Southeast Zone
Table of Contents
Recreation Report
March 6, 2024
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Harney County
Raptor and waterfowl viewing opportunities are available across the county. Species include but are not limited to ferruginous hawks, prairie falcons, and eagles. Resident raptors such as northern harriers and red-tailed hawks are easily observed perched around open agricultural areas.
Wet spring conditions are also giving rise to waterfowl viewing opportunities in the county. Various goose and duck species can be found wading the dugout ponds that are currently filled with water. Look to Malheur National Wildlife Refuge for waterfowl viewing amongst other bird species.
As the snow begins to melt this spring, keep an eye out for deer, elk, and antelope beginning their migrations towards summer range. Try viewing these species from a distance by utilizing binoculars and a spotting scope.
Bighorn sheep viewing opportunities include Hwy 205 along Catlow Valley and along the East Steens road.
Klamath County
The Link River trail below Upper Klamath Lake, Lake Ewauna and the Wood River wetlands are excellent places to view many species of wildlife including deer, river otter, muskrat, mink and a variety of waterfowl and shorebirds.
Lower Klamath and Tule Lake NWR are good places to view raptor species such as eagle, hawk, falcon, and owl. Drought conditions have impacted the refuges but there are still some good viewing opportunities for raptors.
Klamath Wildlife Area
updated Nov. 6, 2023
Miller Island Unit
- The Miller Island Unit is located 6 miles south and west of Klamath Falls. Miller Island Unit is closed to all access from 10 p.m. until 4 a.m.
- Jan. 1 – Jan. 31: Open to public use daily; open to hunting during authorized game bird seasons.
- All other days are closed to all entry, except public roads, parking areas, boat ramp, designated birding trail and designated dog training area.
- Overnight camping is not allowed on the Miller Island Unit.
A Wildlife Area Parking Permit is now required to park on the Wildlife Area. Cost is $10 daily or $30 annually. Free with purchase of hunting license; just be sure to put it on your dashboard. Find out how to buy a parking permit.
Waterfowl
Flocks of Canada geese are scattered around the area.
Southern migrating waterfowl continue to move through the area. Duck species currently on the area include mallard, northern shoveler, gadwall, canvasback, redhead, American green-winged teal, Northern pintail, American wigeon, ruddy duck, wood duck, ring-necked duck, scaup, bufflehead, common goldeneye, and common and hooded mergansers.
Shorebirds, waders and other waterbirds
Great blue herons are readily observed on the area. American bitterns are also present but can be difficult to find. Other shorebirds may still be present, but their numbers are declining as they migrate out.
Virginia rails and soras can be heard throughout the area but can be difficult to spot. American coot can be found scattered throughout Miller Island.
Eared and pied-billed grebes can still be found on the area.
Ring-billed gull numbers fluctuate between very few sightings to very common. Other gull species can be occasionally observed.
Raptors
Look for great horned and barn owls at dusk. Red-tailed hawks, northern harriers, cooper's hawks, sharp-shinned, rough-legged, American kestrels, and prairie falcons are foraging throughout the wildlife area. Eagle numbers are low, but several can usually be found scattered around the area.
Peregrine falcons can occasionally be seen but are rare sightings.
Upland Game Birds
California quail and ring-necked pheasant are scattered around the old homesteads and the headquarters area.
Songbirds and other passerines
Eurasian collared and mourning doves are scattered over the area.
American and lesser goldfinches, house finches, mountain chickadees, American robins, yellow-rumped warblers, western meadowlark, black-billed magpies, common raven and Northern flickers continue to be a common site throughout the area. White-crowned and golden crowned sparrows are also becoming common sites on the wildlife area.
Marsh wrens and song sparrows can be found in dense stands of tall emergent hard stem bulrush and broad-leaf cattail and are very numerous. Red-winged, brewers and Yellow-headed blackbirds can still be found, but their numbers are declining and will continue to do so with fall migrations.
Mammals
Dusk is the best time to spot beaver and muskrat. Dusk is the best time to spot beaver and muskrat. River otter, mink, long-tailed weasel, coyotes, stripped skunk, black-tailed jackrabbit, mountain cottontail, California ground squirrels and raccoon can also be found using the Wildlife Area. Deer numbers continue to remain good.
Visitors might also spot river otter, mink, long-tailed weasel, coyotes, stripped skunk, black-tailed jackrabbit, mountain cottontail, California ground squirrels and raccoon using the wildlife area. Deer numbers continue to remain good.
