Hatfield Lakes — Southeast Shore Birding Blind
A concealed viewing blind on the southeast shore of Hatfield Lakes — a managed water system off McGrath Road near Bend — where rare migratory shorebirds including Baird's Sandpiper and Stilt Sandpiper concentrate during spring and fall passages.
The managed water levels create shallow mudflats and alkali seeps on the southeast shore that serve as critical feeding habitat. East Cascades Bird Alliance members monitor this site weekly during migration peaks and have documented species rarely seen elsewhere in Central Oregon.
Access from McGrath Road near Bend Municipal Airport. Park at the northeast trailhead, hike counterclockwise 0.8 miles, then take the faint social path southeast through sagebrush to the blind. Arrive two hours before high tide during migration peaks. Bring a spotting scope — birds feed 100 yards out.
Packing Checklist
- ☐ Binoculars
- ☐ Camera with zoom lens
- ☐ Field guide or birding app
- ☐ Quiet, neutral-colored clothing
- ☐ Bug spray (seasonal)
- ☐ Water and snacks
- ☐ Patience — arrive early, stay still
The northwest shore of Hatfield Lakes draws casual visitors. The southeast shore draws East Cascades Bird Alliance members with spotting scopes and field notebooks.
Hatfield Lakes is a managed water system off McGrath Road — the controlled water levels create shallow mudflats and alkali seeps on the southeast shore that function as feeding habitat during migration. Volunteers built a concealed blind here using fallen juniper and willow, positioned at the point where invertebrate prey concentrates as spring water levels shift. During migration peaks in May and August through September, Baird’s Sandpiper and Stilt Sandpiper feed here in numbers that simply don’t appear on the recreational side of the lakes.
A spotting scope is not optional: birds feed 100 yards out, and sudden movements scatter everything. Move slowly. Arrive early. This is birding the way local alliance members do it.
East Cascades Bird Alliance monitors this site weekly during migration season and tracks rare sightings. Their trip reports are a reliable guide to what’s active.
Sources
- East Cascades Bird Alliance — local Audubon chapter, trip reports and rare bird alerts for Central Oregon
- Deschutes Land Trust — conservation context for the Bend area wetlands corridor