Ironside Mountain return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 82 D-4 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 78 E-5 geographic coordinates 44 14’ 33” N 118 08’ 11” W
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Location: From Vale travel 55 miles west to Camp Creek Road on the south side of Highway 26. From Prairie City travel 45 miles east on Highway 26 to Camp Creek Road, less than one mile past tiny Murray Reservoir. You will turn off and follow paved Camp Creek Road / NFD 1684 three miles to a fork where you will make a left turn onto gravel. Although you have left the main paved road you are still on NFD 1684. Follow this gravel road five miles up King Creek to a burned out mountain pass, where you will take a left driving directly towards Ironside Mountain. Follow this increasingly rough road 1.3 miles to another fork. Here you will take a right and head uphill another 2.7 miles to the base of Ironside Mountain's summit cone. Use this MAP contributed by Dean Molen for reference. Once at the parking spot, the route will be obvious. Just head uphill using animal trails whenever possible to make the climb easier. The summit can be reached in less than 45 minutes at a leisurely pace.
Habitat and Birds: This is one of the best locations in the county for high elevation species like chickadees, nuthatches, finches, and especially woodpeckers. Flammulated Owl can be here as a probable breeder and Northern Pygmy-Owl is joined by Northern Saw-whet Owl as a local resident. A Broad-tailed Hummingbird was seen at a local feeder in 1991. Woodpeckers here might include Williamson's Sapsucker, White-headed Woodpecker, Black-backed Woodpecker, and Pileated Woodpecker. There is an old record of Least Flycatcher here. This is the best place to find the forest Corvids. Gray and Steller's Jay are here and Clark's Nutcrackers can sometimes be found. Iron Mountain is, of course, good for forest birds like nuthatches, Brown Creeper, and chickadees. This is the best place in the county to find Western and Mountain Bluebird. Though not by any means common, Pine Grosbeaks and Gray-crowned Rosy-Finches have been seen here in winter. (Contreras and Kindschy, OFO Publication #8)
Willow Creek Road and Malheur Reservoir return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 83 D-6 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 79 E-8 geographic coordinates 44 15’ 31” N 117 33’ 35” W
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Location: Willow Creek Road travels north off of Hwy 26 between Ironside and Brogan. It loops up and around Malheur Reservoir and then, eventually, returns to Hwy 26 near Ironside. To find this road from Vale, travel west on Hwy 26 for 26 miles. Willow Creek Road (also called Malheur Reservoir Road on some maps) is just west of Brogan. It's about 12 miles to Malheur Reservoir and the whole loop is about 30 miles.
Habitat and Birds: This road passes through a very diverse set of habitats: dry desert, irrigated farmland, lakeside vegetation, riparian vegetation, and dry canyon. This may be the best place for Lazuli Bunting in the whole county (Contreras and Kindschy, OFO Publication #8).
Snake River (Near Farewell Bend) return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 83 C-7 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 79 E-10 geographic coordinates 44 17’ 33” N 117 13’ 21” W
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Location: Though Farewell Bend State Recreational Area is technically in Baker County, the county line is on the south end of the park and a short drive from Farewell Bend will bring you to northern Malheur County. From I-84 (this is about 24 miles north of Ontario and about 49 miles south of Baker City), take exit 353 and travel north on Hwy 30. You will be in Malheur County until you reach the park. You can go back to I-84 and take it three miles south to exit 356 and take Hwy 201 south and east along the river. There are periodic pull-offs here that will give you good looks at the river.
Habitat and Birds: Make stops along the river and survey for gulls, waterfowl, migrants, waders, and a whole host of other species. This is the most consistent place to find American White Pelican in the county. Scan the gull flocks for unusual gulls. You might be able to find something very rare like Glaucous-winged Gull or Thayer's Gull (Contreras and Kindschy, OFO Publication #8). Other rarities can show up here. Four Ancient Murrelets were spotted at this location on one occasion.
Love Reservoir return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 83 C-8 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 79 E-9 geographic coordinates 44 14’ 33” N 117 13’ 44” W
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Location: Love Reservoir is located about five miles south of Farewell Bend State Recreational Area. From I-84 (this is about 21 miles north of Ontario and about 52 miles south of Baker City) take exit 356. If you are coming from the north on I-84 Southbound, look for Love Reservoir Road while still on the off-ramp of the freeway. This dirt road travels west from the off-ramp and can be fairly rough. It's not recommended that you use this road if it has rained or snowed recently. If coming from the south on I-84 North, you will have to take a different route. The easiest thing to do is to go to the next exit north (exit 353 is only three miles north) and get on I-84 southbound. Then follow the previous directions. Once you get on Love Reservoir Road, follow the signs to the reservoir. If you don't see signs, just keep right at every branch in the road and you will come to Love Reservoir. It's about five miles from the freeway.
Habitat and Birds: Love Reservoir's proximity to the Snake River makes it a natural magnet for migrants. It's flat sage land is attractive to breeding Long-billed Curlew and just about any form of water bird could be found here. Few make it out here during shorebird season but it's likely that some unusual species could be found if more people visited here.
Bonita Road Willow Grove return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 83 D-5 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 79 E-6 geographic coordinates 44 13’ 57” N 117 50’ 35” W
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Location: Bonita Road is seven miles east of Ironside and 16 miles west of Brogan on Hwy 26. Turn south on Bonita Road and travel about five miles to the willow groves.
Habitat and Birds: This is a nice area during migration. It's a good place to pick up some county rarities. Warblers, vireos, Western Tanager, Northern Oriole, and others can be found here in spring and fall. Great Horned Owls use these trees to roost and nest. Watch for Greater Sage-Grouse on the way in. Northern Flicker, Spotted Towhee, and American Goldfinch are usually found here.
Bully Creek Reservoir return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 83 D-7 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 79 F-9 geographic coordinates 44 01’ 13” N 117 23’ 39” W
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Wildernet Website
Location: Travel seven miles east of Vale on Hwy 20 to Graham Blvd. Turn right (north) and travel five miles to Bully Creek Road. The reservoir is 3.5 miles north on this road. Make sure you check the campground for passerines. The road goes around the north side of the reservoir and offers good viewing with a scope. The east end of the reservoir is shallow and has good vegetation. Follow the creek for as long as you like, birding along the way.
Habitat and Birds: The campground and riparian areas provide opportunities for viewing migrating birds. In the spring, fall, and winter you may see loons, grebes, ducks, and hawks. This may be the best place in the county to search for Western and Clark's Grebes. American White Pelicans can often be found in summer. Check the red, rocky areas for Golden Eagle and Canyon Wren. Rare birds here include Pacific Loon, Sanderling, Sharp-tailed Sandpiper, Pectoral Sandpiper, Short-billed Dowitcher, Red-necked Phalarope, Franklin's Gull, Thayer's Gull, Common Tern, Black Tern, and Northern Mockingbird. (Contreras and Kindschy, OFO Publication #8)
Vale return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 79 A-8 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 79 F-9 geographic coordinates 43 58’ 57” N 117 14’ 17” W
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Location: Vale is located 15 miles east of Ontario at the junction of Hwys 20 and 26. It's 113 miles NW of Burns and 181 miles SE of Pendleton.
Habitat and Birds: Drive the city streets and look for town birds like Eurasian Collared-Dove and California Quail. Hummingbird feeders will produce both Black-chinned and Rufous Hummingbirds.
Vale Sewage Ponds return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 79 A-8 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 79 F-10 geographic coordinates 43 59’ 17” N 117 13’ 37” W
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Location: The sewage ponds at Vale are located on the north side of Hwy 26 after it crosses the Malheur River. These ponds are not open to the public but decent viewing can be accomplished with a scope from Hwy 26. At milepost 247, pull well off the road and hike a steep embankment to reach a level that will allow viewing. It's not ideal and not accessible to everyone but that's the best place to see the ponds.
Habitat and Birds: Like all sewage ponds, a wide variety of birds are attracted to the Vale ponds. Ducks, grebes, herons, gulls, and shorebirds can be found here. Summer is slow but the rest of the year should produce a quality birding experience.
Malheur River return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 79 A-8 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 79 F-10 geographic coordinates 43 59’ 11” N 117 13’ 45” W
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Location: In Malheur County, the Malheur River flows east from the Malheur National Forest, past Vale, and joins the Snake River near Ontario. Much of its path takes it through private property but there are several locations in Vale that offer some viewing. Wadleigh Park on the SE corner of town might give the best access. Several roads cross the river and you can park away from the bridges and walk near them. Be careful to stay off the bridges as there is not room for safe foot traffic. "A" Street and Washington Street both have bridges over the river, as does Glenn Street to the south of town.
Habitat and Birds: The Malheur River has plenty of riparian vegetation and can host abundant migrants in season. Black-crowned Night-herons and the occasional Great Egret are possible. Water birds include a variety of ducks, Double-crested Cormorant, Pied-billed Grebe, and other hydrophiles.
Malheur Butte return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 83 D-8 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 79 F-10 geographic coordinates 44 00’ 38” N 117 05’ 06” W
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Location: Travel south out of Ontario toward Vale. Take Hwy 20/26 toward Vale. From the Junction of 201 and 20/26, go four miles west to Butte Road. Turn right on Butte Rd. and go two miles to the north side of the butte. There are access roads here that will get you to the base of the butte.
Habitat and Birds: This is a dry sagebrush area and sagebrush species can be found here. Look and listen for Sage Thrasher, Brewer's Sparrow, and Sage Sparrow. This is an excellent spot to see Prairie Falcon and they have nested here in the past.
Ontario Airport return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 88 D-4 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 79 F-10 geographic coordinates 44 01’ 20” N 117 00’ 50” W
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Location: Located on the west edge of town, the airport can be accessed in several ways. From Ontario, take any road heading west and you should end up on the Yturri Beltline. At the junction of the beltline and OR 201, turn west onto SW 4th St. This road will give you a view of the north side of the airport. You can then make a loop around the airport using Clark Blvd, SW 18th, and Hwy 30. Pull off wherever you have good viewing and scan for birds.
Habitat and Birds: Gulls sometimes loaf here and strange things are possible (Snowy Owl for example).
Ontario Sewage Ponds return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 88 D-4 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 79 F-10 geographic coordinates 44 02’ 21” N 116 59’ 43” W
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Location: Take exit 374 and turn west on Hwy 30 (OR 201). Shortly after the exit, look for the Tony Yturri Memorial Beltline. Take the beltline west for about a mile and look for Washington Drive. Turn right onto Washington Drive and go a short distance to the ponds. If you are there during the week, stop in at the office and ask permission to bird the facility. Make sure you ask where you are and are not allowed to go. If you are there on the weekends, the gate will be locked. There are several kiosks set up for hunters. You can view the ponds from these vantage points. Make sure you check the wild area to the south of the ponds and on the other side of Malheur Drive. This is city property. There are cattle on this land at times but it has sagebrush and can host several species of sparrows.
