Elevation: ca 6,000 feet
Directions: Head east out of Truckee on Hwy 89. Turn right on
Glenshire Drive. The route takes you along the Truckee River to the Glenshire
subdivision after about 3 miles.
Habitat: East slope habitat varying from sagebrush to Jeffrey
Pine forest.
Birds: You may see a Bald Eagle cruising over the Truckee River
on your way to Glenshire. Many of the residents of Glenshire keep bird feeders
which attract various mountain birds - Pine Siskin, Evening Grosbeak, Red Crossbill,
Band-tailed Pigeon, Cassin's, Purple, and House Finch to name a few. Common
Nighthawks can be seen throughout Glenshire in season. Golden Eagles soar along
the cliffs of Royal Way. As this is a residential area, please be considerate
of the inhabitants.
The pond behind the clubhouse (on the left at the only stop sign on Glenshire Drive) often has interesting birds, such as American White Pelican, Eared Grebe, and Pied-billed Grebe. You never know what will show up at any given time. Continue past the clubhouse on Glenshire Drive to a parking lot in a meadow on the right just before the road starts going uphill. Trails lead off from the parking lot through wet meadow, sagebrush, an old burn, and pine forest - the Greenbelt Walk. The meadow has Vesper Sparrow and Mountain Bluebird. You may see or hear Clark's Nutcrackers or Lewis' Woodpeckers on the distant pines. The old burn teems with Pygmy Nuthatches, the red finches, Pine Siskins, woodpeckers (Black-backed Woodpeckers were seen here soon after the fire), and Mountain Bluebirds. Gray Flycatcher, Calliope Hummingbird, Chipping Sparrow, Mountain Chickadee, Green-tailed Towhee, and Williamson's Sapsucker may be found in the woods and edges. Raptors frequent the area as well.
Map: