Malhuer National Wildlife Refuge, Oregon

 We arrived at Malhuer National Wildlife Refuge by 10 am Pacific time on Sunday, September 12. The refuge headquarters area, about an acre of trees, yellow grass, dried pond mudflats, and lawn is truly an oasis in the vast sage open range. 

We walked through a Ponderosa and mixed pine grove to the observation deck at the refuge headquarters building. The deck over looks a wide expanse if green lawn sloping gently down to a split-rail fence and the grasslands and dried pond beyond. A nice couple from Michigan who are camping there until October, volunteer three days a week in exchange for being able to park their trailer in this lovely place. While chatting with them we saw a Northern-flicker with red under wing shafts flashing as it flew in the pines. Eastern Northern Flickers are mostly the yellow-shafted variety.

A Yellow Warbler in drab non-breeding plumage dashed in an out of the small tree near the deck proving that this is indeed an oasis for migratory birds. We explored further, not needing to venture much beyond the headquarters area.

A grey bird slipped in the tree cover giving me enough of a glimpse to get a photo. I later learned this grey bird is a Townsend's Solitaire. A lifer!

 

Dan spotted a yellow bird with a large beak fly into a horse chestnut tree. A female Western Tanager! Another bird we had never seen before.

Flocks of migratory White-crowned Sparrows enjoyed the lawn and planting areas.

A Song Sparrow also made an apprearance.

 

We walked to an observations blind where way off beyond the dried pond on the edge of the tall grass we spied a pair of Ring-necked Pheasants. These are very skittish birds so a photo from a huge distance was only possible. We enjoyed watching them forage.

Back near the headquarters buildings a migratory Willow Flycatcher dashed back and forth from the same bush catching insects on the wing.

In the small mixed pine and deciduous forest Dan spotted one of two Great Horned Owls in the vicinity perched high in a cottonwood tree.

Another raptors we saw were Red-tailed Hawk and Norther Harrier.

 

As we drove from the refuge headquarters along Sod House Road we saw Canada Geese and Sandhill Cranes in the muddy field stubble as a Coyote a bit farther down the road loped along in the bright warm sun. 

 

Even though we were not there during a peak season time, Malhuer NWR did not disappoint.