I live in Lake Oswego Oregon with my wife Tui, my sons Charlie (12) and George (9) and sassy pitbull Maile. This post is about the owls I find in Oregon this year.
Jan 4th. Returning from a night walk with Maile I heard a barn owl screeching as it flew over our yard.
Jan 7th. While walking Maile after dark, I heard a barn owl screeching in the neighborhood.
Jan 14th. Charlie, Maile and I were walking at Luscher Farms when we found a dark roosting barn owl in a Doug fir.
Jan 21st. Maile and I got up before dawn and headed down to Browns Ferry. The trail was covered in icy slush and it drizzled slightly. Despite this I heard a great horned owl singing, and eventually saw it fly over the Tualatin river. A few minutes later I found a barred owl perched low in an alder tree at first light.
Jan 27th. I heard a great-horned owl singing through my bedroom window. Sure enough I found the owl perched high in a cedar tree in the back yard.
Feb 3rd. While at Iron Mountain, Tui and I heard a whole gang of agitated robins, jays and chickadees. After a lot of searching, I eventually found a pygmy owl high in a maple tree.
Feb 4th. I walked Maile along Bount Swale at first light on a lovely frosty morning. I was hoping to find a barn owl, but instead heard a distant great-horned owl.
Feb 9th. I visited Coffee Creek Wetlands before dawn to look for owls. I heard an dog like 3 note call from high in some fir trees. I was eventually able to track down the owl-a great horned. This is the first time I have heard this three note call.
Feb 23rd. Maile and I walked Iron Mountain (Lake Oswego), and heard a great-horned owl singing nearby.
March 2nd. Around dawn I heard and then saw a barred owl at Brown's Ferry.
March 3rd.Charlie, Maile and I went to Powell Butte at dusk in search of a long eared owl reported last week. We didn't see it, but did find both a singing pygmy owl, and a hunting great-horned owl.
March 15th. I got up early and went to Elk Rock, where I found a screech owl near the entrance to the park.
March 26th-28th. A few days before, Charlie and I had attempted to head out to the John Day River. East of Government Camp we got a flat. Our car has run flat tires, so we had no spare. We tried to use a can of goo on the tire, but it only slowed the leak. It was a miserable day, with sleet and heavy rain, and reluctantly we decided to return to Portland.
Equipped with new tires, we headed out East again. Just North of Clarno we found a great-horned owl nesting in Cottonwoods. We found a beautiful place to camp in a grove of mature juniper trees. Once we had set up camp and eaten, we hiked up the slope towards Chinaman Hat. Our goal was Tule Lake, which I imagined would be a haven for owls in this desiccated land.
View about 1/2 mile above camp
It was a beautiful bright afternoon.
Maile intrepidly ventures past the No Trespassing sign.
We eventually reach Tule lake, just as it gets dark. From there we descend, stopping to listen at the denser groves of junipers and creek-side willows. We hear 5 screech owls, and a brief, oh so distant long-eared owl. Tired and happy we make it back to camp around 10pm. We make a fire and cook up cocoa and ramen to replenish.
That night I hear a screech owl calling from the junipers and a great-horned calling from the badlands above the tent.
I wake early and walk around the juniper stand looking for roosting owls and drinking coffee. After breakfast we walk down to the John Day and start looking for owls in the riparian corridor. It isn't long before some fresh whitewash alerts me, and moments later a long eared owl flushes. The bird perches for a minute, then drops out of sight further in the thicket.
I am thrilled, last night's calling bird was my first in Wasco County, but it's immeasurably better to see one! We explore a bit more, and run into a flock of wild turkeys. I hike back up the side of the valley hoping for more roosting owls, but find none. I decide to head out via Condon to the Heppner area in search of short eared owl. Leaving Clarno it starts to pour, and for a couple of hours the rain is remarkable. We consider returning home, but once we have reception, the phone promises a dry evening. Between Condon and Heppner we find many rough-legged hawks and another great-horned on a roadside nest. Best of all the curlews are back, and we delight, watching them float in the wind as they sing.