If you have any questions, please contact Klamath Wildlife Area at (541) 883-5732.
Lake County
This time of year, viewers looking for waterfowl in Lake Co may find Canada geese and some dabbling duck species on open waters near Valley Falls and in the Warner wetlands, with compositions changing daily due to spring migration beginning. Quite a few snow geese and swans were moving through the county during the warm stretch at the end of February, but with the onset of March winter, migration seems to have slowed. . Summer Lake Wildlife Area remains Lake Counties best viewing opportunity for waterfowl in winter.
Very few shorebirds remain in the County, but will increase in numbers as the weather warms and birds move north. The earliest arrivals such as Killdeer have begun arriving.
Unique raptor species, such as the rough-legged hawk and Ferruginous hawk may be found in Lake County at this time of year. These species summer very far north, often inside the Arctic circle, and use this landscape during winter. This pattern represents a unique life history strategy as the most common raptor species in the County migrate further south for winter. Other common raptor species present include red-tailed hawks, American kestrels, prairie falcons, Northern harriers, bald eagles and golden eagles.
Great horned owls, barn owls, and short-eared owls can also be heard and seen at night.
Though few and far between, you'll find the most diversity of passerine species in riparian areas. Relatively few species remain in lake County for winter, though some hearty varieties and non-migratory species do remain. Species such as Townsend's solitaire, American robin, dark-eyed junco, western meadowlark, and some shrikes can be found throughout the county. The earliest migrators have begun to arrive in the county, but as mentioned earlier, the latest round of winter storms will more than likely slow that stream of arrivals.
Mule deer
Most of the mule deer are currently occupying winter ranges on low elevation sagebrush steppe, or adjacent agricultural lands. Motorists are reminded that often these wintering areas are associated with high-speed highways that present a real threat to both deer and driver. Please be aware of deer attempting to cross the road, especially at night.
Mule deer that spend the summer in the surrounding forested big game management units migrate to traditional wintering grounds near the towns of Silver Lake, Fort Rock and Christmas Valley, Paisley and Lakeview to escape harsh winter conditions at higher elevations. Some mule deer that migrate to North Lake County come from as far away as Crater Lake in the Cascades.
Pronghorn
Pronghorn are currently located on their traditional winter ranges. Most of the Lake County pronghorn winter in Nevada, but there are pockets that may still hold some pronghorn in areas around Valley Falls, Silver Lake, or Paisley.
Pronghorn antelope have horns instead of antlers like mule deer and elk. Both buck and doe pronghorn antelope have horns. The outer sheath is shed annually by December as the new horn grows in underneath. This new growth will be complete by July the following year. A prominent prong or point on the horn can identify buck pronghorn antelope. In addition, the buck's entire nose appears black, and all bucks have a visible black cheek patch.
Doe pronghorn antelope generally do not have a prong or point, and the horn is usually less than 5-inches long. A doe's nose is much lighter colored, and a doe will not have a visible black cheek patch. If you see a group of pronghorn, remember to check behind the group. The dominant buck is often following well behind.
Bighorn Sheep
Bighorn sheep can be found on many of the canyon rims in Lake County.
Look for sheep on rims along Hwy 395 from the Christmas Valley Highway junction south to the Hwy 31 junction. Abert Rim just above Abert Lake along Hwy 395 offers good viewing. Hadley Butte, near Paisley, also offers viewing from Hwy 31 and the Summer Lake Hot Springs. Viewers wishing to observe bighorns should bring binoculars or spotting scopes, as sheep are generally found in steep rocky terrain and must be viewed from a distance.
Malheur County
Raptor and waterfowl viewing are available in the county. The Snake River corridor provides numerous opportunities to see multiple bird species associated with the river and adjacent agriculture areas, including red-tailed, northern harrier and rough legged hawks. In addition, both bald and golden eagles are easy to see during the winter months.
Many species of ducks including mallards, wood ducks, wigeon, green-winged teal, golden eyes, mergansers and bufflehead are also present.
Summer Lake Wildlife Area
Updated Feb. 6, 2024
Facilities and Access
Wildlife Area Parking permits are required for all users of Summer Lake Wildlife Area. The cost is $10.00 daily or $30.00 annually and permits are valid on all ODFW Wildlife Areas. Daily parking permits can now be purchased at the Summer Lake Store. Find out how to buy a parking permit. Maps and other information can be found at summer-lake-wildlife-area-visitors.