Habitat and Birds: Like all sewage ponds, a wide variety of birds are attracted to the Ontario ponds. Ducks, grebes, herons, gulls, and shorebirds can be found here. Summer is slow but the rest of the year should produce quality birding. Rare birds here include Red-breasted Merganser.
Ontario return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 88 D-4 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 79 F-10 geographic coordinates 44 01’ 29” N 116 58’ 32” W
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City Information
Location: Ontario is located near the Oregon-Idaho border. I-84 runs through the town. It is 39 miles NW of Nampa, Idaho and 298 miles east of Portland. Two good birding parks within the city limits are Lions Park and Beck Kiwanis Park. To find Lions Park take exit 376 to East Idaho Avenue (Hwy 30 and OR 201). Stay on this road for 1.4 miles as it winds through town. The park will be on your right in the center of town. To find Beck Kiwanis Park, take exit 374 from I-84 and travel south on Oregon Street (Hwy 30 & OR 201). Go 0.8 miles and turn right on Fourth Street. Go two blocks and turn right on NW 8th Ave. Go 1.5 blocks to Beck Park. There are two cemeteries in town. One is located just south of Lions Park on South Park Blvd. The other is located 6 blocks east of Beck Kiwanis Park on NW 10th St.
Habitat and Birds: Both city parks are good for gulls since they are close to the Snake River. Both have good tall trees and Beck has several good ponds for waterfowl and migrants.
Ontario State Park return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 88 D-4 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 79 F-10 geographic coordinates 44 02’ 55” N 116 58’ 28” W
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Location: Located 1 mile north of Ontario off of I-84. Take exit 374 and turn east on Hwy 30 (OR 201). The park is just a short distance from the exit. This is a day-use area and the park provides free Wi-Fi access so you can check for local rare birds. Walk the gravel hiking path that begins at the west end of the parking lot. It will take you through riparian vegetation and give you a good look at the river.
Habitat and Birds: Large cottonwoods and access to the Snake River provide good birding here. Migrant songbirds stop here to fuel up and there are several protected areas of the river that can harbor herons and ducks. Black-crowned Night-herons are often found here. Osprey cruise the river and Double-crested Cormorants can be found loafing on rocks in the river.
Nyssa return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 79 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 82 C-5 geographic coordinates 43 52’ 36” N 117 00’ 00” W
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Location: Nyssa is a community of about 3000 people, located 10 miles south of Ontario on Hwy 20/26/201. In the center of town, Hwys 20 and 26 peel off and head to Idaho while Hwy 201 continues south. Stay on 201 at this intersection. The Nyssa schools are near this junction. The elementary, middle, and high schools are all together here so there is a good chunk of public land to be explored. Do not wander around with binoculars during school hours. There are several large trees and open fields here that can attract migrants and resting birds. North Park is located on 5th Street on the north side of town while South Park is located on 6th Street on the south side of town. Both have large trees and open fields.
Habitat and Birds: With the river close at hand, plenty of waterfowl can be found here. City parks and large deciduous trees bring in the passerines, so a quick morning stroll through Nyssa can be productive. Look for ducks and geese along the waterways and Ring-necked Pheasant in the fields around town. Great Blue Herons and Black-crowned Night-Herons should be present along with occasional egrets. Cooper's Hawks can be found around town and Prairie Falcons are just beyond the city limits. Keep an eye out for winter sparrows and Eurasian Collared-Doves. Rare birds here include 31 Marbled Godwits on a single day in 1980.
Juntura return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 78 B-4 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 82 A-5 geographic coordinates 43 44’ 40” N 118 04’ 44” W
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Location: Located 55 miles west of Vale on Hwy 20, Juntura is 57 miles NW of Burns.
Habitat and Birds: A small community of only a couple dozen houses. Check the town for migrants and invaders like Eurasian Collared-Dove and Western Scrub-Jay. The big draw for this area is the farmland before and after the town. Bobolinks nest here in summer. Bobolinks are late arrivers and early to depart so don't expect to see them much before mid-June or after mid-August. Other birds here include raptors, Long-billed Curlew, Sandhill Crane, Willet, and ducks. Juntura is a great place for migrating passerines and in the fall and spring, the trees are full of warblers.
Beulah Reservoir return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 78 A-4 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 82 B-5 geographic coordinates 43 54’ 41” N 118 09’ 19” W
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Location: From the eastern border of Juntura, take Beulah Road for 15 miles to the reservoir. On the way, stop in Chukar Park Campground (6 miles north of Juntura) and bird the riparian areas. This can be a great place to camp and start your birding day. At the NE end of Beulah Reservoir, Beulah Road crosses Warm Springs Creek. Check this area for migrants and marsh birds. After crossing Warms Springs Creek, the road will "T". Stay left and you will access the NW part of the lake where the north fork of the Malheur River feeds into the lake. This is another good, marshy spot to bird.
Habitat and Birds: The lake offers good waterfowl birding in spring and fall. Marsh birds can be found around the north end of the lake and migrants will frequent this area as well. Around the lake, check the juniper and sagebrush for dry land species like Vesper Sparrow and Gray Flycatcher. This may be the best place in the county to find Ash-throated Flycatcher (Contreras and Kindschy, OFO Publication #8). Ash-throated Flycatcher are often found near the entrance and across the road from Chukar Park. Nesting species in the park include Bushtit, Say’s Phoebe and Lesser Goldfinch.
A recent trip to this lake in June produced the following species: Birds observed: Horned Grebe, Eared Grebe, Pied-billed Grebe, Western Grebe, Clark’s Grebe, American White Pelican (8), Double Crested Cormorant, American Bittern, Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, Black-crowned Night-Heron, Canada Goose, Mallard, Gadwall, Northern , Pintail, American Widgeon, Cinnamon Teal, Blue-winged Teal, Green-winged Teal, Northern Shoveler, Redhead, Lesser Scaup, Common Merganser, Chukar, American Coot, Killdeer, American Coot, American Avocet, Spotted Sandpiper, Wilson’s Snipe, Ring-billed Gull, California Gull, Caspian Tern Forster’s Tern, Turkey Vulture, Mourning Dove, Common Nighthawk, Vaux’s Swift, Northern Flicker, Western Kingbird, Eastern Kingbird, Common Raven, American Crow, Violet-green Swallow, Tree Swallow, Barn Swallow, Yellow Warbler, Bullock’s Oriole, Black-headed Grosbeak, Western Meadowlark, Brown-headed Cowbird, Yellow-headed Blackbird, Red-winged Blackbird, Brewer’s Blackbird, Common Poorwill (heard at dusk). Thanks to Wayne and Patty Bowers for this list.
Warm Springs Reservoir return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 78 B-4 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 82 C-5 geographic coordinates 43 35’ 07” N 118 12’ 31” W
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Location: Located directly on the county line, the eastern half of this reservoir lies in Harney County. Most of the access and the only facilities are on the west (Harney) side of the reservoir. Access is by a primitive dirt road that is not reliable in bad or wet weather. To get to the lake, leave Juntura on the Juntura-Riverside Road. There will be access side roads at 8.8 miles, 13.4 miles, and 16.7 miles. However, these are undeveloped roads and they have many branches that are unmarked and it's easy to get lost here. It is not recommended you try this route without a good local map of the area.
Habitat and Birds: This is remote location surrounded by dry sage habitat. This deep reservoir is a good waterfowl location. Grebes, ducks, and loons can be found here in season along with pelicans, cormorants, and gulls. Watch for Burrowing Owls and Sage Grouse on the way in. Plenty of other sage birds can be found around this arid lake.
Lake Owyhee State Park and Owyhee Lake return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 79 B-7 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 83 C-9 geographic coordinates 43 37’ 16” N 117 14’ 18” W
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Park Brochure
Park Map
Location: This is a 53 mile lake whose name is a variation on the word Hawaii. Early explorers included some Hawaiians and the name was given to the Owyhee River to honor two Hawaiians who were killed by Native Americans. This is a very rugged part of Oregon so please plan ahead before visiting here or Succor Creek State Recreational Area. There are no stores for supplies so stock up in Ontario or Nyssa before you leave "civilization" (there is a small market at Owyhee called Owyhee Grocery). From Nyssa, travel south on 201 for eight miles to the community of Owyhee. Turn right on Owyhee Avenue and travel west for four miles to Owyhee Lake Road. Take this road 19 miles to the dam and follow the signs to the state park. This is one of the most scenic drives in Oregon, so it is well worth the trip. The birding is good too.
A good side trip here is to bird a two track road that borders a ditch next to the Owyhee River and gets you very close to the cottonwoods and alder thickets that line the river. From Owyhee, go 3.5 miles on Owyhee Avenue just as if you were going to Owyhee Reservoir. Travel 3.5 miles and look for the Owyhee Ditch that flows under the road. Take the dirt road that follows the ditch. This three mile road will expose you to plenty of riparian areas that are full of birds. The road is good for passenger cars in good weather only. There are few areas to turn around here so be prepared to back out if road conditions prove to be too much for your vehicle (It's really pretty smooth). A Black-billed Cuckoo record (not accepted by OBRC) came from an area near here and it has been described as, "the best habitat for Yellow-billed Cuckoo in Oregon" (Contreras and Kindschy, OFO Publication #8).
Habitat and Birds: Canyon species like Chukar, Rock Wren, Canyon Wren, and Lazuli Bunting are common. Say's Phoebes inhabit the slopes and the riparian areas can produce just about any migrant. Check the numerous riparian areas at your leisure. Many are in a hurry to get to the reservoir so they fail to bird the riparian areas that precede it. This is a mistake. Watch the gull flocks. Herring Gull has been seen here before (Contreras and Kindschy, OFO Publication #8).
Adrian and Snake River return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 79 A-8 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 83 B-10 geographic coordinates 43 44’ 23” N 117 04’ 25” W
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Location: Located 12 miles south of Nyssa, Adrian borders the Snake River. Though most access is barred by private land, there are a few areas that get close to the river and could harbor migrants and local nesters. Take Main Street east to 5th Street and then north to Otis Road for the best viewing. On the south end of town, there is a large grove of trees that can be viewed by pulling over and listening from the road. The trees here are on private property so, as always, please respect property rights.
