Hello folks,
Oscar Harper and I spent a pleasant day yesterday exploring the areas above
Salmon Creek (southeast of Oakridge). It was mainly a fishing trip, and
birding was slow until we reached Spirit Lake (a few miles due west of
Waldo Lake), where we whiled away the rest of the afternoon and evening.
The large and beautiful meadow adjacent to the lake was still lush with
wildflowers and hosted a lot of bird activity, including family groups of
LAZULI BUNTINGS, HOUSE WRENS and ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS, along with many
of the other expected mountain species. The best finds included a family
group of LINCOLN'S SPARROWS (rare according to eBird, but this was perfect
breeding habitat!) and at least one juvenile GREEN-TAILED TOWHEE that had
mostly molted into adult plumage. Not sure if the species breeds up there
or if this was a stray from higher up in the mountains.
On top of good birds, flowers and dragonflies, Spirit Lake also provided us
with some tasty Brook Trout for dinner! And on the way in, a mama Bobcat
with two adorable cubs ran across the road directly in front of us and we
watched them scramble up a rocky embankment!
Happy summer birding!
Hendrik
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Hendrik G. Herlyn
Corvallis, OR
*"Nature is not a place to visit. It is home." -- Gary Snyder*
