when
they come in for water. Check the trees and shrubs for finches,
sparrows, warblers, Gambel's Quail, Mourning Doves, and similar species.
Longstreet Spring is also good for finding migrants, but the species
mix depends on the season, and during migration it depends on just who
is moving through at the time. Review the refuge bird
list for some ideas on what to expect during the time of year when you will
be visiting.
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Table 1. GPS Coordinates for Highway Locations (NAD27; UTM Zone 11S).
| Site # |
Location |
Latitude (°N) |
Longitude (°W) |
UTM Easting |
UTM Northing |
Elevation (feet) |
Verified |
| 691 |
Ash Meadows Refuge Headquarters |
36.4220 |
116.3280 |
560243 |
4030764 |
2,188 |
yes |
| 697 |
Longstreet Spring parking |
36.4676 |
116.3238 |
560588 |
4035826 |
2,300 |
yes |
| 590 |
Longstreet Spring |
36.4675 |
116.3255 |
560428 |
4035810 |
2,311 |
yes |
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