This week's birds.

Last week I took the dogs on a long walk around one of my favorite clearcuts on Larch Mountain.  Not many bird photo ops, but heard lots of good birds and saw lots of wildflowers.  One bird I did manage to photograph was my county Townsend's Solitaire (finally!):


Oregon iris (tough-leaved iris)
Largeflower fairybells
Bunchberry
As you know, I took the dogs on a walk along the Marine Drive bike path last week also.  Obviously the weasel was the highlight, but a lone foxglove was cool too...


On Saturday my friend and I went for a hike on Silver Star Mountain up in Washington.   The hike begins with lovely views and they only get better as you go up!


Even with all the cloud cover we could pick out Mount St Helens, Mount Rainier, Mount Adams, and Mount Hood.  On a clear day I imagine you can see even more.


Of course there were flowers...

Giant white fawn lily
Spreading phlox?
Ok, so far not many birds in this post.  Let's change that!  Yesterday I decided to head back to Wasco County to hunt down the Grasshopper Sparrows I missed on my previous visit.  I drove directly to a spot on Tygh Ridge Market Road (thanks eBird!), got out of the car, and found one buzzing away on the barbed wire fence ten feet away.  Easiest life bird ever.


I took the dogs for a walk up the dirt road and found another one...


I really never expected to be the kind of person that gets excited over sparrows.  But I am.  And I was psyched to find a couple of Vespers also along the road...


The scenery along the road was nothing short of lovely...

Hola, HOLA
Mutts

After that I drove over to the area of Victor, Juniper Flat, and Old Wapinitia Roads.  Western Meadowlarks are always abundant, but they are not always so confiding with their mouths full.


I tracked down some Tricolored Blackbirds in the marsh along Juniper Flat Road where I've seen them before...


I like cows, cows is good.
Bachelor's button at Kelly Cemetery

So this blog post seems to never want to end.  That's what I get for being a lazy poster!  Too much to share.  I made one last stop for the day while driving over the mountains- the Frog Lake snopark area.  I parked in the first main lot, then took the dogs on a walk around the area.

Gray Jay
Hermit Warbler
Alright.  I'm done.  Good times!

Comments

  1. Damn! You're killing it! When do you rest?

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  2. Gorgeous collection of birds and lovely wildflowers.. Beautiful scenic shots.. Congrats on your lifer. Happy Birding!

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  3. This is...this is pretty righteous stuff. Great looks at the Grasshoppers and good God it's been too long since I've seen a Gray Jay.

    I didn't even know Tri-colored Blackbird was gettable in that area.

    Very birding, much tops. Wow!

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  4. No one says "When I grow up, I want to be a sparrow junkie".

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  5. Any snow at Frog Lake and nearby trails? Trying to figure out what trails/elevations are snow free for this weekend. Thanks

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    Replies
    1. I saw barely any snow around- a few small patches in shady spots and that was it. 26 was snow-free.

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