Our first stop is just East of Heppner. The valley is saturated with pheasants, chucka and gray partridge. Despite a long cold walk we find no owls. We then follow Sand Hollow Road to the pass. From our windswept perch atop of the pass we park and cook dinner on the stove. Two wonderful short eared owls emerge from the grassland and start hunting the golden hillsides. I'm enthralled watching the owls catch the wind and float like kestrels in the wind. Beyond us the Blues are dusted in snow. It's just a perfect place.
Looking South from Sand Hollow Road
This was my first short eared owl sighting in Morrow County. We follow Sand Hollow road North, finding a pair of Great-horned owls nesting by the road. At Hermiston we charge the car, then we follow the interstate East to Quesna County Park on the Columbia. We see a roadside barn owl in the headlights as we pull into the park. The park is in a beautiful setting, but the transcontinental freight trains, and a couple of cars creepily driving up to our tent make for a interrupted night's sleep.
April 2nd, Charlie and I went for a warm evening walk around Mary S Young park. We heard three great-horned owls, including a begging juvenile and saw one adult flying around in the canopy.
April 12th. While driving along Cesar Chavez at night with my friend Mark, I saw a barred owl near Reed Canyon.
May 11th. While walking past Lakeridge high I heard a screech during the day. Tui and I returned at dusk and found the owl.
Phone photo of screech owl
May 12th. Tui and I went to visit the Luscher barn owls, and saw a couple of birds flying around at night.
May 13th. At the far end of Luscher I found another barn owl being mobbed by robins.
May 14th. Tui and I went for an evening walk, where we found the same neighborhood screech owl singing in a maple tree.
May 18th. Charlie and I took an afternoon walk at Brown's Ferry, where we found an adult barred owl perched just a few inches above the ground.
May 20th, Tui and I took a hike at Luscher. Before it was dark, but after sunset, we got to watch a barn owl hunting over the meadows.
May 23rd, before work, Maile and I walked around Clackamette Pond, where a mob of crows led us to a barred owl.
May 24th, George, Maile and I were camping at Timothy Lake when we heard a distant barred owl calling at dusk.
May 26th, I was leaving the house to walk Maile at dusk, when a barn owl flew over the house.
May 23rd. Tui and I took an evening walk to Luscher Farm. Whilst it was still quite light we had a hunting barn owl pass overhead. Later we found a pair of duetting great-horned owls duetting by the small pine wood.
May 24th, George, Maile and I went camping at Timothy Lake on a cool damp evening. We heard a barred owl at twilight.
May31st-Jun 2nd, Charlie, Maile and I headed out to Southern Oregon. Our first stop was the hills Southeast of Myrtle Creek. While driving slowly we heard some scolding robins. I stopped, and a pygmy owl flew up, followed by a pair of angry robins in hot pursuit.
After sunset I soon found a flammulated owl. This was my target and a rarely found bird in Douglas County. I scrambled through a thicket of poison oak, before getting a very close view of this tiny owl.
On the way to Lakeview, we stopped at Howard Prairie and enjoyed views of a female great-gray on her nest. Just East of Lakeview we drove up into Bullard's Canyon. There we endured the mosquitos while waiting for dusk. Once it was dark I quickly found a couple of singing Flammulated owls. We put up the tent, then drove into town, to hook up the car to a charger. On the walk back to the tent, Charlie spotted an overhead barn owl and we heard a singing great-horned owl.
On the way home we visited Summer Lake and found a family of long-eared owls (3 juvs and their parents).
June 4th. Tui and I walked Maile around at dusk and had distant views of a hunting barn owl over the grassland.
June 13th. I walked Maile at Brown's Ferry, where I found a barred owl.
June 15th. Tui and I found a great-horned owl at Luscher Farm.
June 19th. Tui and I took an evening walk around Luscher and found a begging great horned owl, and nearby a hunting adult.
Jun 23rd. I visited Blount Rd just after nightfall, and found a lovely barn owl in flight and heard a singing great-horned owl.
Jun 29-30th. Maile and I drove out to the hills NE of Prineville, where Chuck Gates had found a pair of barred owls. I camped at the edge of a large meadow, and saw a barred owl in flight. Somewhat surprisingly the owls were silent all night. I had forgotten my sleeping bag so I had to use Maile's bed as a blanket. I also saw a couple of nighthawks, three poorwills and a great-horned owl (the later closer to Prineville).
July 12. Now that the water has receded I was able to wade out to the scablands at Coffee Creek Wetlands, where I found a great horned owl being mobbed by robins.
