Malhuer and Baker Counties

2/24/16

Hi All,

I had been planning a winter trip to Malhuer and Baker Counties to pick up as many winter species as I could, ideally over 60, so that when I return next June I can hopefully mop up enough to reach the 100 barrier.  So my wife and I took off about 10:00 on Wednesday Feb 24. .  When packing the car, I heard a flock of EVENING GROSBEAKS which were the FOY locally.   A few minutes later as we approached the town of Dallas there was a lone TURKEY VULTURE.  

I planned to bird some in Deschutes County on the way, since I am approaching the 200 barrier there.  Having been in touch with Judy Meredith of Bend about some local birds, we made a stop at the 1st street river walk to look for the Black-capped Chickadee.  I heard a chickadee twice, but, as Dan Heyerly might say, “My hearing is not what it use to be,” and I cannot distinguish between the Black-caps and Mountains.  I did at least see both LESSER GOLDFINCHES and COMMON GOLDENEYES.  I had hoped to try for Pine Grosbeaks outside of Bend, but time was not on our side, and we went to the Hatfield Lakes (Bend Sewage Lagoons).  This is a great place in the middle of the desert to find waterfowl.  One of the first birds we saw was a BALD EAGLE on a perch overlooking the first lagoon.

BALD EAGLE ON PERCH AT HATFIELD LAKE

THE BACK/SECOND POND OF HATFIELD LAKE (S)

I NEEDED A REDHEAD FOR DESCHUTES COUNTY, AND THIS IS THE ONE THAT WAS THERE, MY WIFE ROSIE.

We also picked up LESSER SCAUP and TUNDRA SWAN.  There were many ducks and we tallied 14 species of waterfowl.  Along Hwy 20 at MP 20 I tried for Canyon Wren, but none answered to playback.  About MP 53 or so we saw a GOLDEN EAGLE.  Adding 5 leaves me 3 short of reaching 200, so I guess I will be back before too long.  We tried for Canyon Wren a few other places along the way with the same results, so I presume they are not singing yet or not on territory.

It was dark before we reached Chickahominy Reservoir, and we notice no dead jack rabbits on the road, and we saw none all the way to Burns.   It used to be some 25 years ago it seemed like there was one every 5 miles or so.  We finally saw the first one a few miles east of Burns the next day. 

We stayed in the Silver Spur motel, the cheapskates we are.  I guess for $40.00 it was quiet and clean.  When I asked the guy at the desk how the Malhuer fiasco affected them, he said, “It was great for business!”  Guess birders are not the only ones who contribute to the economy there.

SILVER SPUR MOTEL

2/25/16

We did not sleep very well (we never do outside our own bed) so I was out at daybreak.  I figured I could look for a few winter Harney species I did not have.  It was colder than I was used to, and snow was blanketing the fields.  Along Hotchkiss Rd I saw a flock of some 3000 SNOW GEESE.  While not a county bird, this was a nice change from the ones and twos I usually see in the Willamette Valley.  No sooner had I looked ahead when I noted a NORTHERN SHRIKE on a hedge row.  Farther along the jaunt on Greenhouse Ln were a small flock of TUNDRA SWANS.  

TUNDRA SWAN, CANADE GEESE AND BALD EAGLE.

While watching them, a pair of SANDHILL CRANES flew past.  "Ah, there goes my Polk County nemesis bird."  Looks like I will be jinxed this year as well, since they are migrating north, and, of course later in the day, Brandon Wagner texted me, letting me know one was reported from BSNWR.  Back in Burns a lone SCRUB JAY was at the graveyard.

We left Burns about 8:30.  Before leaving the valley we saw 2 FERRUGINOUS HAWKS, a few CALIFORNIA GULLS, more CRANES, both species of EAGLES.   Just before entering Malhuer County, we stopped at the Malhuer River, where I picked up another Harney County bird, a pair of HOODED MERGANSERS.  Also present was one TREE SWALLOW.  It seemed strange to see a swallow in late February on the east side of the Cascades with snow on the ground.  

The only birding I had done previously in Malhuer County was been while driving in the car along I-84 a few times, and also along Rts 78 & 95 some 33 years ago.  So my county list was at 17.  After Juntura we drove along the Malhuer River all the way to Vale.  At one point we saw some 7 GOLDEN EAGLES in a 10 mile stretch.  It was nice to see a few SAY’S PHOEBES with snow on the ground. 

I TRIED TO USE THIS SHOT OF A SAYS PHOEBE AS AN EXCUSE THAT I NEED A BETTER CAMERA THAN WHAT IS ON MY PHONE.

A TOWNSEND’S SOLITARE few across in front of us, and when I stopped so my wife could get on it, we saw a small flock of BUSHTITS.  I was somewhat assuming this was a great bird in the sage brush, but Gate’s list of Malhuer birds did not list it as a county rare bird.  Otherwise, by the time we got to Vale we listed 30 species, among which were BALD EAGLE, ROCK WREN, BELTED KINGFISHER, COMMON GOLDENEYE, HOODED AND COMMON MERGANSER, HARRIER, HORNED LARKS.  

