Peter:
> Questions particularly for Don Baccus, but welcoming responses from all....
> It looks like I will spend a few days in the Malheur area circa Sept 10.
> Without speaking for others in my party, my plan is to sit on top of Steens
> and look down on raptors as they fly by. 1) Will I be too early?

No, the time is about perfect. Note, though, that Steens isn't a great
raptor migration spot. Small numbers pass through, with a good day
(for that place) bringing about 5 bph (birds per hour). Mostly
accipiters. Most likely mostly immy sharpies. I suggest you
sit up there from about 9:30AM 'til 2 PM or so one day and see
if anything's going on.

We've checked it out two years using a paid observer, and didn't
find enough birds moving to make monitoring it worthwhile. There
doesn't appear to be such a site in Oregon's corner of the Great
Basin (several sites have been checked out).

But, you'll should see some accipiters moving as Sept 10th is
prime time (depending on weather, of course).

Of course, things vary from year to year. Our peak accipiter days
in the Goshutes have ranged from Sept. 3 to Sept 20th or so, with the
mean being around the 13th/14th (the Sept 3rd date was earlier by
several days than any other season we've had over 13 years. I
remember it well, three of us trapped/banded/released 113 hawks
in one blind that day).

Be sure to spend time on the refuge, all the normal stuff will
still be around. There are currently thousands of white-faced
ibis, which I find a real treat.

And, of course, fall passerine migration will be under way.
While not as notable for "weird bird" finds as spring migration,
folks still stumble across interesting stuff.

You might want to truck over to the Alvord Desert, hike up
Pike Creek (after the unmistakable galvanized bath house
at the Alvord Hotsprings, turn left at the rough road that
runs next to a line of trees that run down to the gravel
main road. Take it up to the campsite next to a big boulder,
and hike. Birds, trees, beauty - do it!).

Stop at Fields (you do have a map, I hope!) and have a
milkshake, wander across the street and say "howdy" to
the great horned owls that let me photograph them from
six feet away this spring.

> there a bigger thrill on some other hill, or in the flat? 3) I live in the
> Olympia area, and plan to take a day and a half to get there. A quick glance
> at the map told me we have about three major routes to choose among. Any
> favorites? That is, are there other great places to stop for birding on the
> way down or back at this time of year?

You can do it in about 8 hours from Oly (6 from PDX) if you go
over Hood. The Santiam Pass adds 1/2 hour + birding time (which
is the reason to go there). Indian Ford CG and Cold Springs CG
are both good for Pond Pine/Aspen stuff like White-headed 'pecker,
Cassin's finch, Red Crossbill, etc etc etc. If you want to
take a day and a half, you might want to stay at Cold Springs CG,
which is off the main highway. There are some informal hunter
camps outside the actual CG so you can avoid paying $$$.

If you want more info, or have more specific questions, e-mail
me.


- Don Baccus, Portland OR <donb at rational.com>