It was a cloudy day with temperatures in the mid-40s and not much wind so not many other hikers were out. We mostly had the trails to ourselves.
We hiked an approximately 5-mile loop from the trailhead at the Deschutes River State Recreation Area. Since we were birding, we did not move very fast.
We started on the Riverview Trail, hiking upriver. At an unmarked junction, we turned uphill on a connector trail to the Deschutes River (Rail) Trail. We continued south to the junction with the Ferry Springs Trail, about a mile from our start.
The Ferry Springs Trail follows a historic 1860s wagon road up the slope, climbing high above the Deschutes River, gaining about 500 feet.
We were serenaded by Western Meadowlarks, Canyon Wrens and Rock Wrens as we followed the path uphill.
We topped out at Ferry Springs Canyon, which has a lot of water flowing right now. Ferry Springs Creek originates near the rim of Fulton Canyon.
We took a lunch break here while we watched a Say's Phoebe perching on barbed-wire fences and listened to the tinkling songs of meadowlarks.
After lunch, we continued on the Ferry Spring Trail down to the junction with the Deschutes River Trail and the terminus of the Riverview Trail. We took a look at the Rattlesnake Bend Arch, which frames a view of the river down below.
Sadly, someone had picked the flowers of the few blooming Longleaf Phlox during their hike, then dropped their bunch of flowers at the arch. Picked wildflower droop quickly in the heat of a human hand before they can be brought home so it always is better to leave the flowers growing for others to enjoy.
We returned to the trailhead on the Riverview Trail, stopping often to look at the Common and Hooded Mergansers, Common and Barrows Goldeneyes, and Bufflehead ducks floating and fishing on the Deschutes River. It was fun to watch the ducks ride down the rapids.
We saw around 50 species of birds.
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