Medical Springs Hwy
Seasons
Checklists
Location
From the town of Union, travel SE on Hwy 203. This is the Medical Springs Hwy. It leaves the county at about 23 miles south of Union just past the community of Medical Springs. Stop in at Catherine Creek State Park and the North Fork of Catherine Creek (see below).
DirectionsHabitat and Birds
Tall pines and riparian areas. Look for mountain species like grouse, Accipiters, Vaux’s Swift, Rufous & Calliope Hummingbirds. Woodpeckers include Hairy, Northern Flicker, Red-naped Sapsucker, Downy, and Pileated. Red and White-breasted Nuthatches are common as are Mountain Chickadees and Brown Creeper. Flycatchers include Dusky, Hammond’s, and “Western” (the distribution of Cordilleran and Pacific-slope Flycatcher is uncertain in Union County). Winter Wrens are here year round and Brown-headed Cowbirds can be found in summer. Western Tanagers, Hermit Thrush, Veery, Western & Mountain Bluebirds are all here. Gray Catbirds are possible in the riparian strips and Yellow-breasted Chats hide in the thickets. Listen for both Cassin’s and Warbling Vireos. Warblers include Yellow, Yellow-rumped, Townsend’s, and a possibility of American Redstart. Spotted Towhee, Chipping Sparrow, Lincoln’s Sparrow, Fox Sparrow, and Dark-eyed Junco are here. Black-headed Grosbeaks and Evening Grosbeaks can be found along with Cassin’s Finches and Lazuli Bunting. Watch for flocks of Pine Siskins and Red Crossbills.
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