There are two schools of thought on birding, and the lines are drawn between those who keep a life list and those who do not. We are in both camps, listing and just being outside watching birds, listening to them and seeing what they are up to. Our recent birding trip added a new life species to our list, a Blue-gray Gnatcatcher; a rare visitor to the refuge we were extremely lucky to see two of them in the same little tree. This species proved elusive for the last 30 or so years, a very cute little bird flitting around in a small Juniper near our campsite. We added fifty plus species to our annual list.
Dan teased me about all the things I packed for such a short camping trip, but I didn't bring the kitchen sink. I just thought about bringing it.
Brandon met us at Malheur, our most favorite place to go birding. It was the first time she’s ever gone on a birding trip. Mainly she was there to see us, and for the camping and to see the scenery. I’m not sure if we have converted her to the dark side, but by the end of our trip she could identify a Robin.
Speaking of Robins, a pair was tending a nest full of babies in the large Juniper right behind our tent.
We had decided not to camp in our favorite campground as that campground had to be evacuated several nights in a row in the few days preceding our trip in the middle of the night due to flooding caused by heavy thunderstorms. More storms were predicted for the weekend we visited and that sounded like too much potential for drama. The storms materialized, but not as heavy as earlier in the week. Water levels around the national wildlife refuge were already very high, and several of the roads into the refuge were closed, being underwater as they were. Birding was limited to the fringes. Even so, it was wonderful.
A Short-eared Owl, perched on a fence post. These gorgeous large owls flit across the landscape like giant moths, effortless and ethereal, clapping their wings underneath their bodies, applauding their own performance during their breeding flight.
The headquarters for the refuge is a birding oasis, the only trees for miles around, it acts like a magnet for tired migrating warblers, and all sorts of perching birds. When we checked in on Friday afternoon, the trees were dripping with Townsend Warblers, Lazuli Buntings, Western Tanagers, Bullock Orioles, and all sorts of cool species. The refuge has seen over 320 species of birds.
Taking a picture of a warbler is dependent on them staying put long enough for the millesecond it takes for the shutter to click. Alas, sometimes that isn't long enough. By Saturday morning, all the Townsend Warblers have continued their migration to the north, and a couple will end up in the Aspen grove behind our house.
The first time Dan ever took me to Malheur was in the fall, and one of my most vivid memories of that trip was the first time I ever saw Yellow-headed Blackbirds. They were in a field of newly harvested corn, scrambling around in the stalks, and as we drove by several hundred of them rose into the air at once, filling the air with color and sound. Dali would have loved the spectacle, it was so surreal.
These guys sound like a rusty gate when they sing, a loud very rusty gate.
A sleeply slightly fluffed Red-winged Blackbird, not displaying the vivid bright red wing patch which gave them their name.
Every year a pair of Great Horned Owls raises a brood in their next in the fire watch tower adjacent to refuge headquarters. When their babies fledge, they move them to the tall trees by headquarters.
A baby owl pileup, cuddling and napping.
A watchful parent, in a Ponderosa Pine tree, near the Cottonwood where the babies were sleeping. Another baby was cuddled underneath the other parent, sheltering from the rain.
The Buena Vista Overlook is a great spot to visit to check out the lay of the land. A spotting scope is useful for identifying small birds playing around in the reeds and cattails.
Overlooking a portion of the refuge, these large ponds are normally a lot smaller and usually host a couple pairs of Trumpeter Swans. The water was so high this spring, the swans were elsewhere, no doubt on the larger lake.
A pair of Canada Geese flying over the marsh.
Strong, graceful, these birds mate for life. We saw newly hatched babies accompanied by their proud parents. At least until they can find another set of parents to babysit their brood. Once we saw a pair of adults surrounded by 200 babies. "I don't remember the pile of eggs being this high, do you?"
The geology of this area is one of the most interesting aspects of visiting. Multiple lava flows show the volcanic history.
The most recent lava flows cap buttes which rise above the marshes.
The Steens Mountains tower above the area. A fault uplift mountain range created 15 million years ago, the road that loops around this face is not open for travel until late June or early July, and we've never been up the road very far. The far side of these mountains is a mile high drop down to the Alvord Desert. Rumor has it the road will not be opened this year, due to the heavier than usual snowfall last winter.
Back to the car from the overlook, we drove down to road which skirted between the ponds we had just been viewing from above.
Now to some other bird pictures.
White-faced Ibis were fairly common in the marshes.
A Willet, one of the large wading birds common to the area. We also saw Long-billed Curlew but not close enough for a picture.
A Great Egret, and a successful hunt for breakfast. They are in breeding finery with long fancy feathers. These birds were severely endangered by hunting them for these very same fine feathers, for ladies' hats. Thank god that went out of style as people would have cheerfully killed every single bird for such a stupid reason, and not have given it a second thought.
Breakfast consists of a large frog which is midway between being tadpole and being a frog, most likely a Bullfrog based on the size.
A Sandhill Crane, one of our favorite species. They have the neatest call, very prehistoric. A couple hundred pairs of these nest on the refuge each year.
Popping up to take a peek.
And a second later, it looks like there is just one Crane in the tall grass.
A pair of Shovelers, paddling around in shallow water.
A male Redhead, keeping a watch on his girlfriend.
A Pied-billed Grebe, a small diving duck. We also saw Western Grebes, Clarks' Grebes, and Horned Grebe.
A Forester's Tern, flitting around over the pond near the Round Barn.
A goose in the background, admiring the flying skill of the tern.
The Round Barn, which is, strangely enough, round, is normally a long way from water.
We headed off to the Diamond Craters, an area of volcanic craters, since we could not walk around the barn without getting very wet.
This looked like a serious cloud to our eyes, and looks were not deceiving. Shortly after we returned to the car, the sky opened up and cleaned the bugs off the windshield and the front of our car. Thanks!
Protective coloration, onthe dark volcanic rocks at Diamond Craters, was this dark charcol gray lizard. I had been trying to catch a picture of a Marmot which was in the rocks, and discovered this lizard on the rocks in front of the Marmot.
Heading home, the water levels in Lake Roosevelt are as low as we’ve ever seen. They have drawn down the water a lot, anticipating the snow melt in the mountains which is a bit behind from the lower than normal temperatures. Probably we are going to pay for such a cool spring when summer finally arrives.
All the fruit plants and trees we ordered have arrived and that’s going to be our project for the day, getting them planted in the garden. We are both not really in the mood, but the plants need to be tucked into their new homes sooner rather than later.
When I first glanced at this post, I thought “New Life Species” was the Subaru in the foreground!! Hahahaha!!
Very nice post, by the way!