Photo Gallery
Photos by Rich Hoyer
![Late summer is a fine time to start our tour at Ankeny National Wildlife Refuge in the heart of the Willamette Valley.](/timthumb.php?w=450&src=https%3A%2F%2Flive.staticflickr.com%2F8095%2F8411545693_2f1f53c93b_b.jpg?)
Late summer is a fine time to start our tour at Ankeny National Wildlife Refuge in the heart of the Willamette Valley.
![First of all, there are the wild blackberries in abundance...](/timthumb.php?w=450&src=https%3A%2F%2Flive.staticflickr.com%2F8511%2F8411545695_6635e76fa0_b.jpg?)
First of all, there are the wild blackberries in abundance…
![...it’s also a good time for shorebird migration, here a scarce Semipalmated Sandpiper...](/timthumb.php?w=450&src=https%3A%2F%2Flive.staticflickr.com%2F8212%2F8412645034_1c5440097f_b.jpg?)
…it’s also a good time for shorebird migration, here a scarce Semipalmated Sandpiper…
![...and the world’s most colorful swallow, the Violet-green Swallow, is a common breeder of towns and in the countryside.](/timthumb.php?w=450&src=https%3A%2F%2Flive.staticflickr.com%2F8081%2F8411545585_43fc2d0cf1_b.jpg?)
…and the world’s most colorful swallow, the Violet-green Swallow, is a common breeder of towns and in the countryside.
![This tour could see tremendous woodpecker diversity, but only here in the Willamette Valley will we see Acorn Woodpecker.](/timthumb.php?w=450&src=https%3A%2F%2Flive.staticflickr.com%2F8354%2F8412644936_425dfa99b4_o.jpg?)
This tour could see tremendous woodpecker diversity, but only here in the Willamette Valley will we see Acorn Woodpecker.
![We’ll spend a day in the Coast Range where we’ll look for Pacific Wren...](/timthumb.php?w=450&src=https%3A%2F%2Flive.staticflickr.com%2F8372%2F8411545539_e456638d57_b.jpg?)
We’ll spend a day in the Coast Range where we’ll look for Pacific Wren…
![...and another target is the often very elusive Mountain Quail.](/timthumb.php?w=450&src=https%3A%2F%2Flive.staticflickr.com%2F8327%2F8412644848_3014740380_b.jpg?)
…and another target is the often very elusive Mountain Quail.
![We’ll then work our way to the famously picturesque Oregon Coast...](/timthumb.php?w=450&src=https%3A%2F%2Flive.staticflickr.com%2F8221%2F8412644680_83a0c556f9_b.jpg?)
We’ll then work our way to the famously picturesque Oregon Coast…
![...where we'll look for birds on the beaches…](/timthumb.php?w=450&src=https%3A%2F%2Flive.staticflickr.com%2F8075%2F8411544927_ab4edfa5ed_b.jpg?)
…where we’ll look for birds on the beaches…
![…where Western Sandpiper is the commonest migrant sandpiper.](/timthumb.php?w=450&src=https%3A%2F%2Flive.staticflickr.com%2F8464%2F8412644290_38a90ef690_b.jpg?)
…where Western Sandpiper is the commonest migrant sandpiper.
![We’ll search the rocky shores for residents and migrants…](/timthumb.php?w=450&src=https%3A%2F%2Flive.staticflickr.com%2F8082%2F8412644180_c3df61ecd7_b.jpg?)
We’ll search the rocky shores for residents and migrants…
![…such as Black Oystercatcher.](/timthumb.php?w=450&src=https%3A%2F%2Flive.staticflickr.com%2F8054%2F8411544615_27ea2a24a3_b.jpg?)
…such as Black Oystercatcher.
![We’ll then turn eastward over the lush, western slope of the Cascades Mountains…](/timthumb.php?w=450&src=https%3A%2F%2Flive.staticflickr.com%2F8095%2F8412643966_f49a9184a8_b.jpg?)
We’ll then turn eastward over the lush, western slope of the Cascades Mountains…
![…where Western Tanager is a common breeder.](/timthumb.php?w=450&src=https%3A%2F%2Flive.staticflickr.com%2F8192%2F8411544433_9754519d24_b.jpg?)
…where Western Tanager is a common breeder.
![Once on the dry side, we’ll look back at the Three Sisters before plunging deeper into eastern Oregon.](/timthumb.php?w=450&src=https%3A%2F%2Flive.staticflickr.com%2F8089%2F8412643844_9bace7a5d4_b.jpg?)
Once on the dry side, we’ll look back at the Three Sisters before plunging deeper into eastern Oregon.
![We’ll look for good stands of tall sagebrush to find Sage Sparrow…](/timthumb.php?w=450&src=https%3A%2F%2Flive.staticflickr.com%2F8329%2F8412643520_bedd70fa2d_b.jpg?)
We’ll look for good stands of tall sagebrush to find Sage Sparrow…
![…and we’ll likely come across Mountain Bluebirds on almost any roadside fence.](/timthumb.php?w=450&src=https%3A%2F%2Flive.staticflickr.com%2F8470%2F8412643440_4ac0fff077_b.jpg?)
…and we’ll likely come across Mountain Bluebirds on almost any roadside fence.
