Second Day at Buckhorn Campground

Staying a second night at Buckhorn Campground allowed us the take bird walks yesterday both in the morning and in the afternoon, giving us the opportunity to explore the lake shore of Black Butte Lake in two different directions.  Both trips where productive for a good variety of birds.  In one direction we saw both Great Egrets and Snowy Egrets and a small flock of White Pelicans along the shoreline.  Out on the lake Jeanette counted 160 Western Grebes. Along the trail among the oaks we saw around 60 Lewis’s Woodpeckers busy doing what they do which is acting like flycatchers. But in the other direction of the lake we had the real find of the day, a Golden Eagle.  A first for us in about every category, and the third day in the row that we have added to our Life List.  We like staying a second night at stop, and think this is going to be our pattern for our winter wandering this year. It allows for a day of driving and then for a layover day.  Just enough time to explore an area, but not get bored.

EDITORS NOTE: Golden Eagle was wrong--it is a juvenile Bald Eagle

                              Golden Eagle (click to enlarge)

Acorn Woodpecker

Lewis's Woodpecker