Habitat and Birds: Look for rafts of loafing ducks along the river in all seasons except summer.
Succor Creek State Recreational Area return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 79 C-8 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 83 C-10 geographic coordinates 43 27’ 55” N 117 07’ 26” W
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Location: Coming from the north, travel 21 miles south of Nyssa on 201 and turn on the Succor Creek Road (there is a small brown sign here). Travel 11.6 miles to the recreational area. Coming from the south (Jordan Valley) travel north on 95 for 18 miles and turn on Succor Creek Road. Travel on this road for 19 miles to the recreational area. The road gets pretty rough climbing out of Succor Creek but it's better once it nears the Leslie Gulch cutoff.
Habitat and Birds: This road begins in grassland habitat, then becomes dominated by sagebrush, then canyon-lands, and finally some farmland. Western Meadowlarks and Savannah Sparrows give way to Sage Thrashers and Brewer's Sparrows which, in turn, give way to Canyon Wrens, White-throated Swift, Chukar, and Cliff Swallows. The riparian areas along Succor Creek are lush and provide homes for Western Wood-Peewees and Spotted Towhees among many others.
Leslie Gulch return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 79 C-7 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 83 D-9 geographic coordinates 43 19’ 18” N 117 19’ 24” W
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Location: Many travelers access Leslie Gulch after a good tour of Succor Creek Recreational Area. From Succor Creek, continue south on the only road available. From Jordan Valley, head north on Highway 95 18.2 miles to Succor Creek Road. Bear left onto Succor Creek Road heading northwest and follow the signs to Leslie Gulch. If you are feeling ambitious, you can take the four mile hike from this location to Echo Rock Hotsprings.
Habitat and Birds: The access road to Leslie Gulch takes you through some very good farmland and both kingbirds, White-faced Ibis, and herons can be common. Once in the canyon, listen for Rock and Canyon Wrens along with Chukar and Say's Phoebe. Black-throated Gray Warbler nest in the Juniper.
Birch Creek
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 79 C-6 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 83 E-8 geographic coordinates 43 14’ 05” N 117 15’ 19” W
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Location From Jordan Valley, travel north on 95 for 9.2 miles to Jess Strode/Mahogany Gap Road. Turn left and travel for 7.8 miles to the Goodyear Cutoff Road. Turn left and travel two miles to Mahogany Creek Road. Take this road for three miles to Lodge Ranch Road. Stay right here and take Lodge Ranch for 0.8 miles to Blowout Reservoir Road. Take Blowout Reservoir Road for 12.2 miles to Birch Creek Road. Take this road 5.5 miles to the end. This is a good camping location.
Habitat and Birds: Nice riparian vegetation can produce good migrants. Residents like Warbling Vireo and House Wren are easy to find.
Dowell Reservoir return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 79 D-5 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 82 E-5 geographic coordinates 43 12’ 11” N 118 02’ 32” W
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Location: From Burns Junction, travel 25 miles NW to Crowley-Riverside Road. Take this road 14 miles to Dowell Reservoir.
Habitat and Birds: Marshy wet areas are interspersed with flooded farm fields to produce habitat for probers like White-faced Ibis and Long-billed Curlew. Virginia Rails are in the wetter regions along with Yellow-headed Blackbirds.
Jordan Valley return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 75 A-8 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 83 F-10 geographic coordinates 42 58’ 44” N 117 03’ 06” W
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Location: Located 100 miles north of the Nevada border, Jordan Valley is on Hwy 95, 63 miles south of Nampa Idaho. It's 136 miles SE of Burns via Hwys 78 and 95. This is the only place to load up on supplies for many miles so get your gas and food here before you venture out into the wilds of southern Malheur County.
Habitat and Birds: Like many desert oases, Jordan Valley can be a welcome stopover for migrants. Check the trees around town for any unusual species or resting migrants. There are quite a few hummingbird feeders in town and they could produce Rufous, Black-chinned, and even Broad-tailed Hummingbirds. Check out Pharmacy Road on the west end of town. About 0.5 miles down Pharmacy Road is a side road that will take you to Pharmacy Hill (climb this hill just a bit and you can view the Sewage Ponds from here). On the north end of town, there is a grove of conifers at the cemetery. Searching these conifers can be productive. Varied Thrush and roosting Great Horned and Barn Owl can be found here. You can head east out of town on Yturri Blvd. and find flooded farm fields. You'll be in Idaho in less than two miles along this route. Going out of town, you can view the sewage ponds from 95 but pull well off the road as traffic is surprisingly high here. Watch for Eastern Kingbird and Ash-throated Flycatcher here in summer. This might be the best spot for American Crow in the whole county. Watch the trees in migration. A Chestnut-sided Warbler occurred here in 1992. Keep an eye out for Bobolink in late spring and summer. They have nested here before. (Contreras and Kindschy, OFO Publication #8).
Dinwitty Lane and Wroten Road return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 75 A-8 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 83 F-10 geographic coordinates 42 58’ 56” N 117 05’ 07” W
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Location: From Jordan Valley, travel west for 1.8 miles and Dinwitty Lane will be on your left. Take Dinwitty one mile south and turn right on Wroten Road. Take Wroten for five miles back to Hwy 95.
Habitat and Birds: This is an area with plenty of flooded farm fields. Look for Sandhill Cranes, waders like Black-necked Stilt and American Avocet, Willet, and Long-billed Curlew. Look for Wilson's Snipe and Short-eared Owl here as well. The occasional Snowy Egret can be found in with the more common Great Egrets. Northern Harriers and Swainson's Hawks are abundant.
Cow Lakes return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 79 D-7 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 83 F-9 geographic coordinates 43 06’ 19” N 117 05’ 55” W
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Location: From Jordan Valley, travel five miles to Danner Road on the north side of 95. Following the signs for Cow Lakes, travel about 10 miles to the lakes. Know that this road is not passable in all conditions. There are some areas that get boggy after extended rains. The roads do not take you close to the lakes so be prepared to hike a bit or scope from long distances. On the way back, take a right on Danner Road and follow it back to Hwy 95. This will take you past the grave site of Charbonneau (son of Sacajawea) and a house with lots of summer hummingbird feeders.
Habitat and Birds: Deep lakes surrounded by sage. Some farmland on the way to the lakes. Waterfowl can be abundant and varied in spring and fall. Waders like American Avocet and Black-necked Stilt can be seen on the shorelines while ducks like Bufflehead, both goldeneye, Ruddy Duck, Redhead, and Canvasback are present in season. Eared Grebes can be found here in the breeding season as can Western Grebe. American White Pelicans are always possible in summer. Occasionally Snow and Ross's Geese can be found near the lakes or in the farmland on the way to the lakes. Snowy Egret has been recorded here. Snowy Plover has been found here but breeding records are not known. Black-necked Stilt and American Avocet are known to breed here as are Willet. Other rarities include Marbled Godwit, Short-billed Dowitcher, Black Tern, Flammulated Owl (check the willow thickets between late March and late May), (Contreras and Kindschy, OFO Publication #8)
Antelope Reservoir return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 75 A-8 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 87 A-9 geographic coordinates 42 55’ 24” N 117 13’ 38” W
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Location: From Jordan Valley, travel 11.8 miles to Antelope Reservoir Road. Turn left and go 1.5 miles to the reservoir.
Habitat and Birds: Waterfowl, waders, and shorebirds are the draw here. American White Pelicans, ducks, and coots are here in good numbers. Check the sagebrush on your way in for dry sagebrush species like Lark and Brewer's Sparrows. 1995 was quite a year at Antelope Reservoir. In that year alone, Horned Grebe, Eurasian Wigeon, Tufted Duck, and Greater Scaup were all seen at this location. Other rarities include Marbled Godwit, Semipalmated Sandpiper, Dunlin, Stilt Sandpiper, (Contreras and Kindschy, OFO Publication #8)
Danner Loop Road return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 75 A-8 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 83 F-10 geographic coordinates 42 55’ 20” N 117 14’ 59” W
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Location: Just past Antelope Reservoir Road (see above) and on the opposite side of the road is Danner Loop Road. This road goes five miles before meeting up with Danner Road and back to Hwy 95.
Habitat and Birds: This is an area with plenty of flooded farm fields. Look for Sandhill Cranes, waders like Black-necked Stilt and American Avocet, Willet, and curlew. Check the blackbirds for grackles and the farm trees for Northern Mockingbirds.
Batch Lake return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 79 D-7 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 83 F-9 geographic coordinates 43 04’ 26” N 117 22’ 26” W
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Location: Batch Lake is on the west edge of the two big Cow Lakes. To access it, take Hwy east out of Jordan Valley. About five miles out, take Danner Road as if you were going to Cow Lakes. Anawalt Road branches from Danner Road and takes you to Cow Lakes. 4.7 miles from the junction of Danner and Anawalt, there is a dirt road that heads east. This is West Cow Lakes Road which goes north and a bit west to Batch Lake.
Habitat and Birds: This is a small lake just west of Lower Cow Lake. Shallow water and marshy areas attract plenty of shorebirds and waders along with other marsh lovers. American Bittern has nested here but not recently. Keep your eyes open for it though. Ducks are common here. A very rare Harlequin Duck was found one fall. Sandhill Cranes can be found here along with Black-crowned Night-heron. A Snowy Plover was found here in 1977. Black-necked Stilt and American Avocet are commonly found at this lake and an occasional Marbled Godwit is possible. (Contreras and Kindschy, OFO Publication #8)
Bogus Lakes return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 79 D-6 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 83 F-8 geographic coordinates 43 03’ 02” N 117 34’ 23” W
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Location: Take Stitzel Road north out of Arock and travel about 17 miles to Bogus Lake.
Habitat and Birds: This area is a seasonal playa lake that is bordered by marshy areas. It often goes dry by mid-summer. Just about any species of duck can show up here and Redheads often breed at this location. Barrow's Goldeneye also breed here if water levels are high enough. Sandhill Cranes use this area to stage and occasionally breed. Even Veery have been located here. (Contreras and Kindschy, OFO Publication #8)
3 Forks Area Owyhee River Loop return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 75 A-7&8 B-7&8 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 87 A-9&10 B-9&10 geographic coordinates 42 33’ 43” N 117 08’ 21” W
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Location: To get to Three Forks from Burns Junction, go east on highway 95 for 30.5 miles to mile post 36. This is 16 miles west of Jordan Valley. Go south on a dirt road. The road is normally in good shape but can become impassable after rain. Bear right at a signed junction at 27.6 miles. In another 2.7 miles you will reach the edge of the Owyhee canyon. This is as far as most passenger cars will make it. The last 1.5 miles to the river goes down a steep rocky grade that is best driven in a high clearance vehicle. This loop can be run from Jordan valley and south along the Idaho border. There are good stands of Aspen here. To access this location from Jordan Valley, you can drive east on Yturri Blvd, past the Idaho border, and south on Pleasant Valley Road. You will be in Idaho for about 13 miles but will eventually come back to Oregon. Follow the signs to 3 Forks. Watch for Greater Sage-Grouse along this drive as they nest here.
