Wednesday Birders – June 14

This is a tentative schedule which can always be altered for exciting opportunities for birds elsewhere, adverse road or weather conditions, etc. When directions aren’t given, the intent is to encourage everyone to use the ECBA birding site guide and get used to using those directions and the “how to bird it” tips for the locations. Simply select the county and the hotspots are listed alphabetically.

June 21 – Deschutes River Trail, Lava Island. Some of you have already been there this season and can direct others to spots for highlights. Gray Catbird is the celebrity bird there. Meet at 7:00 for carpooling at the Park and Ride off Simpson, near The Pavilion or meet at 7:30 at the start of birding from the parking area for the river train. Plan some walking along the trail. The group can plan other birding from there.

June 28 – Prairie Farm etc. on Green Ridge. Walking along the creek below the dam can be a great spot for thrushes and warblers, i.e., Nashville, etc. Try going up to the hawk watch site for Hermit and Townsend’s, maybe Pileated and Sooty Grouse. Bear Springs and Whiskey Springs can be visited to end the loop. Whiskey Springs is not on the ECBA site resources because it is private. Bird only from the road, 1.7 miles in on 1140 from the 11 Rd.

July 5 – Santiam Pass, PCT for Northern 3-toed, and Lost Lake.

July 12 – Todd Lake, Sparks Lake. arrive early to find parking. Walk the trails around the lakes for finches, chickadees, RS Hawks and waterfowl. Walk 2 to 3 miles.

July 19 – Warm Springs. Boat ramp area, trail near sewage treatment area and then Museum trail. Consider supporting the museum by visiting exhibits.

July 26 – p.m. birding Millican area. Finish after dusk with Poorwill.

August 2  – Tumalo Res and Hatfield.

August 9 – Haystack for shorebirds, waterfowl. Springs and and Gray Butte if mid day temp permits.

August 16- Lower Bridge, Redmond Sewer Ponds. Willows at Lower Bridge and Lynx could be stuffed with migrants.

Aug 23 – Cascade high Lakes. Begin with willows along “kiosk ponds” at Wickiup and loop around to North, Wickiup Butte, etc. Passerines and shorebirds are on the move.

August 30 – shorebirds. Hotspot to be determined for this date.

September 6 – Hatfield, Houston Lakes and CRWC

Sept 13 – Wickiup, Crane Prairie, Sheep Bridge, etc

Sept 20 – Smith Rocks trails (state park pass in each vehicle), ag fields to the east, Redmond ponds

Sept 27- Haystack, Culver, Metolius and The Cove. Early loons, gulls, Scoters, shorebirds.

October and November.  Instead of scheduling spots in advance, will work on using the ECBA website as a source of birding sites, for Crook and Jefferson, with focus on spots new or rarely visited by the group.

Watch COBOL for announcement of meeting and carpooling times and places or for changes in the plan. Wednesdays are group birding where we help each other and learn together, not always a “guided” field day.