Memorial Day weekend at Malheur: Part 27

Cinnamon Teal at Malheur NWR, Oregon on 30 May, 2010 by Greg Gillson.

 

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Well, we've done it! This Cinnamon Teal, a common breeding bird in the Malheur region, is the last photo in this series.

And what a pretty duck it is, common in every roadside ditch and puddle!

We've covered some of the birds and showed some scenery from the flooded agricultural fields of Burns and Hines in the north to the tiny town of Frenchglen in the south, with Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in the middle.

We didn't head farther south to the similarly tiny hamlet of Fields and its oasis or any of the seasonal streamlets near the border with Nevada. And the road up the Steens will not be open until later summer when the snow melts more on its 9000 foot summit. We didn't head east to Diamond Craters or Round Barn. And we didn't venture north of Burns to Idlewild Campground and its ponderosa pine birds.

But we did cover the main portion of "Malheur" during, perhaps, a typical 4-day trip during Memorial Day weekend.

I hope you enjoyed it!

The photos presented in this series, as well as additional photos, are in my pBase photo archive. I will probably be adding to the photos over the next year as I go through all the shots. After all, I am still working on some of the photos from 2009!

Memorial Day weekend at Malheur: Part 26

Common Nighthawk at Malheur NWR, Oregon on 30 May, 2010 by Greg Gillson.

 

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Common Nighthawk is usually the latest regular spring migrant to arrive in the Pacific NW. The first few usually arrive by Memorial Day weekend, but the bulk don't arrive until June. They sit horizontally on branches, wooden fence rails, refuge signs, and gates (as above).

Not really nocturnal, and not a hawk at all, these crepuscular insect-eating birds are camouflaged to hide them during the day.

Memorial Day weekend at Malheur: Part 25

Ruddy Duck at Malheur NWR, Oregon on 30 May, 2010 by Greg Gillson.

 

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Ruddy Ducks are fairly common wintering birds and migrants throughout the Pacific Northwest, as long as the water remains unfrozen. But their dull brown plumage in winter is nothing like their breeding finery.

Ruddy Ducks are common throughout the Malheur area. The bright cinnamon body, white face, and blue bills are quite striking--even in the subdued light of a cloudy early evening photo (above).

Memorial Day weekend at Malheur: Part 24

Black-headed Grosbeak at Malheur NWR, Oregon on 30 May, 2010 by Greg Gillson.

 

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An activity pursued by many birders at Malheur during memorial day--and throughout this time in later spring--is searching for rare birds. One-year old birds tend to migrate later and wander more widely than adults. Thus, many rare first-year vagrants are found during the Memorial Day weekend.

"Did you hear about the Hooded Oriole at Fields?"

"Yes, we just came from there and saw it! And did you hear about the Blackpoll Warbler at Benson Pond?"

Such are the greetings of birders throughout the weekend as they pass in cars or meet in the various oases.

While Black-headed Grosbeaks (female photographed above) are abundant migrants and quite pretty in both plumage and song, birders examine them closely at Malheur looking for the similar vagrant Rose-breasted Grosbeaks.

Memorial Day weekend at Malheur: Part 23

Northern Shoveler at Malheur NWR, Oregon on 29 May, 2010 by Greg Gillson.

 

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Many ducks nest in the marshes of Malheur. Northern Shoveler is one of the common breeding ducks throughout the refuge.

Memorial Day weekend at Malheur: Part 22

Franklin's Gull at Malheur NWR, Oregon on 29 May, 2010 by Greg Gillson.

 

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This noisy hooded gull of marshes in the Great Plains and Great Basin is one of the specialties of Malheur. Found throughout Malheur, it is frequent at Benson Pond in the south end of the refuge.

Steens Mountain over Benson Pond on Malheur NWR, Oregon on 30 May, 2010 by Greg Gillson.

Memorial Day weekend at Malheur: Part 21

Short-eared Owl at Malheur NWR, Oregon on 29 May, 2010 by Greg Gillson.

 

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Another bird that seems to like the south end of the refuge, between Page Springs Campground and Benson Pond, is the diurnal (day-time active) Short-eared Owl.

Flying like a big floppy moth, it wings over the meadows on deep wing strokes looking for rodents.

Memorial Day weekend at Malheur: Part 20

Bobolink north of P Ranch at Malheur NWR, Oregon on 29 May, 2010 by Greg Gillson.