![Our visit to the true Great Basin will begin at Summer Lake State Wildlife Management Area...](/timthumb.php?w=450&src=https%3A%2F%2Flive.staticflickr.com%2F8334%2F8411544031_d62cfda412_b.jpg?)
Our visit to the true Great Basin will begin at Summer Lake State Wildlife Management Area…
![...and if water levels are right, the numbers of Wilson’s and Red-necked Phalaropes and other shorebirds can be staggeringly high.](/timthumb.php?w=450&src=https%3A%2F%2Flive.staticflickr.com%2F8082%2F8411543995_7cd51c19d1_b.jpg?)
…and if water levels are right, the numbers of Wilson’s and Red-necked Phalaropes and other shorebirds can be staggeringly high.
![We’ll finally arrive at the verdant Malheur National Wildlife Refuge...](/timthumb.php?w=450&src=https%3A%2F%2Flive.staticflickr.com%2F8087%2F8411544021_3505ed6333_b.jpg?)
We’ll finally arrive at the verdant Malheur National Wildlife Refuge…
![...where Long-billed Curlew breeds in fields…](/timthumb.php?w=450&src=https%3A%2F%2Flive.staticflickr.com%2F8184%2F8411541689_e30c841c50_b.jpg?)
…where Long-billed Curlew breeds in fields…
![…and Sora can sometimes be seen sneaking along the margins of cattail marshes.](/timthumb.php?w=450&src=https%3A%2F%2Flive.staticflickr.com%2F8234%2F8411543857_3d748983e4_b.jpg?)
…and Sora can sometimes be seen sneaking along the margins of cattail marshes.
![We’ll have opportunities to explore mountain wildflower meadows…](/timthumb.php?w=450&src=https%3A%2F%2Flive.staticflickr.com%2F8226%2F8411543687_0955667ebd_b.jpg?)
We’ll have opportunities to explore mountain wildflower meadows…
![…where Lewis’s Monkeyflower might still be blooming...](/timthumb.php?w=450&src=https%3A%2F%2Flive.staticflickr.com%2F8357%2F8411543651_f94c196c49_b.jpg?)
…where Lewis’s Monkeyflower might still be blooming…
![...and we’ll bird rich coniferous woodlands where late summer Fireweed should be in bloom...](/timthumb.php?w=450&src=https%3A%2F%2Flive.staticflickr.com%2F8233%2F8412642642_3c7b9ae61a_b.jpg?)
…and we’ll bird rich coniferous woodlands where late summer Fireweed should be in bloom…
![...ller Ponderosa Pines support White-headed Woodpecker…](/timthumb.php?w=450&src=https%3A%2F%2Flive.staticflickr.com%2F8227%2F8411543167_2c6d8a7e34_b.jpg?)
…ller Ponderosa Pines support White-headed Woodpecker…
![…and mountain meadows have breeding Sandhill Cranes.](/timthumb.php?w=450&src=https%3A%2F%2Flive.staticflickr.com%2F8056%2F8412642488_05874a92ca_b.jpg?)
…and mountain meadows have breeding Sandhill Cranes.
![Nearly every day will feature a picnic lunch in a lovely setting.](/timthumb.php?w=450&src=https%3A%2F%2Flive.staticflickr.com%2F8237%2F8412642158_cafd8ccd0e_b.jpg?)
Nearly every day will feature a picnic lunch in a lovely setting.
![On our way back to Portland we’ll stop by the Painted Hills sector of the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument...](/timthumb.php?w=450&src=https%3A%2F%2Flive.staticflickr.com%2F8470%2F8411541963_2807fe1b42_b.jpg?)
On our way back to Portland we’ll stop by the Painted Hills sector of the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument…
![...and we'll have a farewell view of the Columbia River gorge, just a few miles from our final night’s hotel.](/timthumb.php?w=450&src=https%3A%2F%2Flive.staticflickr.com%2F8043%2F8411541419_1008cd8cd4_b.jpg?)
…and we’ll have a farewell view of the Columbia River gorge, just a few miles from our final night’s hotel.
![Our farewell dinner will be in sight of Multnomah Waterfalls...](/timthumb.php?w=450&src=https%3A%2F%2Flive.staticflickr.com%2F8358%2F8412641068_0b2c2011cb_b.jpg?)
Our farewell dinner will be in sight of Multnomah Waterfalls…
![...where we often have a farewell view of American Dipper.](/timthumb.php?w=450&src=https%3A%2F%2Flive.staticflickr.com%2F8232%2F8411542087_16cf342f3f_b.jpg?)
…where we often have a farewell view of American Dipper.
![For those taking part in the pre-tour pelagic trip, we’ll start in the Newport Harbor...](/timthumb.php?w=450&src=https%3A%2F%2Flive.staticflickr.com%2F8504%2F8411545323_3fddbbb23a_b.jpg?)
For those taking part in the pre-tour pelagic trip, we’ll start in the Newport Harbor…
![...and once offshore we might be lucky enough to see an early Buller’s Shearwater. (bs)](/timthumb.php?w=450&src=https%3A%2F%2Flive.staticflickr.com%2F8465%2F8411545153_d5473c54db_b.jpg?)
…and once offshore we might be lucky enough to see an early Buller’s Shearwater. (bs)