We have been trying to get up to Larch Mountain for the past couple weeks and the weather is now finally cooperating. It is only about 22 miles from Mount Hood (pictured above). There is a 14 mile drive up to the top where the Sooty Grouse can be seen. After several miles we finally found one crossing the road - Yeah! A new life bird for Matt and myself.
It was a pretty nice day and the view from the top was great. We could see Mount Hood, Mount St. Helen's, Mount Rainier, Mount Adams and Mount Jefferson. This picture shows a little bit of the Columbia Gorge below.
On the way back to town, we stopped at the Sandy River Bridge. I got two more life birds - Swainson's Thrush and Common Merganser.
Earlier last week we did some birding at the Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge, where I saw my first Willow Flycatcher, Vaux's Swift, Savannah Sparrow, Lesser Goldfinch and Hairy Woodpecker.
Just a few highlights from the past few weeks at home. I'll be heading back to Elko next week for a month.
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