Steve Nord and I ventured out east to Sherman and Gilliam Co today. We started
at Deschutes River Park, then birded the John Day Dam and Arlington, before
heading south deep into Gilliam Co. We briefly checked the Condon STP and then
drove first Lost Valley Rd and then Lonerock Rd all the way into Lonerock. On
the way back along 206 we ran out of light. Here the highlights:
Pacific Wren (2 at Deschutes River Park)
Canvasback (2 off Deschutes River Park in Wasco Co)
Barrow's Goldeneye (1 female at Deschutes River Park, several at the John Day
Dam, 2 in Arlington)
Red-necked Grebe (a total of 4 at John Day Dam)
3 Bonaparte's Gull, 1 Mew Gull (John Day Dam)
Mountain Chickadee (2 at John Day Dam)
Herring Gull (1 at Arlington)
Snow Goose (2 continuing birds at Condon STP)
All 3 nuthatches and Steller's Jay (Lost Valley Rd just north of the county
border)
WHITE-HEADED WOODPECKER (1 at Lost Valley Rd just north of the county border)
American Robin (an amazing several hundred birds in the junipers near/at
Lonerock)
We also found several Northern Shrikes, many Rough-legged Hawks, a Golden
Eagle, a Prairie Falcon and a Merlin along Lonerock Rd. For most of the day it
was a balmy 64F. We also finally figured out where all those robins are hiding
that seem to be missing from the west side ... Bighorn Sheep were near the
Philippi Canyon exit 123 of I-84.
Stefan Schlick
Hillsboro, OR
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