Description

Duck Creek is part of the Clark County Wetlands Park on the east side of the Las Vegas Valley and right along Las Vegas Wash. Six ponds near the wash attract large numbers of ducks, shorebirds, and other wetland bird species, plus a good variety of dragonflies. The 0.4-mile trail out to the ponds is paved and nearly level (fully accessible), but the ponds, proper, and streams are not fully accessible. Dirt roads run along the west edge of the ponds and along the south end, providing views over the ponds and a route to Las Vegas Wash. High water and dense vegetation can prevent making a loop. Fortunately for dragonfly watchers, the area is being managed to prevent tall vegetation from taking over and crowding out the birds.

For details of the site, access, directions, maps, GPS coordinates, and contact information, see Birding Around Duck Creek.

Species Seen at Duck Creek

Dragonflies: Anax junius (common green darner), Rhionaeschna multicolor (blue-eyed darner), Erythemis collocata (western pondhawk), Libellula comanche (comanche skimmer), Libellula luctuosa (widow skimmer), Libellula saturata (flame skimmer), Pachydiplax longipennis (blue dasher), Pantala flavescens (wandering glider), Pantala hymenaea (spot-winged glider), Perithemis intensa (mexican amberwing), Sympetrum corruptum (variegated meadowhawk), Tramea lacerata (black saddlebag), Tramea onusta (red saddlebags).

Damselflies: Argia agrioides (california dancer), Argia moesta (powdered dancer), Argia nahuana (aztec dancer), Argia sedula (blue-ringed dancer), Argia vivida (vivid dancer), Enallagma carunculatum (tule bluet), Enallagma civile (familiar bluet), Ischnura barberi (desert forktail), Ischnura cervula (pacific forktail), Ischnura denticollis (black-fronted forktail), Hetaerina americana (american rubyspot).