July 28th. Maile and I took a walk near Clackamas Lake and found a singing pygmy owl at dawn. That evening, Tui and I were walking the neighborhood and we found a singing great horned owl.
Aug 6th. George and I set up camp at Frying Pan lake. Well before dark we heard a pair of duetting barred owls. Eventually we had a silent bird fly over the clearing at dusk.
Aug 8th. Tui and I visited Luscher Farm, where we had a great horned owl fly into a try next to us.
Aug 18th. Tui and I were walking the Hallinan neighborhood in Lake Oswego. We heard a great-horned owl singing in the park, Eventually I was able to get good looks of a hunting bird in silhouette
Aug 25th. Charlie and I camped along the PCT, just South of Timberline Lodge. When we arrived it was windy and the mountain was covered in cloud. At 530am, we were awoken by a pair of duetting great-horned owls. The sky was clear, and I was soon able to find the owls as they flew between the spruce trees.
Aug 27th. While camping with George I in NE Clackamas County I heard a spotted owl calling in the middle of the night.
Aug 28th. Tui and I were walking the Hallinan neighborhood, when we heard a barn owl calling near the elementary school
Sep 4th. At dawn I saw a barn owl flying quite high at Blount Rd.
Sep 24th. George and I were camping at Oak Fork Campground (Timothy Lake), when I was awoken by a singing sparred owl. In the distance another bird (or barred owl) called occasionally.
Sep 28th. George and I revisited Timothy lake, this time camping at North Fork Campground, where I heard a saw-whet owl calling in the middle of the night.
Oct 6th. Maile and I drove out to Estacada before dawn in search of Mountain Quail. Near the entrance to Milo McIver State Park entrance I saw a great-horned owl perched on a utility pole.
Oct 11-12. Maile and I drove out to Anthony Lakes in NE Oregon. My goal was to look for Boreal owl. There was a good network of trails above 7000'. I heard a singing great-horned owl at the lake, but failed to hear any more owls on my 8 mile hike. I camped about 1/2 a mile from the lake and while cooking a snack around midnight, I heard a long-eared owl. The long eared woke me a couple of times during the night. At first light a couple of great-horned owls flew around near by. After breakfast I went for a short walk in search of mountain birds. I found a singing pygmy owl.
Oct 13th. Tui and I were walking at George Roger's park after dark when we heard a barn owl screeching.
Oct 18th. While birding the scablands at Coffee Creek, I flushed a roosting barn owl.
Oct 22nd. While walking Maile in the neighborhood I heard a singing great-horned owl near the golf course.
Oct 25th. At Coffee Creek Wetlands I saw a barred owl perched low in a fir. The owl was staring intently at a great-horned owl, which was perched about 15' away. Periodically the barred owl would puff out it's feathers and extend a wing in an effort to appear too large to kill.
Oct 25th. George and I were driving Skyline Road in Wasco County after dark when a saw-whet owl flew in front of the car. Later, while camping at Timothy Lake I was awoken in the tent by a calling saw-whet owl.
Nov 2nd. I saw a small owl in the neighborhood while walking Maile with Tui. I could't tell if it was a saw-whet or screech.
Nov 7th. George, Maile and I spent a frosty night camping at Timothy Lake, where we heard a couple of barred owls.
Nov 11th. At first light I saw a barn owl in flight at Coffee Creek Wetlands.
Nov 29th. At first light I saw a barred owl at Coffee Creek wetlands and in the distance I could hear a singing great-horned owl.
Nov 29-30th. George, Maile and I drove up to Timothy Lake to camp. It was a chilly night, our body heat melted the ice under the tent, so we were soon damp. While pondering our condition I heard a barred and great-horned owl singing.
Dec 15th. Riis and I drove to Anderson Swale Rd to look for short-eared owls. At dusk we had 5 distant short-eareds come out and hunt over the rough pasture.
Dec 16th. Despite pouring rain, I flushed a Screech owl out of a small Doug Fir while walking Maile around Lakeridge High School.
Dec 20th. Riis, Maile and I went out to Coffee Creek in search of roosting owls. I flushed a barn owl. Later we went to Graham's Oaks to do the same, but found no owls and briefly got lost off trail at the West end of the park.
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