A group of 14 were at Malheur NWR from May 17-22 on an East Lake WA Audubon field trip. We had some very good birding. Malheur & Harney lakes were virtually non-existent. There is no water visible from the Narrows. On Tuesday we visited the HQ then drove to the Round Barn, Lava Crater, Buena Vista and returned to the field station. Just as we started out from the field station, one of our three cars stopped to look at a SAGE THRASHER. The bird then flew up and perched on the windshield wiper. A number of photos were taken from inside the car. Still enroute to HQ we saw three SHORT-EARED OWLS in the air at one time. Just as we were driving into the HQ parking lot a bobcat ran across the road. We learned it is a frequent visitor to the HQ area. WILLETS were all over and we saw a number of the duck species and nice looks at the dainty WILSON'S PHALAROPES. The refuge trademark SANDHILL CRANES were present as well as AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS. At the HQ area: a BLACK & WHITE WAR!
BLER, the resident GREAT HORNED OWL, BLACK-CHINNED and RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRDS, WESTERN TANAGERS, BULLOCK'S ORIOLES, WESTERN WOOD-PEWEE. East of HQ we saw a number of raptors, FERRUGINOUS and RED-TAILED HAWKS, NORTHERN HARRIER and TURKEY VULTURES. At the Round Barn, we saw LONG-BILLED CURLEW and a SAY'S PHOEBE appeared. At Lava Pit Crater there were two GREAT HORNED OWLETS, but no adults visible. ROCK and CANYON WRENS were also there.

On Wednesday, we drove down Center Patrol Road and then visited Buena Vista Ponds, Benson Pond and Krumbo Reservoir. We saw numerous duck species with REDHEADS and CINNAMON TEAL particularly numerous. We heard VIRGINIA RAIL and SORA, but didn't see them. At the wetland before Benson Ponds we saw a SPOTTED SANDPIPER and a PECTORAL SANDPIPER. Two TRUMPETER SWANS were at Buena Vista Ponds. At Benson Ponds there were two more Trumpeter Swans, BLACK TERNS and at the east end of the grove of trees were an adult and a young Great-Horned Owl. On the return to the Field Station on hwy 205, a GOLDEN EAGLE flew up from the right side of the road carrying about a four foot long snake. I thought it was going to hit the car and the eagle apparently did too as it dropped the snake right in front of the car. The car behind us saw the eagle get caught up in the updraft from our car and go tumbling skyward.

On Thursday, we drove the Center Patrol Road south from Benson Ponds, to the "P" Ranch, then to Page Springs CG. An AMERICAN BITTERN appeared right in the ditch beside the road. We picked up a few more duck species and saw a few BOBOLINKS. We pulled into the "P" Ranch parking lot and a WILSON'S SNIPE was sitting on a post about 10 feet in from of the car. We ate lunch at Page Springs CG and walked the trail to locate the YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT. It obligingly responded to a recording and stayed for few minutes. A CANYON WREN was on a big rock singing its heart out. A LAZULI BUNTING flew into a willow tree behind us. On the walk out we saw a bluish bushtit looking bird that caused some ID problems. We decided it was a black-eared adult form of the BUSHTIT. On the nature trail we saw a BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER and in the CG were HOUSE WRENS, LESSER GOLDFINCH and a pair of nesting Say's Phoebes with young.

On Friday, we split into two groups. One group of four did a Bird-A-Thon and covered many of the same areas we had been to. The rest of us drove the raptor alley route to Princeton and Crane, then hwy 78 back to hwy 205 and then down to the field station. We did a short stop at the HQ and saw a TOWNSEND'S WARBLER. Raptors for the day included 19 RED-TAILED HAWKS, 3 GOLDEN EAGLES, 6 FERRUGINOUS HAWKS, 2 PRAIRIE FALCONS, 1 SWAINSON'S HAWK, 9 TURKEY VULTURES and two BURROWING OWLS. On hwy 205 south of Burns we saw two SNOW GEESE that apparently missed the flight north. The other group also saw a SNOWY EGRET, CHUKAR, BLUE-WINGED TEAL, COOPER'S HAWK, VESPER SPARROW and BREWER'S SPARROW.

It was a very enjoyable trip. We saw a total of 120 species while at Malheur. If anyone wants a complete list or more information please contact me.

Hugh Jennings
Bellevue, WA