Thanks to both of you for this recording and i.d. This was new to me so
I found a recording and it sounds like Rebecca is right!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ef--sUpVsVA
The things I learn on OBOL
Linda Fink, SW Yamhill County
no Townsend's Solitaires here
On 7/1/2022 12:52 PM, Rebecca Hartman wrote:
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 <mailto: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
