[obol] Steens Mtn Trip Report

[Steve Engel]

OBOL -
Audubon Society of Portland took nine people to Steen's Mtn Aug 8 - 12 for
birds and wildflowers (Audubon volunteer Sherry Spencer was our botanist).
Some bird sightings of possible interest if you plan to go there soon:    

In the Blitzen valley between P Ranch and Page Springs, at the small pond on
the west side of the road ~1/4 mile before Steens Mtn Resort turn-off, we
saw an adult Virginia Rail scoot in and out of view followed seconds later
by an all black, downy chick -- presumably the VIRA's young ?  With the
morning sun behind us things could only improve if a Sora were to slowly
swim across the most easily observed portion of the pond.  And so one did.
The flock of motley mallards was also enhanced by a Pied-bill Grebe chick
still sporting stripes.

We headed for the east rim of Steens knowing we would be treated to more
aerial antics of the numerous "2007 model" Red-tailed Hawks and American
Kestrels.  We didn't expect the flock of ~12 Greater Sage Grouse that
paraded across the road and calmly foraged through the alpine grassland near
the 3 way junction for the east rim overlook/east peak/south loop.  This was
about 1030 am on Saturday before much traffic has reached the east peak
parking lot.  Immature Northern Harrier, Prairie Falcon and adult and imm.
Golden Eagle also seen along rim.  These appeared to me to be local birds
and I didn't get a sense of many migratory raptors there yet.    

Loggerhead Shrikes were very numerous on the refuge and surrounding areas.
Birding from road on north side of Buena Vista ponds in the morning offered
great views of egrets, ibis and shorebirds, especially Wilson's Snipe.

Krumbo reservoir had Trumpeter Swan adults and young.  

The Narrows has great pull-outs for birding with lots of Clark's and Western
Grebe adult and chicks, American White Pelican, imm. Black-crowned Night
Heron and some fly-by Red-necked Phalaropes in basic plumage.    

Steve Engel
Adult Education Coordinator
Audubon Society of Portland
5151 NW Cornell Road, Portland, OR 97210
EMAIL:  sengel at audubonportland.org
web:  www.audubonportland.org
PHONE:  503-292-6855 x 119 (main)  971-222-6119 (direct)



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