Habitat and Birds: This is dry canyon country and dry canyon species can be expected. Watch for White-throated Swift, Chukar, and Canyon Wren. Several locations harbor Lazuli Bunting and Yellow-breasted Chat.
Little Grassy Reservoir return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 75 A-7 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 87 A-9 geographic coordinates 42 48’ 23” N 117 18’ 57” W
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Location: Travel 15.5 miles west of Jordan Valley to 3 Forks Road. Turn left and travel seven miles to the reservoir.
Habitat and Birds: Waterfowl, waders, and shorebirds are the draw here. Check the sagebrush on your way in for dry sagebrush species.
Rock House Reservoir return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 75 B-6 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 87 B-8 geographic coordinates 42 42’ 13” N 117 34’ 26” W
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Location: Travel 32 miles east of Jordan Valley to the Owyhee River and the area known as Rome. Just west of Rome, look for Skull Creek Road. Take this road south for 1.5 miles to a fork and veer right onto Indian Fort Creek Road. Take this road for 7.6 miles to Dry Creek Road. Turn left on Dry Creek Road and travel for 4 miles to the Reservoir.
Habitat and Birds: Waterfowl, waders, and shorebirds are the draw here. Check the sagebrush on your way in for dry sagebrush species.
Arock return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 75 A-6 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 87 A-7 geographic coordinates 42 54’ 50” N 117 31’ 34” W
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Location: The road to Arock is located 6.5 miles east of Rome and 26 miles west of Jordan Valley. Look for the Arock Road and travel north for about 3.5 miles to the Arock area. From here, you can explore the Old Ion Hwy east and west as your time allows.
Habitat and Birds: There is a lot of farm land on this route and flooded farm fields in spring will produce abundant bird life. This area can be productive any season. Watch for White-faced Ibis, pond ducks, and blackbird flocks. Others include Western & Eastern Kingbirds, Chipping Sparrow, Willow Flycatcher, Barn Swallow, Say's Phoebe, Raven, Red-tailed Hawk, Turkey Vulture, Canada Geese, and American Robins. In the area are Ring-necked Pheasant, doves (both Eurasian Collared and Mourning), American Kestrel, and more hawks of assorted flavors.
Rome & OwyheeRiver return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 75 A-6 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 87 A-7 geographic coordinates 42 50’ 20” N 117 37’ 39” W
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Location: Located 32 miles west of Jordan Valley and 13 miles east of Burns junction on Hwy 95. Just west of Rome, look for Rome Road. Look for side roads off to the left to access the Pillars of Rome. Rome gets its name from these rock formations that reminded settlers of the roman columns.
Habitat and Birds: This road parallels the Owyhee River and can produce everything from waterfowl to dry sagebrush species. Watch for Canyon Wren on the Pillars.
Crooked Creek Wayside return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 75 A-6 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 87 A-7 geographic coordinates 42 48’ 10” N 117 44’ 01” W
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Location: This is a small wide spot on the south side of the highway with a covered picnic table and drinking water. It is located 6.5 miles from Burns Junction, 6.5 miles from Rome, and about 40 miles west of Jordan Valley on Hwy 95.
Habitat and Birds: All around it are hay fields. You should see a good variety of birds here. Crooked Creek is a short distance east of the spot. There should be White-faced Ibis there or in the area. They travel back and forth from the hay fields along the creek daily in summer.
Burns Junction return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 75 A-5 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 87 A-6 geographic coordinates 42 46’ 38” N 117 50’ 58” W
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Location: This is the junction of Hwys 78 and 95. It is located 45 miles west of Jordan Valley and about 92 miles SE of Burns.
Habitat and Birds: There is little to see at the junction itself and, as of 2009, there were no services at this location. It's worth a short check in the area to see if the odd grackle or White-winged Dove or a Band-tailed Pigeon might be present (It's happened before). Other rarities here have included Blue-gray Gnatcatcher and Bewick's Wren. It's even possible that a pair of Northern Mockingbirds tried to breed here in 1991. (Contreras and Kindschy, OFO Publication #8)
Bone Creek Canyon (Sheephead Mountains) & Crooked Creek Reservoir return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 74 A-4 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 87 B-6 geographic coordinates 42 43’ 22” N 117 59’ 40” W
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Location: From Burns Junction, travel south on 95 for six miles. Turn right on Tudor Road. Take Tudor west for 3.2 miles where it forks right after wrapping around a marshy area (Crooked Creek Reservoir). Take the right fork which is North Fork Ryegrass Creek Road. Take Ryegrass for five miles. At five miles, there is a road to the left called Wildcat Creek Road. Stay to the right to access Bone Creek Canyon via North Fork Ryegrass Road. Follow the canyon for as long as you like. Return to Hwy 95 the way you came in.
Habitat and Birds: The marsh at Crooked Creek Reservoir is very birdy and the road up to the canyon can produce plenty of opportunities for sage species. The canyon itself can have Rock Wren, Canyon Wren, and other rocky canyon species. There is some riparian vegetation for passerines and there is a reservoir part of the way up that could harbor waterfowl.
Whitehorse Road return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 75 C-5 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 87 C-6 geographic coordinates 42 28’ 22” N 117 53’ 01” W
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Location: 21 miles south of Burns Junction on Hwy 95.
Habitat and Birds: This road cuts through dry sagebrush and canyon habitats before ending in the lush Whitehorse Valley (which is actually in Harney County). Dry sagebrush and canyon species are to be expected here. A very strange record of a Long-tailed Jaeger exists from this region. That bird was the first record of this species ever recorded east of the Cascades (Contreras and Kindschy, OFO Publication #8).
Basque return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 75 C-5 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 87 D-6 geographic coordinates 43 36’ 55” N 117 14’ 29” W
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Location: Travel 25 miles south of Burns Junction to a small cluster of trees along 95. Basque is named for the once numerous Basque sheepherders who were some of the early residents of the area (Jordan Valley is considered a Basque settlement).
Habitat and Birds: Check the trees for migrants that may be using the trees as a rest stop.
Oregon Canyon Road and Oregon Canyon Mountains return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 75 D-5 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 87 E-6 geographic coordinates (Oregon Canyon Road) 42 10' 00 N, 118 00' 00 W
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Location: Oregon Canyon Mountains, Oregon Canyon Creek, Twin Buttes (42 10' 00", 118 00' 00")- This is the most spectacular range of mountains in Malheur Co.. There are two access points into these mountains. The less "white knuckle" experience comes in from McDermitt along Disaster Peak Road driving west 16 miles and then north to Chicken Springs, then east at Chicken Springs on 15 mile Road, past Log Springs and up into the top of the Oregon Canyon Mountains. This road is a dry weather road only! You will need a high clearance vehicle. Do not attempt this road before mid-June due to deep snow drifts. The view from these mountains is truly stunning. One can camp near Twin Buttes and, looking east at night, not see a single electric light in the distance. The second access route is the Echave Ranch Road which can be a "white knuckle" driving experience on wet days. To get there, you leave HWY 95 14 miles north of McDermitt and drive west on Oregon Canyon Road and then up the very steep grade onto the Oregon Canyon Mountains where the only level spot is the road at the top. This is where you will want to jump out and kiss the ground then look at the beauty and the view, in that order.
In addition, one can access the area from the north off White Horse Ranch Rd. via Mud Springs Rd (not signed). Enter the region via Oregon Canyon Road and exit the area via the Mud Springs Road. During the dry months, both roads are dry and navigable with a standard 4x4 vehicle. The Mud Springs Road demands a high clearance vehicle more than the Oregon Canyon Road.
Habitat and Birds: This area is loaded with birds and very interesting habitat. Curl-leaf mountain mahogany is the dominate native tree along the basalt rims while aspen forests fill the canyons along with bitter brush, choke cherry and sage. The birds of this area are amazing from late June-early August. Look for Western Bluebirds here. They are fairly hard to find elsewhere in the county. There are Cassin's Finch, Red Crossbill, Northern Goshawk, Bushtit, Mountain Chickadee, Virginia Warblers, Black-throated Gray Warblers, Broad-tailed Hummingbirds, Hermit Thrush, Swainson's Thrush, Nashville Warbler, and Fox Sparrows. The White-crowned Sparrows of this region are the oriantha race. This is a great spot for wild flowers and, best of all, birds. In 1998, four pair of Virginia Warblers were located on and near Twin Buttes (elevation 7930'). Down in the west fork of Oregon Canyon Creek, Gray-headed Junco were found breeding in the aspen stands. Watch for Northern Goshawk here as well. They have nested at this location in the past.
Wayne Bowers has plenty of experience in this area and offers this advise:
Anyone who might be exploring the Oregon Canyon/Trout Creek Mountains in summer:
In the past I have found the gnatcatchers nesting in the Tin Troughs Spring area. The Black-throated Gray Warblers also are common nesters in the mountain mahogany patches in that area. To reach it turn right (north at the first two track as you crest the long climb up the road from the Oregon Canyon Ranch which is referred locally and on some maps as the “Wood Road”. I have also seen Lewis’ Woodpeckers nesting in an aspen in the head of Fifteen-mile Creek – the only place in that area I have seen them.
Alert!-This is a very isolated area and should you encounter medical issues while up here you are on your own and will need to rescue yourself.
McDermitt return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 75 D-5 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 87 F-7 geographic coordinates 41˚ 59’ 54” N 117 43’ 06” W
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Location: McDermitt is located on the Oregon-Nevada border about 55 miles south of Burns Junction. Explore the town but keep an eye out for the Nevada border.
Habitat and Birds: The same as other communities in southern Malheur County.
Lookout Lake return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 79 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 83 geographic coordinates 43 ’ ” N 117 ’ ” W
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Location: If you want to get as far from civilization as you possibly can get in the state of Oregon, try getting to Lookout Lake. It is located in the far SE corner of the state about 35 miles east of McDermitt. I'm not going to list directions here because I don't want to encourage anyone to get lost in this most remote area but you can find it using the DeLorme Map.
Habitat and Birds: This playa lake displays fluctuating water levels throughout the year but can be very productive in the spring.