 

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One of the birds that seems to prefer the south end of Malheur refuge is the Bobolink. They seem to especially like the short-grass fields just north of P Ranch.

Both the P Ranch and Frenchglen are named for the cattle baron Pete French. The history of this region is as interesting and unique as the land itself. You owe it to yourself to familiarize yourself with the story and visit the historic sites in the area.

Memorial Day weekend at Malheur: Part 19

Yellow Warbler at Benson Pond on Malheur NWR, Oregon on 30 May, 2010 by Greg Gillson.

 

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Down through the middle of Malheur NWR leads the Central Patrol Road. Much of it follows willow-lined channels. Two birds are abundant here in spring: Willow Flycatchers and Yellow Warblers. The male Yellow Warblers, with their red-streaked breasts, are so bright that many photos of them are over-exposed.

In the south end of the refuge is Benson Pond and P Ranch. Nearby is the "town" of Frenchglen. The campground of Page Springs is 3 miles east.

Birders at Benson Pond on Malheur NWR, Oregon on 30 May, 2010 by Greg Gillson.

The Blitzen River comes roaring down a canyon on the west side of the Steens Mountains and comes out into the valley at Page Springs Campground. There are many willow clumps here as the once rushing stream becomes a slow channeled water course, controlled for water levels on the entire rest of the refuge.

Memorial Day weekend at Malheur: Part 18

Hammond's Flycatcher at Malheur NWR, Oregon on 29 May, 2010 by Greg Gillson.

 

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Flycatchers are one of the common migrant birds passing through Malheur refuge headquarters in spring. The bird above is part of a group of about 8 look-a-like flycatchers in the genus Empidonax found in the Pacific NW. These birds can provide much identification challenge and discussion.

On a photo, bill size and color, and primary length past secondary stack are important. In life, tail-wagging behavior can be an important clue. Calls and songs are the best way to identify them, but they are often silent away from their breeding grounds. Plumage color? That doesn't really help all that much; most of them look pretty much the same.

Although I did know the identity of this bird when I took the photo--or thought I did--I don't remember now. Most birds this day were Dusky Flycatchers. But there was one Hammond's Flycatcher present as well. It is not "Western" (Pacific-slope or Cordilleran). It is not Willow. I don't think it is a rare Least Flycatcher. Or is it? I would call it Dusky, but the bill seems a bit short and all-dark. What to do? Ask my friend Dave Irons for his opinion!

...As I was beginning to suspect, Dave calls this a Hammond's, due to large headed look with small all dark bill and fairly long and sharp-pointed primaries....

You know what? This is just like birding at refuge headquarters!

Now that we've seen the north end of the Malheur NWR in SE Oregon, lets drive another 25 miles south. The southern end of the refuge has additional interesting birds...

Memorial Day weekend at Malheur: Part 17

Lark Sparrow at Malheur NWR, Oregon on 29 May, 2010 by Greg Gillson.

 

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Lark Sparrows are found in some of the more grassy parts of the Malheur area. They frequent pastures and roadside edges with grasses amid the sage.

The head of the Lark Sparrow is often featured as an example in naming the various feather tracts of the head. You want field marks for the head? Lark Sparrows have them all!

Memorial Day weekend at Malheur: Part 16

Western Kingbird at Malheur NWR, Oregon on 29 May, 2010 by Greg Gillson.

 

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Western Kingbirds are one of the more obvious roadside landbirds at Malheur. They can be found sitting on telephone and fence wires, and are usually present around ranch houses or barns.

Memorial Day weekend at Malheur: Part 15

Sage Sparrow at Malheur NWR, Oregon on 30 May, 2010 by Greg Gillson.

 

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One of the most reliable spots to see Sage Sparrow is below the cliffs that are 2 miles west of The Narrows store. Here you may also find Brewer's Sparrows, Lark Sparrows, Vesper Sparrows, and sometimes Black-throated Sparrows.

Memorial Day weekend at Malheur: Part 14

Sage Thrasher at Malheur NWR, Oregon on 30 May, 2010 by Greg Gillson.

 

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One of the most abundant birds in the sage scrub at Malheur is the Sage Thrasher.

Typcal high desert plants that make up the "sage" flats include: Big Sagebrush, Rabbitbrush, Shadscale, Greasewood, Bitterbrush, and others.

Sage Thrasher at Malheur NWR, Oregon on 30 May, 2010 by Greg Gillson.

Memorial Day weekend at Malheur: Part 13

Warbling Vireo at Malheur NWR, Oregon on 30 May, 2010 by Greg Gillson.

