John Day Fossil Beds National Monument – Painted Hills Picnic Area
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Location
The picnic area is located off Bear Creek Road as you turn off Burnt Creek Road just as you enter the Painted Hills Unit. It offers a nice grassy area with trees and a riparian area along Bridge Creek. There are dense conifers planted as a wind block and fields that offer other habitat.
DirectionsHabitat and Birds
Look for Warblers, woodpeckers, and other mixed flocked birds in the trees. A variety of sparrows can be found here in the riparian area or in the fields. Yellow-breasted Chats may be in along the creek. A Say’s Phoebe pair is usually not far away. This spot also offers opportunities to see raptors in the fields or nearby cliff; Northern Harrier, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Cooper’s Hawk, Red-shouldered Hawk, Red-tailed Hawks and Prairie Falcon have been spotted from here.
Nearby Birding Locations
- Richmond Sixshooter Road
- Parish Creek Road
- Painted Cove (No public access)
- Fopiano Reservoir
- Meyers Canyon
- Waterman Road
- OSU Geology Field Station
- Painted Cove Trail - Painted Hills Unit of the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument
- Mitchell (Town)
- Gable Creek Road
- Bridge Creek Road
- Dollarhide Pond
- Waterman Road
- John Day Fossil Beds National Monument - Painted Hills Unit
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