Weston and Kirk Road
Seasons
Checklists
Location
Weston is a small town in the NE part of Umatilla County. From the east end of Pendleton, take Hwy 11 over the Umatilla River and set your odometer. Go 17 miles and turn right (east) on Banister Road (also Bannister Road) which will take you into Weston. The trees, shrubs, and yards of the town offer a stark contrast in habitat from the surrounding mono-culture of winter-wheat farms. The town is attractive to many bird species and you bird it like you would bird any other little town on this side of the state. Drive the streets and check for feeders and migrants in the trees. Kirk Road goes east out of town. Turn on to Main Street and follow it out of town where the name changes to Kirk Road (county road 648). Continue on Kirk Road for about 2.9 miles, where it ends at Hwy 204 (Weston – Tollgate – Elgin highway). Turn right onto Hwy 204 to access the Tollgate area or go left back to Weston.
DirectionsHabitat and Birds
The trees, shrubs, and yards of the town offer a stark contrast in habitat from the surrounding mono-culture of winter-wheat farms. The town is attractive to many bird species and you bird it like you would bird any other little town on this side of the state. Drive the streets and check for feeders and migrants in the trees. Kirk Road provides good spring and early summer birding in the brushy habitat along the road between mile 1.5 and 2.5. Look for Willow Flycatcher, Western Wood-Pewee, Song Sparrow, Gray Catbird, Yellow-breasted Chat, Bullock’s Oriole, Lazuli Bunting, Black-headed Grosbeak and other species.
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