I Used to Hate Birds

As you might recall, there is an Osprey nest rather close to my house.  I can see it from my front yard.  When a pair showed up this spring I was thrilled, even more so when I caught them mating.  They would soar over my house regularly, occasionally on snack runs from the river, but often just soaring for soaring's sake.  I dare say I heart them.


But then terrible weather came- pouring rain and super cold for a week straight.  I stopped hearing them, I stopped seeing them.  The nest was empty every time I visited.  I was pretty bummed, my dreams of baby Osprey crushed.  

A couple weeks later I was out in the yard and I thought I heard one.  Soon after I was walking the dogs and I saw one on the nest and my hope was restored.

Yesterday was hot and I finally walked to the store to buy a kiddie pool (too big to fit in the car).  I brought my bins and camera to check on the nest and I am so freakin stoked to report there are TWO lil Osprey kids up there!  It looked like one of the pa…

There's a dirt road near Sisters that leads from the main highway (20) to highway 242, right next to Cold Springs Campground.  I kind of love the road, especially the first quarter mile from 20. 


When I pulled in on Friday afternoon I was planning on just taking the dogs out to pee really quick but immediately got distracted.  A Hairy Woodpecker zipped by us while a White-headed fellow called nearby.  Bluebirds were catching snacks and Williamson's Sapsucker nestlings were loudly calling for their parents from a nest hole.

Western Bluebird

Williamson's Sapsucker

 White-headed Woodpecker (from Cold Springs Campground Saturday evening)

After an hour and a half of being distracted I finally made my way to the campground to enjoy the summer solstice...


A much tastier beer than I usually bring camping, I highly recommend it. 

Saturday afternoon I headed back to Calliope Crossing to try again, in much warmer weather.  A Common Nighthawk was soaring above us when we got out of the…

This weekend I took the dogs camping out in central Oregon near Sisters.  The scenery there is gorgeous and the birds, just plain rad.


On Saturday morning when we woke up I was super cold, but figured I was being silly.  I stopped for some hot coffee and drove up to Calliope Crossing to explore.  I made it about ten minutes before nearly crying from how frozen my fingers felt.  A quick weather check on my phone indicated the temp to be 33 degrees.  Oh.  I changed my plans and drove down to the Rooster Rock Burn, figuring I could at least car-bird until things warmed up.

A quartet of bucks completely escaped the notice of the dogs...


 Interesting that the front fellow is missing half his antlers.  I drove up until it seemed like things were getting birdy, and I took the dogs out to start walking.  Thankfully it warmed up quickly and we ended up spending over four hours wandering and it was pretty awesome. 

I found a bird along a creek that I really want to be a Gray Flycatcher.  Thoug…

I went up to Larch Mountain a couple of times recently, both times sort of looking for grouse, but mostly just wandering around.  I stopped at Chanticleer Point (aka Portland Women's Forum Overlook, but that name is long and less cool) one morning and watched the fog swirling around.


I decided to hike the trail from the top of Larch Mountain down to where the trail turns towards Multnomah Falls.  It was a gorgeous morning, cool and sunny, with most birds being quite vocal.  Finding them was a bit more difficult though Pacific Wrens were easy to see.



I was psyched to find a Hairy Woodpecker nest hole.  The homeowners came out to chirp and grab some grub, then headed back inside.  Perhaps to feed some young?


The dogs rather enjoyed the hike too.


On another morning I went up to explore one of the many clearcuts.  It was a dreary foggy morning but all the blooming wildflowers brightened up the landscape. 


Willow Flycatchers dominated the clearcut while Pacific-Slopes ruled the forest.…

I spent yesterday exploring some spots around Wasco County I had never visited before.  Say what you want about county listing (like that it's totally stupid or whatever), but I gotta say I love having a reason to creep around new places, finding awesome little spots.  I started the day by getting off the interstate at Mosier to check out the scenic route to The Dalles, and stopped at a little park that may be called Rock Creek.


The park had a little sheltered spot that I can only imagine is for birding as it had no seats nor scenic view.


The dogs and I went in to investigate.  I was surprised to see a crow sitting on a branch about a foot from the shelter.  I decided it had to be fake, it wasn't moving and it was SO close.  Of course it was not in fact fake, but was in fact a gorgeous blue-eyed juvenile crow...


Back on the Historic Columbia River Highway I stopped a bunch of times to look at birds...and architecture and scenery and ground squirrels and deer and...


Western Bl…