Hi Roger,
To me, that sounds like a Townsend's Solitaire calling.
Enjoy the Blues!
Rebecca
On Fri, Jul 1, 2022, 12:28 PM Roger Freeman <freemanbecard@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
I’m camping this week in the Umatilla National Forest around Mount Emily
about 10 miles NE of LaGrande, at around 4500 feet elevation. I have a
couple of questions at the end of the email.
I’ve had 27 bird species in a couple of days up here on a ridge. The
area is mostly steep slopes of open meadow and grassland along with forest
of mixed conifers including Ponderosa pine. Lots of wildflower in bloom.
Sightings include an adult Cooper’s Hawk cruising by with a small bird in
its grasp, a Common Raven harassing a Golden Eagle that was apparently too
close to its nesting zone, Red Crossbills, Olive-sided Flycatcher,
White-headed Woodpecker, many singing Hermit Thrushes, Hammond’s
Flycatcher, Mountain Bluebird, Townsend’s Solitaire, etc. My favorite
surprise is a singing Western Meadowlark at this high elevation.
Also attached, is a recording that I believe to be a Douglas squirrel or
chipmunk but I would be very interested in an opinion as to precisely the
species, and a confirmation that it is a mammal :)
I also would be interested to know of an experienced birder very familiar
with this specific region of the Mount Emily area, north and northeast of
LaGrande. You can email me directly.
Good birding,
Roger Freemen
Camping NE Oregon