Ironside Mountain return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 82 D-4 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 78 E-5 geographic coordinates 44 14’ 33” N 118 08’ 11” W
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Location: From Vale travel 55 miles west to Camp Creek Road on the south side of Highway 26. From Prairie City travel 45 miles east on Highway 26 to Camp Creek Road, less than one mile past tiny Murray Reservoir. You will turn off and follow paved Camp Creek Road / NFD 1684 three miles to a fork where you will make a left turn onto gravel. Although you have left the main paved road you are still on NFD 1684. Follow this gravel road five miles up King Creek to a burned out mountain pass, where you will take a left driving directly towards Ironside Mountain. Follow this increasingly rough road 1.3 miles to another fork. Here you will take a right and head uphill another 2.7 miles to the base of Ironside Mountain's summit cone. Use this MAP contributed by Dean Molen for reference. Once at the parking spot, the route will be obvious. Just head uphill using animal trails whenever possible to make the climb easier. The summit can be reached in less than 45 minutes at a leisurely pace.
Habitat and Birds: This is one of the best locations in the county for high elevation species like chickadees, nuthatches, finches, and especially woodpeckers. Flammulated Owl can be here as a probable breeder and Northern Pygmy-Owl is joined by Northern Saw-whet Owl as a local resident. A Broad-tailed Hummingbird was seen at a local feeder in 1991. Woodpeckers here might include Williamson's Sapsucker, White-headed Woodpecker, Black-backed Woodpecker, and Pileated Woodpecker. There is an old record of Least Flycatcher here. This is the best place to find the forest Corvids. Gray and Steller's Jay are here and Clark's Nutcrackers can sometimes be found. Iron Mountain is, of course, good for forest birds like nuthatches, Brown Creeper, and chickadees. This is the best place in the county to find Western and Mountain Bluebird. Though not by any means common, Pine Grosbeaks and Gray-crowned Rosy-Finches have been seen here in winter. (Contreras and Kindschy, OFO Publication #8)
Willow Creek Road and Malheur Reservoir return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 83 D-6 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 79 E-8 geographic coordinates 44 15’ 31” N 117 33’ 35” W
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Location: Willow Creek Road travels north off of Hwy 26 between Ironside and Brogan. It loops up and around Malheur Reservoir and then, eventually, returns to Hwy 26 near Ironside. To find this road from Vale, travel west on Hwy 26 for 26 miles. Willow Creek Road (also called Malheur Reservoir Road on some maps) is just west of Brogan. It's about 12 miles to Malheur Reservoir and the whole loop is about 30 miles.
Habitat and Birds: This road passes through a very diverse set of habitats: dry desert, irrigated farmland, lakeside vegetation, riparian vegetation, and dry canyon. This may be the best place for Lazuli Bunting in the whole county (Contreras and Kindschy, OFO Publication #8).
Snake River (Near Farewell Bend) return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 83 C-7 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 79 E-10 geographic coordinates 44 17’ 33” N 117 13’ 21” W
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Location: Though Farewell Bend State Recreational Area is technically in Baker County, the county line is on the south end of the park and a short drive from Farewell Bend will bring you to northern Malheur County. From I-84 (this is about 24 miles north of Ontario and about 49 miles south of Baker City), take exit 353 and travel north on Hwy 30. You will be in Malheur County until you reach the park. You can go back to I-84 and take it three miles south to exit 356 and take Hwy 201 south and east along the river. There are periodic pull-offs here that will give you good looks at the river.
Habitat and Birds: Make stops along the river and survey for gulls, waterfowl, migrants, waders, and a whole host of other species. This is the most consistent place to find American White Pelican in the county. Scan the gull flocks for unusual gulls. You might be able to find something very rare like Glaucous-winged Gull or Thayer's Gull (Contreras and Kindschy, OFO Publication #8). Other rarities can show up here. Four Ancient Murrelets were spotted at this location on one occasion.
Love Reservoir return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 83 C-8 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 79 E-9 geographic coordinates 44 14’ 33” N 117 13’ 44” W
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Location: Love Reservoir is located about five miles south of Farewell Bend State Recreational Area. From I-84 (this is about 21 miles north of Ontario and about 52 miles south of Baker City) take exit 356. If you are coming from the north on I-84 Southbound, look for Love Reservoir Road while still on the off-ramp of the freeway. This dirt road travels west from the off-ramp and can be fairly rough. It's not recommended that you use this road if it has rained or snowed recently. If coming from the south on I-84 North, you will have to take a different route. The easiest thing to do is to go to the next exit north (exit 353 is only three miles north) and get on I-84 southbound. Then follow the previous directions. Once you get on Love Reservoir Road, follow the signs to the reservoir. If you don't see signs, just keep right at every branch in the road and you will come to Love Reservoir. It's about five miles from the freeway.
Habitat and Birds: Love Reservoir's proximity to the Snake River makes it a natural magnet for migrants. It's flat sage land is attractive to breeding Long-billed Curlew and just about any form of water bird could be found here. Few make it out here during shorebird season but it's likely that some unusual species could be found if more people visited here.
Bonita Road Willow Grove return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 83 D-5 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 79 E-6 geographic coordinates 44 13’ 57” N 117 50’ 35” W
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Location: Bonita Road is seven miles east of Ironside and 16 miles west of Brogan on Hwy 26. Turn south on Bonita Road and travel about five miles to the willow groves.
Habitat and Birds: This is a nice area during migration. It's a good place to pick up some county rarities. Warblers, vireos, Western Tanager, Northern Oriole, and others can be found here in spring and fall. Great Horned Owls use these trees to roost and nest. Watch for Greater Sage-Grouse on the way in. Northern Flicker, Spotted Towhee, and American Goldfinch are usually found here.
Bully Creek Reservoir return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 83 D-7 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 79 F-9 geographic coordinates 44 01’ 13” N 117 23’ 39” W
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Wildernet Website
Location: Travel seven miles east of Vale on Hwy 20 to Graham Blvd. Turn right (north) and travel five miles to Bully Creek Road. The reservoir is 3.5 miles north on this road. Make sure you check the campground for passerines. The road goes around the north side of the reservoir and offers good viewing with a scope. The east end of the reservoir is shallow and has good vegetation. Follow the creek for as long as you like, birding along the way.
Habitat and Birds: The campground and riparian areas provide opportunities for viewing migrating birds. In the spring, fall, and winter you may see loons, grebes, ducks, and hawks. This may be the best place in the county to search for Western and Clark's Grebes. American White Pelicans can often be found in summer. Check the red, rocky areas for Golden Eagle and Canyon Wren. Rare birds here include Pacific Loon, Sanderling, Sharp-tailed Sandpiper, Pectoral Sandpiper, Short-billed Dowitcher, Red-necked Phalarope, Franklin's Gull, Thayer's Gull, Common Tern, Black Tern, and Northern Mockingbird. (Contreras and Kindschy, OFO Publication #8)
Vale return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 79 A-8 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 79 F-9 geographic coordinates 43 58’ 57” N 117 14’ 17” W
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Location: Vale is located 15 miles east of Ontario at the junction of Hwys 20 and 26. It's 113 miles NW of Burns and 181 miles SE of Pendleton.
Habitat and Birds: Drive the city streets and look for town birds like Eurasian Collared-Dove and California Quail. Hummingbird feeders will produce both Black-chinned and Rufous Hummingbirds.
Vale Sewage Ponds return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 79 A-8 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 79 F-10 geographic coordinates 43 59’ 17” N 117 13’ 37” W
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Location: The sewage ponds at Vale are located on the north side of Hwy 26 after it crosses the Malheur River. These ponds are not open to the public but decent viewing can be accomplished with a scope from Hwy 26. At milepost 247, pull well off the road and hike a steep embankment to reach a level that will allow viewing. It's not ideal and not accessible to everyone but that's the best place to see the ponds.
Habitat and Birds: Like all sewage ponds, a wide variety of birds are attracted to the Vale ponds. Ducks, grebes, herons, gulls, and shorebirds can be found here. Summer is slow but the rest of the year should produce a quality birding experience.
Malheur River return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 79 A-8 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 79 F-10 geographic coordinates 43 59’ 11” N 117 13’ 45” W
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Location: In Malheur County, the Malheur River flows east from the Malheur National Forest, past Vale, and joins the Snake River near Ontario. Much of its path takes it through private property but there are several locations in Vale that offer some viewing. Wadleigh Park on the SE corner of town might give the best access. Several roads cross the river and you can park away from the bridges and walk near them. Be careful to stay off the bridges as there is not room for safe foot traffic. "A" Street and Washington Street both have bridges over the river, as does Glenn Street to the south of town.
Habitat and Birds: The Malheur River has plenty of riparian vegetation and can host abundant migrants in season. Black-crowned Night-herons and the occasional Great Egret are possible. Water birds include a variety of ducks, Double-crested Cormorant, Pied-billed Grebe, and other hydrophiles.
Malheur Butte return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 83 D-8 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 79 F-10 geographic coordinates 44 00’ 38” N 117 05’ 06” W
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Location: Travel south out of Ontario toward Vale. Take Hwy 20/26 toward Vale. From the Junction of 201 and 20/26, go four miles west to Butte Road. Turn right on Butte Rd. and go two miles to the north side of the butte. There are access roads here that will get you to the base of the butte.
Habitat and Birds: This is a dry sagebrush area and sagebrush species can be found here. Look and listen for Sage Thrasher, Brewer's Sparrow, and Sage Sparrow. This is an excellent spot to see Prairie Falcon and they have nested here in the past.
Ontario Airport return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 88 D-4 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 79 F-10 geographic coordinates 44 01’ 20” N 117 00’ 50” W
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Location: Located on the west edge of town, the airport can be accessed in several ways. From Ontario, take any road heading west and you should end up on the Yturri Beltline. At the junction of the beltline and OR 201, turn west onto SW 4th St. This road will give you a view of the north side of the airport. You can then make a loop around the airport using Clark Blvd, SW 18th, and Hwy 30. Pull off wherever you have good viewing and scan for birds.
Habitat and Birds: Gulls sometimes loaf here and strange things are possible (Snowy Owl for example).
Ontario Sewage Ponds return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 88 D-4 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 79 F-10 geographic coordinates 44 02’ 21” N 116 59’ 43” W
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Location: Take exit 374 and turn west on Hwy 30 (OR 201). Shortly after the exit, look for the Tony Yturri Memorial Beltline. Take the beltline west for about a mile and look for Washington Drive. Turn right onto Washington Drive and go a short distance to the ponds. If you are there during the week, stop in at the office and ask permission to bird the facility. Make sure you ask where you are and are not allowed to go. If you are there on the weekends, the gate will be locked. There are several kiosks set up for hunters. You can view the ponds from these vantage points. Make sure you check the wild area to the south of the ponds and on the other side of Malheur Drive. This is city property. There are cattle on this land at times but it has sagebrush and can host several species of sparrows.