Camping is permitted at four sites on the Wildlife Area. Campgrounds are primitive but each has vault toilets, trash barrels, and a few picnic tables.
- Wildlife Viewing Loop is open through early fall of 2024. Refuges are currently open to foot traffic.
- Access roads to campgrounds remain open, year-round. Windbreak Dike, Gold Dike, Bullgate Dike, and Work Road are currently open to vehicle travel, through March 14, 2024. Roads are marked with current access regulations. Parking is only allowed in designated parking areas.
- Non-motorized travel on spur levees or lateral dikes is permitted, as is cross-country travel.
Game bird hunting seasons are now closed. At this time, viewing opportunities are reduced as winter conditions continue. However, early spring migrants will continue to increase as weather improves.
The Schoolhouse Lake Wildlife Viewing blind provides an excellent opportunity to see a wide variety of waterbirds.
Waterfowl
Due to a mild winter, moderate winter numbers of several duck species are currently on the wildlife area. Dabbling species, such as mallard, wigeon, gadwall, pintail, northern shoveler, and green-winged teal can be found scattered throughout the wildlife area. Many mallards have formed pair bonds. Diving duck species present include bufflehead, canvasback, ring-necked ducks, ruddy ducks, lesser scaup, common goldeneye, and mergansers (common and hooded), as well as small numbers of redhead.
Canada geese remain widely distributed across the wildlife area. A few white-fronted geese have returned, as have small numbers of snow geese. Both of these species will increase over the next two months.
A few resident and non-breeding trumpeter swans remain widely scattered across the wildlife area. These birds are part of restoration efforts and will be neck-collared with green collars and white alphanumeric symbols. Wintering trumpeter and tundra swans are present.
Shorebirds, wading birds, and other waterbirds
Very few shorebirds are present, currently, but will slowly increase in the coming weeks. Visitors may see small numbers of killdeer, Wilson's snipe, and greater yellowlegs. Other species will slowly increase as spring migration resumes.
American bittern, black-crowned night-herons, and great blue herons can be found throughout the wildlife area. American coot are widely scattered across the wildlife area. A few scattered Virginia rail and sora can still be found. A small flock of white-faced ibis was recently observed.
Four species of grebes can be found on the wildlife area (Clark's, eared, pied-billed and western). Look for them in large open bodies of water such as Ana Reservoir, North Bullgate Refuge and North Levee Impoundment. Numbers have diminished significantly for the winter, but all four species can still be observed.
Most gulls and terns have left for the winter, but will increase in the coming months.
Raptors and others
Northern harriers, roughed-legged hawks, and red-tailed hawks are common this time of the year. Swainson's and ferruginous hawks, American kestrel, peregrine and prairie falcons can occasionally be found. Bald and golden eagles are also found on a regular basis, since both species frequently hunt the waterbirds on the wildlife area. Red-shouldered hawks have been consistently observed near the Headquarters Complex.
Great horned owls remain widely scattered across the entire wildlife area, especially in the trees at campgrounds. Short-eared owls can sometimes be found in early morning or evening hours. Barn owls can sometimes be observed, as well.
Upland game birds
California quail and ring-necked pheasants can sometimes be observed near Headquarters and north end upland areas.
Songbirds and other passerines
Eurasian collared doves remain numerous and can be observed at Headquarters Complex and other areas.
American robins, mountain bluebirds, loggerhead shrikes, Steller's and scrub jays are in varied numbers across the wildlife area, especially around Headquarters and old homestead sites. Black-billed magpie and common raven are also common throughout the area, as are Northern flickers. Recently, varied thrushes have been observed with the flocks of robins and Townsend's solitaires have been increasing.
There are very good numbers of marsh wrens and song sparrows in the dense stands of hardstem bulrush and broad-leaved cattail along dikes and levees throughout the wetlands.
There are increasing numbers of red-winged and brewer's blackbirds. Western meadowlarks can be found scattered in good numbers throughout the area.
Most migrant passerines have not yet begun spring migration. Recent sightings have included flocks of mountain chickadees and evening grosbeaks near the Headquarters Complex, and lesser goldfinches feeding in cattails along the HQ Road. Sightings of other birds will increase as spring arrives.
Habitat
Seasonal marsh areas are well flooded. As winter continues, wetlands will freeze and thaw, depending on current weather conditions, which affects distribution of birds.
Upland habitat is in good condition.
For assistance and additional information, contact wildlife area staff at 541-943-3152.