Hi Everyone,

Couldn't resist chiming in on this one, as I am heading to Sisters, Oregon tomorrow from The Dalles. I'll be birding the Metolius area, as well as Cold Springs Campground and Indian Ford campground areas - all are outstanding birding as has been reported. Having spent much time in this area (mostly fishing in earlier years, but birding in recent years as well) here are some specific suggestions.

An outstanding place to bird (and sight-see as well) is the Headwaters of the Metolius overlook. The Metolius in my book is the most scenic river on the planet, although harder to fish than others. It is a spring river, and there is a short trail signed Headwaters of the Metolius that leads to the source springs where the river literally comes out of the ground. It is a gorgeous place, and the resident birds there have everything they need right there. It is high elevation Ponderosa Pine habitat, so any of the expected species may be found there. I like to arrive as close to dawn as possible, when no other tourists are there. Among the species I have seen there are White-headed Woodpecker, Pygmy Nuthatch (a flock of at least a dozen working the trees in the area), Cassin's Finch, Red Crossbill and - for good measure, a somewhat out-of-place appearing Great Blue Heron standing in the shallows of the river just downstream from the sourc! e sprin g.

I was there several years ago looking to photograph White-headed Woodpecker. I found a whole family at Cold Springs Campground (only a few miles from the Metolius), but they were way up in the trees and photography was a lost cause even with big lenses. Feeling a little bummed out, I birded the headwaters spring, then went further downstream to the Camp Sherman general store. There, bathing in a puddle of water twenty feet from the store, was a White-headed Woodpecker. I was able to get a couple of images before he headed off for greener pastures (or pine trees), including the following one at http://www.tubbsphoto.com/-/tubbsphoto/detail.asp?photoID=2789131&cat=38983.

Central Oregon is one of my favorite places on the planet. Starting Sunday, I will be on a Deschutes River float with two buddies from a former company - this will be our 24th annual trip. Hopefully I'll expand the life list for the Deschutes this trip, and get close to my goal of photographing every species we see in the canyon this year.

John Tubbs
johntubbs at comcast.net
Snoqualmie, WA