Pleasant Surprises

It’s the birds I expect to find at Malheur that draw me back there, but unexpected birds bring the greatest delight.

I’ve seen several Northern Shrikes in Western Washington, but never managed to get a picture of one before, so I was delighted when I saw this one perched beside the road and even willing to pose after I got out:

Northern Shrike

I’ve seen California Quail in a number of places, particularly in California, but I’ve never gotten one to pose like this one did, standing watch over his family:

California Quail

And, as on the last trip to Malheur, I even managed to scare up a pheasant,

Ring-Necked Pheasant

always a delightful, explosive moment.

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