Jubilee Lake
Seasons
Checklists
Location
From Elgin, take Hwy 204 west (toward Tollgate) to USFS Rd. 64 and turn east. Follow the 64 road to the sign for Jubilee Lake. Turn right at sign into campground or continue straight to “semi-dispersed” sites on right. This is one of the most popular lakes in the Umatilla National Forest but it is remote enough to provide good birding. It’s an excellent place to combine a birding and camping trip.
DirectionsHabitat and Birds
Tall pines and riparian areas. Waterfowl here might include Barrow’s Goldeneye and Hooded Merganser. Grebes and Loons may visit in spring and summer. 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, Western & Mountain Bluebirds are all here. 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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