Although this report is hardly timely, I hope it's at least interesting. During
my half-dozen January forays to Gilliam County, primarily in the general area
of Condon, I was very surprised to find the following: COMMON REDPOLL--a group
of 4 that flew right in to have a good look at me while I was climbing out of a
slot canyon feeding Wherli Canyon. VESPER SPARROW--1 individual in a large
patch of low sagebrush on a ridge high above 30-Mile Creek. BREWER'S SPARROW--2
individuals in close association in a sagebrush patch on a flat about 5 miles
from Condon. As for these last two sightings, I'd be interested in hearing
about other winter sightings in the region as I'm unfamiliar with whether this
is rare or just unusual. To be sure, it was a mild winter in that part of
Oregon and certainly Gilliam County is "under-studied" owing to the propensity
of private land (I've been chukar hunting around Condon for 20 years and have
never before seen "summer" sparrows there in winter). In the not-unusual-but
always-fun-to-see category, the Holiday snowfall brought hundreds of HORNED
LARKS to the highway west of Condon and to the high blow-offs in the CRP and
stubble fields, but despite my best efforts, not a Longspur to be found. Also
found near Condon last month: MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRD (2), NORTHERN SHRIKE (2),
PEREGRINE FALCON (1), WESTERN SCREECH-OWL (1 by call). --John Shewey
www.birdingoregon.com
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