We decided to head to Bully Creek Reservoir for lunch and more birding. The water looked almost devoid of birds, but after eating I walked to where I could scope toward the west end of the lake where I could see a large raft of ducks, so we drove down the dirt road, parked and walked around a certain point where we could ID the ducks.  Among them were CANVASBACK, LESSER SCAUP, BARROW’S GOLDENEYE, BUFFLEHEAD.  Other birds in the general vicinity were TUNDRA SWAN, GADWALL, CALIFORNIA GULL,  AMERICAN GOLDFINCH, GREAT-HORNED OWL, CAL QUAIL, COOT, DC CORMORANT, WESTERN MEADOWLARK and a FLICKER.   Along the walk we kicked up a Jack Rabbit and were impressed with his speed and bounding ability.  We headed to Ontario for the night.

GREAT-HORNED OWL AT BULLY CREEK RESERVOIR.  AFTER SEEING THIS PIC, MY WIFE ASKED ME WHY I NEEDED ANOTHER CAMERA

2/26/16

We slept better, probably because we were tired from a lack thereof the previous night.  First stop was the Ontario Sewage Lagoons. I have never been there before, and was very impressed with the size and birding potential they offer.   (I wonder how they got missed when I did the Guide to the Sewage Lagoons of Oregon.)  I quickly racked up RING-NECKED AND RUDDY DUCKS, PINTAIL, GREATER SCAUP, SHOVELER, and a few TREE SWALLOWS.  Upon leaving a RING-BILLED GULL and a large flock of SNOW GEESE flew over.  The place appears to only be open on week days during business hours.  I found the staff friendly and helpful, and they only request that you sign in and sign out upon leaving.  You can drive your car on the main berm that divides the ponds down the center.

We retraced our route to Vale, taking Rt 26 west.  I kept looking for Rough-legged and Ferruginous Hawks and almost gave up hope before both were spotted about a mile before the county line.  I did stop at what looked to be a birdy place and while birding alongside the road, a PHEASANT piped up, the only one of the trip.  A minute or two later a flock of CRANES and WHITE-FRONTED GEESE flew over.  A mile down the road was a tree full of EVENING GROSBEAKS.  In all the driving through Malhuer County, we dipped on N Shrike and Mountain Bluebird.  

One particular sight we thought was amusing were Prairie Dogs on the snow.  Am sure they could see their shadow on the snow, and I presume they were done hibernating for the winter.  Certainly much easier to see at this time of year.  Off to the south was Ironside Mountain, standing out like a sentinel near the lowlands.  I plan to camp there next June.  We saw the town of Ironside on the map, but would have drove right through it not knowing such if we had not seen the sign.  We ended up tallying 62 for Malhuer County. 

THE BLUE MTS AS SEEN NEAR IRONSIDE

YOU CAN TELL THAT THE SUN SHINES ON THE LEFT HAND SIDE OF THIS HILL.

Birding seemed to pick up upon entering Baker County, seeing GOLDEN EAGLE, SOLITARE, MAGPIE, JUNCO, RW BLACKBIRD, RAVEN, RL HAWK, MT BLUEBIRD.  We stopped at the town of Unity and walked from one end to the other along Main St/Hwy 26.  It appeared that at one time it was more thriving, but now more or less run down.  Birds added here were: BREWER’S BLACKBIRD, W MEADOWLARK, EC DOVE, STARLING, ROBIN, CANADA GOOSE, RED-TAILED HAWK, ROCK DOVE and MALLARDS.  The Unity reservoir was mostly frozen over with some ice fishermen near the camping area.  But on the south end was some open water where we added: TUNDRA SWAN, COMMON GOLDENEYE, BUFFLEHEAD, GW TEAL, PINTAIL, A WIGEON, and BALD EAGLE.  Along the way I photographs a golden eagle perched on an outcrop, and shortly after a Canada Goose on one. 

GOLDEN EAGLE

A PAIR OF LONG-NECKED, WHITE CHEEKED EAGLES

We meandered north along some small river adding BELTED KINGFISHER, COMMON MERGANSER, SONG SPARROW, FERRUGINOUS HAWK, HOODED MERGANSER, CROW.  Further along we drove through the Wallowa-Whitman NF, recently charred from last year’s fires.  At least 20 miles of burnt woods was a little depressing, but at least there is hope for regeneration, and likely lots of woodpeckers for the next few years. 

BURNED FOREST WALLOWA-WHITMAN NAT. FOREST.

MULE DEER NORTH OF UNITY.  A COMMON SIGHT

Upon reaching Baker City we headed for the Sewage Ponds, and lucked out by crossing paths with Rick, the main employee overseeing them.  He gave us permission to enter, advising us to stay off the wet berm next to the ponds.  We talked about obtaining permission to enter them, to which he said the best way was to go to the town hall and get a permit.  He admitted it is a lacking system, as they cannot possibly keep up with all who go into them, being open not only to birders but ranchers as well.