Habitat and Birds: Like all sewage ponds, a wide variety of birds are attracted to the Ontario ponds. Ducks, grebes, herons, gulls, and shorebirds can be found here. Summer is slow but the rest of the year should produce quality birding. Rare birds here include Red-breasted Merganser.
Ontario return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 88 D-4 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 79 F-10 geographic coordinates 44 01’ 29” N 116 58’ 32” W
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City Information
Location: Ontario is located near the Oregon-Idaho border. I-84 runs through the town. It is 39 miles NW of Nampa, Idaho and 298 miles east of Portland. Two good birding parks within the city limits are Lions Park and Beck Kiwanis Park. To find Lions Park take exit 376 to East Idaho Avenue (Hwy 30 and OR 201). Stay on this road for 1.4 miles as it winds through town. The park will be on your right in the center of town. To find Beck Kiwanis Park, take exit 374 from I-84 and travel south on Oregon Street (Hwy 30 & OR 201). Go 0.8 miles and turn right on Fourth Street. Go two blocks and turn right on NW 8th Ave. Go 1.5 blocks to Beck Park. There are two cemeteries in town. One is located just south of Lions Park on South Park Blvd. The other is located 6 blocks east of Beck Kiwanis Park on NW 10th St.
Habitat and Birds: Both city parks are good for gulls since they are close to the Snake River. Both have good tall trees and Beck has several good ponds for waterfowl and migrants.
Ontario State Park return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 88 D-4 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 79 F-10 geographic coordinates 44 02’ 55” N 116 58’ 28” W
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Location: Located 1 mile north of Ontario off of I-84. Take exit 374 and turn east on Hwy 30 (OR 201). The park is just a short distance from the exit. This is a day-use area and the park provides free Wi-Fi access so you can check for local rare birds. Walk the gravel hiking path that begins at the west end of the parking lot. It will take you through riparian vegetation and give you a good look at the river.
Habitat and Birds: Large cottonwoods and access to the Snake River provide good birding here. Migrant songbirds stop here to fuel up and there are several protected areas of the river that can harbor herons and ducks. Black-crowned Night-herons are often found here. Osprey cruise the river and Double-crested Cormorants can be found loafing on rocks in the river.
Nyssa return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 79 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 82 C-5 geographic coordinates 43 52’ 36” N 117 00’ 00” W
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Location: Nyssa is a community of about 3000 people, located 10 miles south of Ontario on Hwy 20/26/201. In the center of town, Hwys 20 and 26 peel off and head to Idaho while Hwy 201 continues south. Stay on 201 at this intersection. The Nyssa schools are near this junction. The elementary, middle, and high schools are all together here so there is a good chunk of public land to be explored. Do not wander around with binoculars during school hours. There are several large trees and open fields here that can attract migrants and resting birds. North Park is located on 5th Street on the north side of town while South Park is located on 6th Street on the south side of town. Both have large trees and open fields.
Habitat and Birds: With the river close at hand, plenty of waterfowl can be found here. City parks and large deciduous trees bring in the passerines, so a quick morning stroll through Nyssa can be productive. Look for ducks and geese along the waterways and Ring-necked Pheasant in the fields around town. Great Blue Herons and Black-crowned Night-Herons should be present along with occasional egrets. Cooper's Hawks can be found around town and Prairie Falcons are just beyond the city limits. Keep an eye out for winter sparrows and Eurasian Collared-Doves. Rare birds here include 31 Marbled Godwits on a single day in 1980.
Juntura return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 78 B-4 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 82 A-5 geographic coordinates 43 44’ 40” N 118 04’ 44” W
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Location: Located 55 miles west of Vale on Hwy 20, Juntura is 57 miles NW of Burns.
Habitat and Birds: A small community of only a couple dozen houses. Check the town for migrants and invaders like Eurasian Collared-Dove and Western Scrub-Jay. The big draw for this area is the farmland before and after the town. Bobolinks nest here in summer. Bobolinks are late arrivers and early to depart so don't expect to see them much before mid-June or after mid-August. Other birds here include raptors, Long-billed Curlew, Sandhill Crane, Willet, and ducks. Juntura is a great place for migrating passerines and in the fall and spring, the trees are full of warblers.
Beulah Reservoir return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 78 A-4 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 82 B-5 geographic coordinates 43 54’ 41” N 118 09’ 19” W
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Location: From the eastern border of Juntura, take Beulah Road for 15 miles to the reservoir. On the way, stop in Chukar Park Campground (6 miles north of Juntura) and bird the riparian areas. This can be a great place to camp and start your birding day. At the NE end of Beulah Reservoir, Beulah Road crosses Warm Springs Creek. Check this area for migrants and marsh birds. After crossing Warms Springs Creek, the road will "T". Stay left and you will access the NW part of the lake where the north fork of the Malheur River feeds into the lake. This is another good, marshy spot to bird.
Habitat and Birds: The lake offers good waterfowl birding in spring and fall. Marsh birds can be found around the north end of the lake and migrants will frequent this area as well. Around the lake, check the juniper and sagebrush for dry land species like Vesper Sparrow and Gray Flycatcher. This may be the best place in the county to find Ash-throated Flycatcher (Contreras and Kindschy, OFO Publication #8). Ash-throated Flycatcher are often found near the entrance and across the road from Chukar Park. Nesting species in the park include Bushtit, Say’s Phoebe and Lesser Goldfinch.
A recent trip to this lake in June produced the following species: Birds observed: Horned Grebe, Eared Grebe, Pied-billed Grebe, Western Grebe, Clark’s Grebe, American White Pelican (8), Double Crested Cormorant, American Bittern, Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, Black-crowned Night-Heron, Canada Goose, Mallard, Gadwall, Northern , Pintail, American Widgeon, Cinnamon Teal, Blue-winged Teal, Green-winged Teal, Northern Shoveler, Redhead, Lesser Scaup, Common Merganser, Chukar, American Coot, Killdeer, American Coot, American Avocet, Spotted Sandpiper, Wilson’s Snipe, Ring-billed Gull, California Gull, Caspian Tern Forster’s Tern, Turkey Vulture, Mourning Dove, Common Nighthawk, Vaux’s Swift, Northern Flicker, Western Kingbird, Eastern Kingbird, Common Raven, American Crow, Violet-green Swallow, Tree Swallow, Barn Swallow, Yellow Warbler, Bullock’s Oriole, Black-headed Grosbeak, Western Meadowlark, Brown-headed Cowbird, Yellow-headed Blackbird, Red-winged Blackbird, Brewer’s Blackbird, Common Poorwill (heard at dusk). Thanks to Wayne and Patty Bowers for this list.
Warm Springs Reservoir return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 78 B-4 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 82 C-5 geographic coordinates 43 35’ 07” N 118 12’ 31” W
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Location: Located directly on the county line, the eastern half of this reservoir lies in Harney County. Most of the access and the only facilities are on the west (Harney) side of the reservoir. Access is by a primitive dirt road that is not reliable in bad or wet weather. To get to the lake, leave Juntura on the Juntura-Riverside Road. There will be access side roads at 8.8 miles, 13.4 miles, and 16.7 miles. However, these are undeveloped roads and they have many branches that are unmarked and it's easy to get lost here. It is not recommended you try this route without a good local map of the area.
Habitat and Birds: This is remote location surrounded by dry sage habitat. This deep reservoir is a good waterfowl location. Grebes, ducks, and loons can be found here in season along with pelicans, cormorants, and gulls. Watch for Burrowing Owls and Sage Grouse on the way in. Plenty of other sage birds can be found around this arid lake.
Lake Owyhee State Park and Owyhee Lake return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 79 B-7 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 83 C-9 geographic coordinates 43 37’ 16” N 117 14’ 18” W
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Park Brochure
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Location: This is a 53 mile lake whose name is a variation on the word Hawaii. Early explorers included some Hawaiians and the name was given to the Owyhee River to honor two Hawaiians who were killed by Native Americans. This is a very rugged part of Oregon so please plan ahead before visiting here or Succor Creek State Recreational Area. There are no stores for supplies so stock up in Ontario or Nyssa before you leave "civilization" (there is a small market at Owyhee called Owyhee Grocery). From Nyssa, travel south on 201 for eight miles to the community of Owyhee. Turn right on Owyhee Avenue and travel west for four miles to Owyhee Lake Road. Take this road 19 miles to the dam and follow the signs to the state park. This is one of the most scenic drives in Oregon, so it is well worth the trip. The birding is good too.
A good side trip here is to bird a two track road that borders a ditch next to the Owyhee River and gets you very close to the cottonwoods and alder thickets that line the river. From Owyhee, go 3.5 miles on Owyhee Avenue just as if you were going to Owyhee Reservoir. Travel 3.5 miles and look for the Owyhee Ditch that flows under the road. Take the dirt road that follows the ditch. This three mile road will expose you to plenty of riparian areas that are full of birds. The road is good for passenger cars in good weather only. There are few areas to turn around here so be prepared to back out if road conditions prove to be too much for your vehicle (It's really pretty smooth). A Black-billed Cuckoo record (not accepted by OBRC) came from an area near here and it has been described as, "the best habitat for Yellow-billed Cuckoo in Oregon" (Contreras and Kindschy, OFO Publication #8).
Habitat and Birds: Canyon species like Chukar, Rock Wren, Canyon Wren, and Lazuli Bunting are common. Say's Phoebes inhabit the slopes and the riparian areas can produce just about any migrant. Check the numerous riparian areas at your leisure. Many are in a hurry to get to the reservoir so they fail to bird the riparian areas that precede it. This is a mistake. Watch the gull flocks. Herring Gull has been seen here before (Contreras and Kindschy, OFO Publication #8).
Adrian and Snake River return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 79 A-8 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 83 B-10 geographic coordinates 43 44’ 23” N 117 04’ 25” W
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Location: Located 12 miles south of Nyssa, Adrian borders the Snake River. Though most access is barred by private land, there are a few areas that get close to the river and could harbor migrants and local nesters. Take Main Street east to 5th Street and then north to Otis Road for the best viewing. On the south end of town, there is a large grove of trees that can be viewed by pulling over and listening from the road. The trees here are on private property so, as always, please respect property rights.
Habitat and Birds: Look for rafts of loafing ducks along the river in all seasons except summer.
