Birding Longstreet Spring
Birding Around Las Vegas, Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge, Longstreet Spring
 
Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge, Longstreet Spring
Longstreet Spring.

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.

Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge, Longstreet Spring
From the parking area, you wouldn't think that there was a spring down there (view west from the road).

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.

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.
 
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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© Jim Boone; Last updated 080719
 
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