Hi Barbara and Paul,

Thanks for sharing your wonderful trip report! I am glad you made the trek to some of my favorite birding haunts in Oregon with much success.

More so, you both covered alot of ground in style using the environmentally friendly, Prius. Unlike me, I have probably melted a few glaciers by now from all my carbon footprint of driving my SUV. Carbon Hell is waiting for me, sooner or later:(

I am glad I partly inspired you to go from my photos and trip report. It's a great feeling to experience and I share and relate to your excitement and success.

PS, Most of the rosyfinches at the Steens are predominately Black Rosyfinches. I have seen a couple of Gray Crowned of the interior form a couple times but only in autumn. Sounds like you had the flock of Black Rosies, too. Stephen Shunk of Sisters, Oregon also saw about 50 birds a couple of weeks after I did.

Good birding to you and much REGARDS,

Khanh Tran (Portland, Oregon)