 

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One of the abundant birds in the Pacific NW is the Warbling Vireo. They migrate in large numbers through the Great Basin desert. They are one of the typical migrants at Malheur Headquarters and other oases. It is not unusual to have 15-20 birds at Headquarters each day in May.

Memorial Day weekend at Malheur: Part 12

Loggerhead Shrike at Malheur NWR, Oregon on 29 May, 2010 by Greg Gillson.

 

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There are several good birding locations near Refuge Headquarters and the north end of Malheur National Wildlife Refuge.

The Narrows is a stream between the two huge alkaline lakes of Malheur Lake to the east and Mud Lake to the west. I remember a time in the 1980's where these two lakes merged and filled the Blitzen Valley for many miles. Recently, however, water at The Narrows has dried up and you can no longer even see the shore of the two lakes. West of The Narrows 2 miles is a cliff that has hosted a nesting Golden Eagle and Barn Owl for many years. The sage flats below host all Oregon's desert sparrows.

The Malheur Field Station is a group of mobile homes and buildings providing an educational setting for Evergreen State College students and others. Birders can rent the old mobile homes during Memorial Day weekend, though they are usually reserved far in advance. The trees and lawns here are not as well-developed as Headquarters, but sometimes interesting birds show up.

The graveled Central Patrol Road (CPR) takes off south through the center of the refuge following the river canal and ponds. Highway 205 parallels the refuge to the west.

About 12 miles to the south of Headquarters is Buena Vista Station and the fantastic overlook there.

Steens Mountain backdrops the Coyote Buttes with the Malheur Field Station below on 30 May, 2010 by Greg Gillson.

Memorial Day weekend at Malheur: Part 11

Western Meadowlark at Malheur NWR, Oregon on 29 May, 2010 by Greg Gillson.

 

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Each spring morning, as soon as the sun's rays peek over the eastern horizon, the flute-like serenade of the Western Meadowlark begins from the sage and ranch lands at Malheur.

Memorial Day weekend at Malheur: Part 10

Western Tanager at Malheur NWR Headquarters, Oregon on 30 May, 2010 by Greg Gillson.

 

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Lawn and fruit trees! Cottonwoods, spruce, pine, licacs, hawthorn! Bird feeders, bird baths, hummingbird feeders! You have finally arrived at Malheur NWR Headquarters, some 25 miles south of Burns, Oregon.

If you are here in the first few hours after dawn during spring migration you will see an amazing spectacle. Hundreds of birds drop out of the sky to land exhausted in this most amazing green oasis. Here they are--Western Tanagers (above), Black-headed Grosbeaks, Wilson's Warblers, Lazuli Buntings, Warbling Vireos, and dozens of other regular species!

The birds started their migration a few weeks earlier, crossed the length of Mexico, flew over the Southwestern cactus deserts, and now have navigated the Great Basin sage flats. They fly at night, rest and eat during the day. If the weather is cooperative, they take off again at dusk, heading for some northern forest or pleasant meadow to breed. But first they have to get there. Refuge Headquarters at Malheur is a welcome break providing water, shade, a hiding place, and food.

No wonder most serious birders start each morning at "Headquarters" before heading off elsewhere for the day.

Western Tanagers, nest in conifer forests, but are common migrants in May at Malheur.

Malheur NWR Headquarters, Oregon on 29 May, 2010 by Greg Gillson.

Memorial Day weekend at Malheur: Part 9

Female Wilson's Phalarope near Hines, Oregon on 28 May, 2010 by Greg Gillson.

 

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Wilson's Phalaropes can be found in roadside ditches and wet fields throughout the Malheur region. This interesting swimming shorebird has females with brighter plumage than the males.

Now that we've taken a look at several of the specialty birds in the meadows east and south of Hines and Burns, we'll travel up and over Wright's Point and through sage scrub and cattle country about 25 miles to Malheur NWR proper and refuge headquarters. Stay tuned...

Memorial Day weekend at Malheur: Part 8

Willet near Hines, Oregon on 28 May, 2010 by Greg Gillson.

 

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One of the sounds of dawn and dusk over the wetlands of the Malheur region is the "pill-will-willet!" call of the Willet. Rather plain on the ground, this large shorebird has striking bold black and white wing stripes. When they land on the ground they keep their wings held up for 2-3 seconds. Unfortunately, they were never in the right place for me to get a photo of this.

Next year...