[obol] 18 Days in the Wallowas: Trip Report, Video, etc. (longish)

[Noah Strycker]

Obol,

My mom, dad, and I spent 18 days backpacking and hiking in the Wallowa
Mountains (Eagle Cap Wilderness in northeast Oregon) from August 13-30. We
walked 188 miles total (mostly carrying a 50-pound pack on steep rocky
trails), traversed the wilderness a couple times, climbed Eagle Cap,
withstood two days of nonstop rain and delighted in 16 days of sunny
weather. The scenery was fantastic. We were also able to find some of
northeast Oregon's summer specialty birds (see below); in addition to the
list within the wilderness area, CATBIRDS and VEERY were easy at Minam State
Rec Area on Aug 12; and a GRAY PARTRIDGE was along the highway by Wallowa
Lk, Aug 31.

I have posted an 8-minute video of the trip's highlights (including a
fleeing Spruce Grouse) at:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p2SNcRNZFf0

Annotated bird list for the trip follows. All birds in Wallowa County except
Union Co. where noted.

-----
EAGLE CAP WILDERNESS, AUG 13-30 2007
Almost all locations between 5000' and 9000' elevation.

Mallard
Common Merganser
Northern Harrier
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Cooper's Hawk
*NORTHERN GOSHAWK - 8/13, 2 young birds at the Wallowa Lk. trailhead (4400')
Red-tailed Hawk
Golden Eagle
American Kestrel
*SPRUCE GROUSE - 12 individuals total in four locations (most in family
groups)
*DUSKY GROUSE - 5 individuals total in four locations
*RUFFED GROUSE - 8/30 one near Bowman trailhead (5600')
Sora - 8/14 one in wet meadow near Bonney Lks (7700')
*SOLITARY SANDPIPER - 8/22 one at Arrow Lk (7800', Union Co.)
Spotted Sandpiper
*BAIRD'S SANDPIPER - 8/24 one at Arrow Lk (7800', Union Co.)
California Gull - 8/17 one at Mirror Lk (7600')
Great Horned Owl - 8/28-30 one at North Minam Meadows (5400')
*NORTHERN PYGMY-OWL - 8/29-30 one at North Minam Meadows (5400')
*COMMON POORWILL - 8/25 one calling at Tombstone Lk (7500', Union Co.)
Vaux's Swift
Rufous Hummingbird
Belted Kingfisher
Hairy Woodpecker
*THREE-TOED WOODPECKER - 8/30 one .5 mi above Bowman trailhead (5600')
*BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKER - 8/29 one at North Minam Meadows (5400')
Northern Flicker
Pileated Woodpecker
Olive-sided Flycatcher
Western Wood-Pewee
Hammond's Flycatcher
Western Kingbird - 8/16 one flycatching at forested Moccasin Lk (7500')
Steller's Jay
Gray Jay
Clark's Nutcracker
Common Raven
Mountain Chickadee
Chestnut-backed Chickadee - common along upper Minam R. (Union Co.)
Red-breasted Nuthatch
White-breasted Nuthatch
Brown Creeper
Winter Wren
Rock Wren
American Dipper - seen almost daily on lakes/streams
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Townsend's Solitaire
Mountain Bluebird
American Robin
Hermit Thrush
American Pipit
Orange-crowned Warbler
Nashville Warbler - 8/18 one near Ice Lk (7800')
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Townsend's Warbler
MacGillivray's Warbler
Wilson's Warbler
Western Tanager
Brewer's Sparrow
Chipping Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
Song Sparrow - just one, along the Minam R. (6400', Union Co.)
Lincoln's Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Evening Grosbeak
*PINE GROSBEAK - 8/14 one at Aneroid Lk (7500')
*GRAY-CR. ROSY-FINCH - 8/21, 20 at the peak of Eagle Cap (9600', Union Co.)
Cassin's Finch
Red Crossbill - very few, no white-wings
Pine Siskin

70 bird species.

Also of note:

MOUNTAIN GOAT - 8/25 close family group of 3 above Tombstone Lk (Union Co.)
ELK - 8/28 group of 11 at North Minam Meadows
COYOTE - 8/14 one in a meadow near Bonney Lks
LONG-TAILED WEASEL - 8/25 nice long look at one by Traverse Lk (Union Co.)

It was a great trip, clears you out physically and mentally. The tram ride
up Mt. Howard on 8/31 didn't add any new wildlife, but was well worth the
view (and a much easier way to ascend 3,700' elevation than hiking)!

Good birding,

Noah Strycker
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