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d River Hwy (OR27). At 0.9mi we had several SAGE SPARROWS (thanks to Steve =
Dowlan for his detailed notes on this location) and an obliging SAGE THRASH=
ER. Heading further north we started seeing the first of many MOUNTAIN BLUE=
BIRDS and TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRES. Another Sage Sparrow was at about 3.0mi in=
 Crook Co, where we turned around. As FERRUGINOUS HAWK was another target b=
ird, we drove further east on US20, past Brothers, to the west end of the a=
g fields where we were greeted instantly by a gorgeous dark-morph bird.
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The remainder of the day we spent in the Prineville Reservoir area. A seemi=
ngly out-of-place LINCOLN'S SPARROW, a Merlin, a few Common Loons and a wei=
rd hybrid green-winged teal-type duck (which flushed way too early) were th=
e highlights on this warm Saturday afternoon. There were just way too many =
people, too many boats and dogs, too much loud music. The biggest problem w=
as that we didn't know where to look for birds. After being threatened by a=
 local on Golden Eagle Dr off Juniper Canyon Rd, we decided to call it a da=
y. Dinner at Barney Prine's in Prineville was a treat.
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Early Sunday morning we found 2 GOLDEN-CROWNED and a BREWER'S SPARROW in do=
wntown O'Neil (370 & Lone Pine Rd). At around 8am we pulled into Smith Rock=
 State Park. 2 PRAIRIE FALCONS, a GOLDEN EAGLE, a calling CANYON WREN and s=
everal WHITE-THROATED SWIFTS were most obliging. Lark Sparrows had not arri=
ved yet. What a neat place this is! Go early in the day. The oddest sightin=
g of the weekend was a pair of Canada Goose perched up on top of one of the=
 buttes.
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