[obol] Wallowa County (and Umatilla Snowy Owl)

From: Wink Gross <winkg@xxxxxxxxxxx>
To: OBOL <obol@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Fri, 13 Feb 2015 20:54:39 -0800
Becki and I birded Wallowa County all day yesterday and this morning.  The 
weather was glorious--mostly clear, temps warming to mid-50s, no wind.  Perhaps 
because of that some things have changed since the previous reports from other 
birders 2 to 3 weeks ago. 

The GYRFALCON was at his usual spot on the Idanha Hwy a few miles east of 
Joseph yesterday morning.  Quite unwary and allowed us to drive right up to it 
for photos.  About a half hour later, as were driving up to McCully Creek 
trailhead, we spotted an adult NORTHERN GOSHAWK perched in the top of a fir.  
Two charismatic raptors--nice start to the day!  There was almost no snow all 
the way to the trailhead, and we were able to easily hike a mile up the trail.  
It was nearly birdless, with the most abundant bird being the 9 CLARK'S 
NUTCRACKERS that flew over us.  We spent some time looking and listening for 
Pine Grosbeaks without success.  

The remainder of yesterday morning we spent walking around Joseph looking for 
Bohemian Waxwings.  Found lots of PINE SISKINS, some CEDAR WAXWINGS, CASSIN'S 
and HOUSE FINCHES, a couple of TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRES and EVENING GROSBEAKS, but 
no Bohemians (waxwings, at least).  

In the afternoon we drove about 7 miles up the Zumwalt Road (to the Leaning 
Barn of Zumwalt, for those familiar with the road).  By far the most activity 
was at the goat farm(?) at the top of OK Gulch, where we found the only 2 
GRAY-CROWNED ROSY-FINCHES of the trip, a big flock of HORNED LARKS, perched 
adult FERRUGINOUS HAWK and BALD EAGLE, and a soaring immature GOLDEN EAGLE.  

Around sunset we finally found 6 BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS in Enterprise near the west 
end of W Greenwood St.  

This morning we sat near the feeders just west of Pete's Pond for about 15 
minutes hoping for the Harris's Sparrow.  No show.  We cruised briefly around 
the neighborhood of Depot and Litch Streets, but there was virtually no 
activity.  (Temperature was 28F.)

We left town via Golf Course and School Flat Roads.  Lots of AMERICAN TREE 
SPARROWS at the ranch about 5.5 miles in.   A pair of GRAY PARTRIDGES in a yard 
on School Flat Rd.  No rosy-finches. 

On the way home we took OR204 from Elgin to Weston and located the staked-out 
SNOWY OWL in dense fog about a mile west of York Rd on CO674.  If the owl had 
been a few feet farther from the road or the fog any denser, we'd have missed 
it.   While searching for the owl, we found the only NORTHERN SHRIKE of our 
trip where York Rd begins winding down through a gulch north of CO672. 

Wink Gross
Portland

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[obol] Wallowa County (and Umatilla Snowy Owl)

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