Made a trip to north central Oregon for some Deschutes River fishing and
some birding thrown in.

My thanks to Stephen Shunk for a very timely and helpful posting on OBOL to
help me pick some spots for Sunday.

Friday and Saturday were "fishing days", but I kept my binos at the ready in
hopes of finding an ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER along the way. I believe I had
a fleeting glimpse just south of Sherar Falls on the way to the campsite
late Thursday, but didn't want to count it as a lifer in the making.
Friday . . . . no dice, but Saturday I found a few and had great looks at a
couple.

Did a quick hike late Saturday in Smith Rock State Park near Redmond, OR.
Nothing new. Had a maybe Prairie Falcon, but it was too quick and not even
close to conclusive. Nice looks at a pair of GOLDEN EAGLES building a nest
way up there.

I camped at Cold Springs just west of Sisters on Saturday night to get a
jump on things Sunday morning (a.k.a. "birding day"). Birding was pretty
quiet in the first couple of cold morning hours. Only got good visuals on
several PYGMY NUTCHACHES and one female WHITE-HEADED WP as the sun rose
while on foot in a wide circle northwest and west of the campsite. I heard
my main target, but couldn't find it. Also had DUSKY FLYCATCHERS right next
to the truck when I returned. On the way up to Indian Ford, I found my
target for that area, a GREEN-TAILED TOWHEE singing away -- good long look.
So I've got all the Towhees in the bag.

Indian Ford Campground just north of Cold Springs was a nice site, and the
warmer temperature along with a small riparian zone had more birds active
and apparent. I found a few target GRAY FLYCATCHERS singing away --
matching the Stokes track perfectly. In retrospect, the Duskys at Cold
Springs may have been Gray's as well, but I wasn't as confident for some
reason. They also had a seriously irritating habit of perching with their
backs toward me. I mean it was a conspiracy!!!!!!! Anyway, the light was
better at Indian Ford to see the rather pale generally vestless breasts, and
the songs were spot on. Also had a probable Cassin's Vireo, but the look
was far too quick for one of my long-overdue lifers. I think I also heard a
couple, but the deviation from the Scopes track made them maybes. No big
deal. I'll see one up in the Washington home territory before too long.

Then I motored over to the *extensive* burn area just east of Santiam Pass
south of Route 20/22. On FR 1068, I heard and homed the very necessary
scope in on my distant OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER very cooperatively and
conspicuously perched on a long dead half snag in plain sight. After my
quick three beers (burp . . . excuse me) and several looks at DOWNYS and
HAIRYS here and there, it was time to make my last stand and do a hike up
just north of Scout Lake (small area south of Shuttle Lake).

I had the whole area to myself and did a slow half circle from the northwest
corner of the campground/rec area to northeast of the area. More Downys.
More Hairys. Had my best long close look ever at a super vibrant male
WESTERN TANAGER. I think it was checking me out more than I it as it took
various perches around me. Nice RED-NAPED SAPSUCKER flew by. A
RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH here and there beeping at me (or themselves I'm sure).
Time was running short and I found myself reluctantly turning back to start
the quarter-mile return to where I left the truck. While dodging the gaping
holes left by stumps that burned out of their sockets, I took some time to
notice how the ponderosa pine's bark was burned and flaking away, falling
onto the crunchy/ashy dirt at my feet. I wasn't even supposed to be walking
there as a sign I later noticed warned of "fire-damaged unstable snags". It
wasn't windy. I would survive another day to find my way back to the Nile
burn for another try at my Black-backed WP. Oh, there's another Hairy. Oh,
there's another Downy. Oh . . . . there's another something chipping away
at the bark up to the right . . . . focus in . . . . BOOM BABY!!!!!!

A female BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKER. Nice capper to the day . . . and the
5th Lifer for the weekend . . . 4th for the day.

A quick stop at Lost Lake a few miles west around 2pm had a few BARROW'S
GOLDENEYE. Otherwise it was super quiet. So I played my Stokes HERMIT
WARBLER track on the truck's stereo (perhaps a bit too loud) and I believe I
jump-started one into singing. Found it. Fun stuff.

Other select interesting sightings during the weekend.

Black-headed Grosbeak - a pair at Indian Ford
Black-throated Gray Warbler - one nice conspicuous singer along the
Deschutes
Bullock's Oriole - tons along the Deschutes
Canyon Wren - a few along the Deschutes
Common Merganser - several seen in the Deschutes, one female had 18 chicks
in tow
Horned Lark - one seen while relocating from the Maupin area further south
to Trout Lake rec area on Deschutes
Lazuli Bunting - many along the Deschutes
Ring-billed Gull - many up on Columbia and extending far upstream along the
Deschutes
Ring-necked Pheasant - One quick clear look approaching Deschutes from west
on Rt 217
Rock Wren - adjacent area to Deschutes / quick hike up a rocky dry run for
kicks and giggles
Spotted Sandpiper - Deschutes - close approach - would have made a great
picture narfing down a stonefly nymph
Western Kingbird - tons
Wilson's Warbler - a few at Indian Ford

Other fauna included river otters, a coyote, and a rattlesnake. Oh yea, and
some trout.

-----------------------------------

Ned McGarry
Sammamish, WA
ned.mcgarry at verizon.net