BAKER CITY SEWAGE LAGOONS

The main pond was birdless, except for a flock of SNOW GEESE on the berm opposite, maybe 150 yards away.  When I drove around toward that end, I could see that one was a ROSS’ GOOSE.  Otherwise, the only other new duck was a LESSER SCAUP.  We next drove to the frontage road ponds.  This road parallels the freeway (I-84) and are easy to access and see waterfowl from, hardly any traffic.  We did well here, racking up: RING-NECK DUCK, REDHEAD (finally!), CANVASBACK, BARROW’S GOLDENEYE, CINNAMON TEAL (A little early), GADWALL, COOT, PIED-BILLED GREBE, HARRIER and FLICKER.  At one point we watched a female COMMON MERGANSER chasing a muskrat 2/3 of the way across the lake.  When the muskrat would dive, so would the merganser, right on its tail.  Maybe she liked the “musk?”

We checked into the motel “Always Welcome” which was being remodeled.  It was quite spacious compared to the previous night’s room, cheaper too.  After this we walked around town for about 45 minutes, hoping for B Waxwings or Pine Grosbeaks, but no such luck.  We did add C QUAIL to the list at least.  It was interesting that many people we saw were either in short sleeves or no coat, while we were maxed out with coats, hoods, gloves and long underwear.  Little wonder that Ecuador is on my winter retirement  horizon.  We slept well again, so had plenty of energy for the day.

2/27/16

I had been wrestling with the decision on which way to return home, either along I-84, or back through the middle of the state.  If I took the northern route, I-84, I could work on the various counties that the highway treks through, especially Gilliam and Sherman, the other two counties I need to reach 100 in.  I was ultimately influenced most by the weather - which appeared to be permissive heading back across the middle of the state, no snow in the forecast.  (The scenery is so much better to me that it was an easy decision.) So we headed south on Hwy 7 out of Baker City with plans to walk along the Powder River Trail some 16 miles away.  However, when we neared the area it was obvious that snow would prevent that.  We did however find a DIPPER at the parking area.  

Just before reaching that parking area I noticed a large, gray accipiter chasing after a dove which I took for a NORTHERN GOSHAWK.  He must have nabbed it behind some bushes where they dove, for I did not see them again and did not want to wait around very long.  A few birds added along the way before reaching Grant County were CLARK’S NUTCRACKER, WESTERN BLUEBIRD, MOUNTAIN CHICKADEE,  and RB NUTHATCH.  I ended up with 69 species in Baker County, leaving only 31 to reach the 100 mark.

It began raining quite hard when we reached the pass which appears to also be the county line dividing Grant and Baker Cos, and just a few hundred yards into Grant County a PILEATED WOODPECKER flew across the road.  I let out a laugh, just "knowing" it would be a good Grant County bird, but after checking my records, it was already on my Grant list, a little bit of a let down. 

The lower in elevation we got, the less the rain came down, and by the time we reached Prairie City, it was clear and partially sunny.  I looked on my map ap for a sewage pond, as well as drove around some, but did not find any.  I did however add ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK to Grant.  Other birds along the way were SCRUB JAY, BALD EAGLE, GOLDEN EAGLE, CALIFORNIA GULL, GH OWL (on the nest), SOLITARE, SAY’S PHOEBE and WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW.  We located the sewage pond in John Day and found a place to view it from and added AMERICAN WIGEON and GREEN-WINGED TEAL.  

We noticed that it was the time of year when the cows were dropping their calves, as wherever we saw where there were cows, the calves were sure to be there.  Another thing we noticed was that since the trees were leafless, you got a sense that Northern Orioles must be quite common as at every clump of cottonwoods there was sure to be an oriole nest.  Also, the bulky nests of larger birds were also quite visible, and it did not take long to find a Great-horned Owl on one.

At a couple places we found a rural shoe store out in the middle of nowhere.  These were advertised by hanging many pairs up high on a prominent willow tree.  One was in Malhuer County (Rt 20), the other in Wheeler County (Rt 26).  It looked to us that these shoes were really not in too bad of shape, maybe new (er?) when slung onto the trees.  Maybe some shoe store was going out of business and could not unload them?  Anyone know?

SHOE STORE NEAR JUNTURA, ALONG RT 20

SHOE STORE WEST OF MITCHELL, IN WHEELER COUNTY, ALONG RT 26

THE SOLE OF THE BUSINESS

Wheeler County was slow, but I added GOLDEN EAGLE and ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK.  Crook County was about the same as I added COMMON GOLDENEYE and BUFFLEHEAD at Ochoco Lake.  I was hoping for a Rough-legged Hawk in Deschutes Co but it was not to be.  We did see 2 TURKEY VULTURES a few miles east of Sisters.  We really needed a walk after sitting in the car for hours, so we took the back way from Sisters to Calliope Crossing and walked for 1.5 miles, finding a pair of WILLIAMSON’S SAPSUCKERS.  Santiam Pass was clear and the rest of the trip uneventful. 

My plans are to return to Malhuer and Baker Cos this coming June to find what summer species I can with hopes to boost the list over 100.  Regarding Gilliam and Sherman Cos, I should take an overnight trip there soon for a few winter species, so that come May or June the findable summer species should elevate my list to over 100.