Succor Creek State Recreational Area return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 79 C-8 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 83 C-10 geographic coordinates 43 27’ 55” N 117 07’ 26” W
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Location: Coming from the north, travel 21 miles south of Nyssa on 201 and turn on the Succor Creek Road (there is a small brown sign here). Travel 11.6 miles to the recreational area. Coming from the south (Jordan Valley) travel north on 95 for 18 miles and turn on Succor Creek Road. Travel on this road for 19 miles to the recreational area. The road gets pretty rough climbing out of Succor Creek but it's better once it nears the Leslie Gulch cutoff.
Habitat and Birds: This road begins in grassland habitat, then becomes dominated by sagebrush, then canyon-lands, and finally some farmland. Western Meadowlarks and Savannah Sparrows give way to Sage Thrashers and Brewer's Sparrows which, in turn, give way to Canyon Wrens, White-throated Swift, Chukar, and Cliff Swallows. The riparian areas along Succor Creek are lush and provide homes for Western Wood-Peewees and Spotted Towhees among many others.
Leslie Gulch return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 79 C-7 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 83 D-9 geographic coordinates 43 19’ 18” N 117 19’ 24” W
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Location: Many travelers access Leslie Gulch after a good tour of Succor Creek Recreational Area. From Succor Creek, continue south on the only road available. From Jordan Valley, head north on Highway 95 18.2 miles to Succor Creek Road. Bear left onto Succor Creek Road heading northwest and follow the signs to Leslie Gulch. If you are feeling ambitious, you can take the four mile hike from this location to Echo Rock Hotsprings.
Habitat and Birds: The access road to Leslie Gulch takes you through some very good farmland and both kingbirds, White-faced Ibis, and herons can be common. Once in the canyon, listen for Rock and Canyon Wrens along with Chukar and Say's Phoebe. Black-throated Gray Warbler nest in the Juniper.
Birch Creek
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 79 C-6 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 83 E-8 geographic coordinates 43 14’ 05” N 117 15’ 19” W
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Location From Jordan Valley, travel north on 95 for 9.2 miles to Jess Strode/Mahogany Gap Road. Turn left and travel for 7.8 miles to the Goodyear Cutoff Road. Turn left and travel two miles to Mahogany Creek Road. Take this road for three miles to Lodge Ranch Road. Stay right here and take Lodge Ranch for 0.8 miles to Blowout Reservoir Road. Take Blowout Reservoir Road for 12.2 miles to Birch Creek Road. Take this road 5.5 miles to the end. This is a good camping location.
Habitat and Birds: Nice riparian vegetation can produce good migrants. Residents like Warbling Vireo and House Wren are easy to find.
Dowell Reservoir return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 79 D-5 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 82 E-5 geographic coordinates 43 12’ 11” N 118 02’ 32” W
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Location: From Burns Junction, travel 25 miles NW to Crowley-Riverside Road. Take this road 14 miles to Dowell Reservoir.
Habitat and Birds: Marshy wet areas are interspersed with flooded farm fields to produce habitat for probers like White-faced Ibis and Long-billed Curlew. Virginia Rails are in the wetter regions along with Yellow-headed Blackbirds.
Jordan Valley return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 75 A-8 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 83 F-10 geographic coordinates 42 58’ 44” N 117 03’ 06” W
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Location: Located 100 miles north of the Nevada border, Jordan Valley is on Hwy 95, 63 miles south of Nampa Idaho. It's 136 miles SE of Burns via Hwys 78 and 95. This is the only place to load up on supplies for many miles so get your gas and food here before you venture out into the wilds of southern Malheur County.
Habitat and Birds: Like many desert oases, Jordan Valley can be a welcome stopover for migrants. Check the trees around town for any unusual species or resting migrants. There are quite a few hummingbird feeders in town and they could produce Rufous, Black-chinned, and even Broad-tailed Hummingbirds. Check out Pharmacy Road on the west end of town. About 0.5 miles down Pharmacy Road is a side road that will take you to Pharmacy Hill (climb this hill just a bit and you can view the Sewage Ponds from here). On the north end of town, there is a grove of conifers at the cemetery. Searching these conifers can be productive. Varied Thrush and roosting Great Horned and Barn Owl can be found here. You can head east out of town on Yturri Blvd. and find flooded farm fields. You'll be in Idaho in less than two miles along this route. Going out of town, you can view the sewage ponds from 95 but pull well off the road as traffic is surprisingly high here. Watch for Eastern Kingbird and Ash-throated Flycatcher here in summer. This might be the best spot for American Crow in the whole county. Watch the trees in migration. A Chestnut-sided Warbler occurred here in 1992. Keep an eye out for Bobolink in late spring and summer. They have nested here before. (Contreras and Kindschy, OFO Publication #8).
Dinwitty Lane and Wroten Road return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 75 A-8 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 83 F-10 geographic coordinates 42 58’ 56” N 117 05’ 07” W
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Location: From Jordan Valley, travel west for 1.8 miles and Dinwitty Lane will be on your left. Take Dinwitty one mile south and turn right on Wroten Road. Take Wroten for five miles back to Hwy 95.
Habitat and Birds: This is an area with plenty of flooded farm fields. Look for Sandhill Cranes, waders like Black-necked Stilt and American Avocet, Willet, and Long-billed Curlew. Look for Wilson's Snipe and Short-eared Owl here as well. The occasional Snowy Egret can be found in with the more common Great Egrets. Northern Harriers and Swainson's Hawks are abundant.
Cow Lakes return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 79 D-7 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 83 F-9 geographic coordinates 43 06’ 19” N 117 05’ 55” W
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Location: From Jordan Valley, travel five miles to Danner Road on the north side of 95. Following the signs for Cow Lakes, travel about 10 miles to the lakes. Know that this road is not passable in all conditions. There are some areas that get boggy after extended rains. The roads do not take you close to the lakes so be prepared to hike a bit or scope from long distances. On the way back, take a right on Danner Road and follow it back to Hwy 95. This will take you past the grave site of Charbonneau (son of Sacajawea) and a house with lots of summer hummingbird feeders.
Habitat and Birds: Deep lakes surrounded by sage. Some farmland on the way to the lakes. Waterfowl can be abundant and varied in spring and fall. Waders like American Avocet and Black-necked Stilt can be seen on the shorelines while ducks like Bufflehead, both goldeneye, Ruddy Duck, Redhead, and Canvasback are present in season. Eared Grebes can be found here in the breeding season as can Western Grebe. American White Pelicans are always possible in summer. Occasionally Snow and Ross's Geese can be found near the lakes or in the farmland on the way to the lakes. Snowy Egret has been recorded here. Snowy Plover has been found here but breeding records are not known. Black-necked Stilt and American Avocet are known to breed here as are Willet. Other rarities include Marbled Godwit, Short-billed Dowitcher, Black Tern, Flammulated Owl (check the willow thickets between late March and late May), (Contreras and Kindschy, OFO Publication #8)
Antelope Reservoir return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 75 A-8 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 87 A-9 geographic coordinates 42 55’ 24” N 117 13’ 38” W
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Location: From Jordan Valley, travel 11.8 miles to Antelope Reservoir Road. Turn left and go 1.5 miles to the reservoir.
Habitat and Birds: Waterfowl, waders, and shorebirds are the draw here. American White Pelicans, ducks, and coots are here in good numbers. Check the sagebrush on your way in for dry sagebrush species like Lark and Brewer's Sparrows. 1995 was quite a year at Antelope Reservoir. In that year alone, Horned Grebe, Eurasian Wigeon, Tufted Duck, and Greater Scaup were all seen at this location. Other rarities include Marbled Godwit, Semipalmated Sandpiper, Dunlin, Stilt Sandpiper, (Contreras and Kindschy, OFO Publication #8)
Danner Loop Road return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 75 A-8 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 83 F-10 geographic coordinates 42 55’ 20” N 117 14’ 59” W
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Location: Just past Antelope Reservoir Road (see above) and on the opposite side of the road is Danner Loop Road. This road goes five miles before meeting up with Danner Road and back to Hwy 95.
Habitat and Birds: This is an area with plenty of flooded farm fields. Look for Sandhill Cranes, waders like Black-necked Stilt and American Avocet, Willet, and curlew. Check the blackbirds for grackles and the farm trees for Northern Mockingbirds.
Batch Lake return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 79 D-7 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 83 F-9 geographic coordinates 43 04’ 26” N 117 22’ 26” W
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Location: Batch Lake is on the west edge of the two big Cow Lakes. To access it, take Hwy east out of Jordan Valley. About five miles out, take Danner Road as if you were going to Cow Lakes. Anawalt Road branches from Danner Road and takes you to Cow Lakes. 4.7 miles from the junction of Danner and Anawalt, there is a dirt road that heads east. This is West Cow Lakes Road which goes north and a bit west to Batch Lake.
Habitat and Birds: This is a small lake just west of Lower Cow Lake. Shallow water and marshy areas attract plenty of shorebirds and waders along with other marsh lovers. American Bittern has nested here but not recently. Keep your eyes open for it though. Ducks are common here. A very rare Harlequin Duck was found one fall. Sandhill Cranes can be found here along with Black-crowned Night-heron. A Snowy Plover was found here in 1977. Black-necked Stilt and American Avocet are commonly found at this lake and an occasional Marbled Godwit is possible. (Contreras and Kindschy, OFO Publication #8)
Bogus Lakes return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 79 D-6 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 83 F-8 geographic coordinates 43 03’ 02” N 117 34’ 23” W
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Location: Take Stitzel Road north out of Arock and travel about 17 miles to Bogus Lake.
Habitat and Birds: This area is a seasonal playa lake that is bordered by marshy areas. It often goes dry by mid-summer. Just about any species of duck can show up here and Redheads often breed at this location. Barrow's Goldeneye also breed here if water levels are high enough. Sandhill Cranes use this area to stage and occasionally breed. Even Veery have been located here. (Contreras and Kindschy, OFO Publication #8)
3 Forks Area Owyhee River Loop return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 75 A-7&8 B-7&8 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 87 A-9&10 B-9&10 geographic coordinates 42 33’ 43” N 117 08’ 21” W
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Location: To get to Three Forks from Burns Junction, go east on highway 95 for 30.5 miles to mile post 36. This is 16 miles west of Jordan Valley. Go south on a dirt road. The road is normally in good shape but can become impassable after rain. Bear right at a signed junction at 27.6 miles. In another 2.7 miles you will reach the edge of the Owyhee canyon. This is as far as most passenger cars will make it. The last 1.5 miles to the river goes down a steep rocky grade that is best driven in a high clearance vehicle. This loop can be run from Jordan valley and south along the Idaho border. There are good stands of Aspen here. To access this location from Jordan Valley, you can drive east on Yturri Blvd, past the Idaho border, and south on Pleasant Valley Road. You will be in Idaho for about 13 miles but will eventually come back to Oregon. Follow the signs to 3 Forks. Watch for Greater Sage-Grouse along this drive as they nest here.
