Sept 4-9 2013 Oregon Coast

A week on the Oregon Coast is a nice break for someone who is a flatlander.  We stayed in a nice condo in Lincoln City, right on Siletz Bay.  Except for one day, we had sunshine.  Even the fog didn't hinder our search for birds.

We noticed a disturbing sight on the beach in front of the condo.  Some gulls had only one foot and this Western Gull had none.   I wonder if they are getting caught in nets or something and some sickie is getting his kicks.

This is how a Western Gull should be.

Brown Pelicans are always a treat to photograph.

These Pelagic Cormorants are either squabbling or one is begging for food.

Another Pelagic.                       

The youngsters are getting too much for the adult to handle.

Nice to get close enough for a Brandt's Cormorant.  This was taken at Yaquina Lighthouse as was the previous one.

Peregrine Falcons nested in the cliffs at Yaquina and this one remained.

Caspian Tern still feeding young at Newport.

This tern had us wondering and we finally decided it is a young Caspian although it is different from the young one above.

Great Egrets are quite common here and difficult to approach.

Black Oystercatchers at Seal Rocks.

 Black Turnstone here and below.  I originally thought this was a Ruddy because of the leg color but an ebird editor decided otherwise.

Black Turnstone at Seal Rocks.

Wandering Tattler.  Seal Rocks.

Pectoral Sandpiper. Newport.

Whimbrel.  Seal Rocks

Western Gull. Seal Rocks.

Harlequin Ducks. Seal Rocks

Marbled Murrelet.  Newport Jetty.

Marbled Murrelet chick.  Newport Jetty.  Another id I got wrong initially, as I thought it was a Common Murre.  An ebird editor set me straight.  However I still think it is a Murre chick.  See comment below.

The week went fast.  We tried hard to find Elegant Terns with no luck.  That means we may have to take a side trip to Astoria.  Stay tuned.

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A visit to Vancouver Island and some more shots from Wilband Ponds Aug 17-30 2013

 A bit of a mismash for this blog.  We visited Vancouver Island for a few days but didn't get much birding in.  However a visit to Goldstream Park revealed  the most American Dippers I have seen anywhere in one spot.  (As many as 4 in one pool and 7 in total).  The Victoria waterfront got us the first Heermans Gulls we have seen in a while as well as a Mink using a drainage pipe for its' den.  Wilband Ponds (my local patch) seems to be getting better for birds since it was "improved" last year

 

A pair of Heermans Gulls.

This Mink was hesitant to venture out as a dog was terrorizng the wildlife on the Victoria waterfront

American Dipper 

Dipper looking for aquatic insects.

It found something.

I am guessing Caddis Fly larvae as it would shake it trying to remove the casing the Caddis Fly envelopes itself in. 

Back to Wilband where a family of Barn Swallows was using a bridge as a platform to stock up on bugs.

Using the young ones chest as a support.

Adult wondering where the bugs went.  I got a few pictures one evening and went back next morning.  They were still there but were gone that afternoon.

This Green Heron flew up in front of me, circled back and landed in a tree not far away.  Sometimes I can't figure these guys out.

When I walk around Wilband I will stay quiet and still for a few minutes when I am in a likely place to find birds or animals.  This gives the animals that I can't see, a chance to settle down and get back to doing things they were doing before I arrived. It paid off when I was on a bridge.  After about 5 minutes this American Bittern started moving right below and completely caught me off guard.

The long grass made it impossible to get a full body shot

It caught 2 fish while I watched and every time the action was hidden by the grass.

I love this pose.  It can look straight down without moving its' head.

After 45 minutes it strolled behind a clump of grass.  I waited 15 minutes for it to emerge. I then decided to check it out from another angle only to find it wasn't there.  I hadn't taken my eyes off that clump but somehow it managed to disappear.

This shot was taken the next day in the same spot.  It is a bit agitated and puffed out his neck feathers.  I wanted to circle around it to catch the rising sun light but as soon as I left the bridge and entered its' domain I could tell it wasn't comfortable.

Dian and I heading to the Oregon coast on Sept. 3 for a week and then up to Uclulet for a pelagic trip.  Hopefully the next blogs will detail our discoveries.  Stay in touch and thanks for looking.

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Some Encounters From The Last Few Weeks July 26 -Aug.13 2013

Ring-billed Gull-Iona Jetty

Barn Swallow Wilband Ponds

Huge Black Bear amid the Swallows close to Cascade Falls Mission.  I wish I could have been a little closer.

Gray Catbird Grant Narrows

Gray Catbird Grant Narrows

Barn Swallows Wilband

Common Yellowthroat feeding Cowbird Grant Narrows.  Not a great picture but I think an interesting one.

Solitary Sandpiper Cheam

Dragonfly nymph Carcass.  It's called an exuviae (sometimes shortened to exuvia).  Thanks to Dick Cannings for that bit of info.

Dragonfly

Male Belted Kingfisher-Wilband Ponds

One often sees an Eagle sitting upright in a tree or on a snag and I have enough pictures to prove it.  Because of that I almost passed by this one without stopping to capture it.

I am glad I decided to get a few pictures because it immediately started stretching and giving me some great poses.

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The Birds of Wilband July 30 - Aug 8 2013

I have taken to hiking around Wilband detention ponds in the morning.  It beats the higher temperatures of midday.  Here are some of the birds I have seen in the last week.

It is always a thrill to see Canada Geese in flight-especially when they are heading straight toward you.

A Lesser Yellowlegs and Spotted Sandpiper were enjoying each others company and the flies.

Lesser Yellowlegs

A female Belted Kingfisher soared overhead bringing my quick draw techniques into play.

Common Yellowthroats are everywhere.  This is a female.

More Spotted Sandpipers?  No-Wilson's Phalaropes surprised me.

I have not seen Phalaropes at Wilband before.

Here we go again with the quick draw skills.  I imagine myself as an old west gunfighter with gun (camera) at the ready.  A subject such as this American Bittern only gives you a few seconds to get shots off.

Luckily the camera was in the right settings to capture these shots.

There is no time to adjust shutter speed etc.

One just has to be ready for these rare opportunities.

The morning sun adds to the brilliance of this Anna's Hummingbird.

Finally a Northern Rough-winged Swallow.  The Yellowthroat, Anna's and this bird were all taken while standing in the same spot.  

Someone mentioned they don't see many birds at Wilband.  If one moves slowly, peeks into habitat and stops and observes, one can always find something.

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