In need of a road-trip, we headed to the east rim of Steens Mountain where Noah Strycker reported finding three Black Rosy-Finch on 19 July 2012. Not the best use of our limited birding time - but a great excuse to get out of town and enjoy the cool 69-degree temperature on the summit. Our only disappointment of the trip was to find the Meat Hook restaurant in Burns had gone out of business and was replaced by a pizza parlor.

The best sighting of the outing for us was that of an adult Sagebrush Sparrow caring for a juvenile. Both birds seemed completely unaware, or more likely, unconcerned by my (not so) stealthy approach. I thought for sure our first photos of this life bird was going to be grainy, out-of-focus, shots of a mostly obscured subject. We also had an intriguing incidental encounter with two adult and one juvenile Long-billed Curlew. We found them in a dry grassy area, 3.2 air-miles south east of Frenchglen. I thought they would flush as soon as I got out of the car for a picture - but they held their ground. Actually, one of the adults scurried away a few yards with the juvenile while the other adult began calling loudly and intercepted my approach.  

Steens Mountain is a glorious place that we find impossible to adequately photograph or describe. Nevertheless we've thrown in a few panoramas we hope you enjoy along with some images of birds we found on the trip.

Big Indian Canyon:

A dizzying view of the Alvord Desert 5,000 feet below the east rim:

The much-photographed Kiger Gorge:

Horned Lark hanging around the summit:

The Long-billed Curlew found on the north side of the Steens Mountian loop:

A few birds observed at Malheur National Wildlife Refuge Headquarters. In order presented - Sage Thrasher, Eastern Kingbird, Bullock's Orioles - one of a juvenile being attended to by an adult male, and a juvenile Yellow Warbler playing hide-and-go-seek with me:

Finally, two Sagebrush Sparrow that I made such a big deal about at the top of this post. I hope I didn't oversell the views.

My first look at the elusive quarry:

After the first glimpse, the perspective improved dramatically:

THE END

PS. I think it goes without saying that we dipped on the Black Rosy-Finch :-)

PSS. I would like to thank everyone who helped us with several Id challenges that we experienced on this trip.