Habitat and Birds: This is dry canyon country and dry canyon species can be expected. Watch for White-throated Swift, Chukar, and Canyon Wren. Several locations harbor Lazuli Bunting and Yellow-breasted Chat.
Little Grassy Reservoir return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 75 A-7 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 87 A-9 geographic coordinates 42 48’ 23” N 117 18’ 57” W
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Location: Travel 15.5 miles west of Jordan Valley to 3 Forks Road. Turn left and travel seven miles to the reservoir.
Habitat and Birds: Waterfowl, waders, and shorebirds are the draw here. Check the sagebrush on your way in for dry sagebrush species.
Rock House Reservoir return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 75 B-6 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 87 B-8 geographic coordinates 42 42’ 13” N 117 34’ 26” W
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Location: Travel 32 miles east of Jordan Valley to the Owyhee River and the area known as Rome. Just west of Rome, look for Skull Creek Road. Take this road south for 1.5 miles to a fork and veer right onto Indian Fort Creek Road. Take this road for 7.6 miles to Dry Creek Road. Turn left on Dry Creek Road and travel for 4 miles to the Reservoir.
Habitat and Birds: Waterfowl, waders, and shorebirds are the draw here. Check the sagebrush on your way in for dry sagebrush species.
Arock return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 75 A-6 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 87 A-7 geographic coordinates 42 54’ 50” N 117 31’ 34” W
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Location: The road to Arock is located 6.5 miles east of Rome and 26 miles west of Jordan Valley. Look for the Arock Road and travel north for about 3.5 miles to the Arock area. From here, you can explore the Old Ion Hwy east and west as your time allows.
Habitat and Birds: There is a lot of farm land on this route and flooded farm fields in spring will produce abundant bird life. This area can be productive any season. Watch for White-faced Ibis, pond ducks, and blackbird flocks. Others include Western & Eastern Kingbirds, Chipping Sparrow, Willow Flycatcher, Barn Swallow, Say's Phoebe, Raven, Red-tailed Hawk, Turkey Vulture, Canada Geese, and American Robins. In the area are Ring-necked Pheasant, doves (both Eurasian Collared and Mourning), American Kestrel, and more hawks of assorted flavors.
Rome & OwyheeRiver return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 75 A-6 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 87 A-7 geographic coordinates 42 50’ 20” N 117 37’ 39” W
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Location: Located 32 miles west of Jordan Valley and 13 miles east of Burns junction on Hwy 95. Just west of Rome, look for Rome Road. Look for side roads off to the left to access the Pillars of Rome. Rome gets its name from these rock formations that reminded settlers of the roman columns.
Habitat and Birds: This road parallels the Owyhee River and can produce everything from waterfowl to dry sagebrush species. Watch for Canyon Wren on the Pillars.
Crooked Creek Wayside return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 75 A-6 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 87 A-7 geographic coordinates 42 48’ 10” N 117 44’ 01” W
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Location: This is a small wide spot on the south side of the highway with a covered picnic table and drinking water. It is located 6.5 miles from Burns Junction, 6.5 miles from Rome, and about 40 miles west of Jordan Valley on Hwy 95.
Habitat and Birds: All around it are hay fields. You should see a good variety of birds here. Crooked Creek is a short distance east of the spot. There should be White-faced Ibis there or in the area. They travel back and forth from the hay fields along the creek daily in summer.
Burns Junction return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 75 A-5 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 87 A-6 geographic coordinates 42 46’ 38” N 117 50’ 58” W
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Location: This is the junction of Hwys 78 and 95. It is located 45 miles west of Jordan Valley and about 92 miles SE of Burns.
Habitat and Birds: There is little to see at the junction itself and, as of 2009, there were no services at this location. It's worth a short check in the area to see if the odd grackle or White-winged Dove or a Band-tailed Pigeon might be present (It's happened before). Other rarities here have included Blue-gray Gnatcatcher and Bewick's Wren. It's even possible that a pair of Northern Mockingbirds tried to breed here in 1991. (Contreras and Kindschy, OFO Publication #8)
Bone Creek Canyon (Sheephead Mountains) & Crooked Creek Reservoir return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 74 A-4 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 87 B-6 geographic coordinates 42 43’ 22” N 117 59’ 40” W
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Location: From Burns Junction, travel south on 95 for six miles. Turn right on Tudor Road. Take Tudor west for 3.2 miles where it forks right after wrapping around a marshy area (Crooked Creek Reservoir). Take the right fork which is North Fork Ryegrass Creek Road. Take Ryegrass for five miles. At five miles, there is a road to the left called Wildcat Creek Road. Stay to the right to access Bone Creek Canyon via North Fork Ryegrass Road. Follow the canyon for as long as you like. Return to Hwy 95 the way you came in.
Habitat and Birds: The marsh at Crooked Creek Reservoir is very birdy and the road up to the canyon can produce plenty of opportunities for sage species. The canyon itself can have Rock Wren, Canyon Wren, and other rocky canyon species. There is some riparian vegetation for passerines and there is a reservoir part of the way up that could harbor waterfowl.
Whitehorse Road return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 75 C-5 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 87 C-6 geographic coordinates 42 28’ 22” N 117 53’ 01” W
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Location: 21 miles south of Burns Junction on Hwy 95.
Habitat and Birds: This road cuts through dry sagebrush and canyon habitats before ending in the lush Whitehorse Valley (which is actually in Harney County). Dry sagebrush and canyon species are to be expected here. A very strange record of a Long-tailed Jaeger exists from this region. That bird was the first record of this species ever recorded east of the Cascades (Contreras and Kindschy, OFO Publication #8).
Basque return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 75 C-5 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 87 D-6 geographic coordinates 43 36’ 55” N 117 14’ 29” W
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Location: Travel 25 miles south of Burns Junction to a small cluster of trees along 95. Basque is named for the once numerous Basque sheepherders who were some of the early residents of the area (Jordan Valley is considered a Basque settlement).
Habitat and Birds: Check the trees for migrants that may be using the trees as a rest stop.
Oregon Canyon Road and Oregon Canyon Mountains return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 75 D-5 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 87 E-6 geographic coordinates (Oregon Canyon Road) 42 10' 00 N, 118 00' 00 W
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Location: Oregon Canyon Mountains, Oregon Canyon Creek, Twin Buttes (42 10' 00", 118 00' 00")- This is the most spectacular range of mountains in Malheur Co.. There are two access points into these mountains. The less "white knuckle" experience comes in from McDermitt along Disaster Peak Road driving west 16 miles and then north to Chicken Springs, then east at Chicken Springs on 15 mile Road, past Log Springs and up into the top of the Oregon Canyon Mountains. This road is a dry weather road only! You will need a high clearance vehicle. Do not attempt this road before mid-June due to deep snow drifts. The view from these mountains is truly stunning. One can camp near Twin Buttes and, looking east at night, not see a single electric light in the distance. The second access route is the Echave Ranch Road which can be a "white knuckle" driving experience on wet days. To get there, you leave HWY 95 14 miles north of McDermitt and drive west on Oregon Canyon Road and then up the very steep grade onto the Oregon Canyon Mountains where the only level spot is the road at the top. This is where you will want to jump out and kiss the ground then look at the beauty and the view, in that order.
In addition, one can access the area from the north off White Horse Ranch Rd. via Mud Springs Rd (not signed). Enter the region via Oregon Canyon Road and exit the area via the Mud Springs Road. During the dry months, both roads are dry and navigable with a standard 4x4 vehicle. The Mud Springs Road demands a high clearance vehicle more than the Oregon Canyon Road.
Habitat and Birds: This area is loaded with birds and very interesting habitat. Curl-leaf mountain mahogany is the dominate native tree along the basalt rims while aspen forests fill the canyons along with bitter brush, choke cherry and sage. The birds of this area are amazing from late June-early August. Look for Western Bluebirds here. They are fairly hard to find elsewhere in the county. There are Cassin's Finch, Red Crossbill, Northern Goshawk, Bushtit, Mountain Chickadee, Virginia Warblers, Black-throated Gray Warblers, Broad-tailed Hummingbirds, Hermit Thrush, Swainson's Thrush, Nashville Warbler, and Fox Sparrows. The White-crowned Sparrows of this region are the oriantha race. This is a great spot for wild flowers and, best of all, birds. In 1998, four pair of Virginia Warblers were located on and near Twin Buttes (elevation 7930'). Down in the west fork of Oregon Canyon Creek, Gray-headed Junco were found breeding in the aspen stands. Watch for Northern Goshawk here as well. They have nested at this location in the past.
Wayne Bowers has plenty of experience in this area and offers this advise:
Anyone who might be exploring the Oregon Canyon/Trout Creek Mountains in summer:
In the past I have found the gnatcatchers nesting in the Tin Troughs Spring area. The Black-throated Gray Warblers also are common nesters in the mountain mahogany patches in that area. To reach it turn right (north at the first two track as you crest the long climb up the road from the Oregon Canyon Ranch which is referred locally and on some maps as the “Wood Road”. I have also seen Lewis’ Woodpeckers nesting in an aspen in the head of Fifteen-mile Creek – the only place in that area I have seen them.
Alert!-This is a very isolated area and should you encounter medical issues while up here you are on your own and will need to rescue yourself.
McDermitt return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 75 D-5 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 87 F-7 geographic coordinates 41˚ 59’ 54” N 117 43’ 06” W
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Location: McDermitt is located on the Oregon-Nevada border about 55 miles south of Burns Junction. Explore the town but keep an eye out for the Nevada border.
Habitat and Birds: The same as other communities in southern Malheur County.
Lookout Lake return to the top
DeLorme (copyright 2001) Pg 79 DeLorme (copyright 2008) Pg 83 geographic coordinates 43 ’ ” N 117 ’ ” W
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Location: If you want to get as far from civilization as you possibly can get in the state of Oregon, try getting to Lookout Lake. It is located in the far SE corner of the state about 35 miles east of McDermitt. I'm not going to list directions here because I don't want to encourage anyone to get lost in this most remote area but you can find it using the DeLorme Map.
Habitat and Birds: This playa lake displays fluctuating water levels throughout the year but can be very productive in the spring.