The young Cooper's Hawks are still disturbing the peace in their neighborhood along the Willamette River. This one came to check me out again on a recent walk through their woods.

"Everyone, except the bumblebee itself, knows that a bumblebee can't fly."

The Michigan Entomological Society

I'm sure there are many good reasons for visiting eastern Oregon, but in my opinion the probability of seeing many large raptors is one of the best. This Prairie Falcon in Union Co. on Aug. 20. was one of about 80 species that made the day memorable.

Nobody enjoys a bath more than a Western Scrub-Jay.

Reflected
in the dragonfly's eye --
mountains.

By Kobayashi Issa (1763-1827)

An Eight-spotted Skimmer in Yamhill Co., Oregon

Face-to-face with a very vocal immature Cooper's Hawk.

This immature Cooper's Hawk and its two siblings I met yesterday seemed very interested in me. I'm not sure if I was just an object of curiosity or a hoped-for meal. Their noisy commentary attracted a Red-tailed Hawk that seemed intent on catching one of them, but he immediately changed his mind and departed when he saw me.

American Golden Plover has to be considered one of the most striking of shorebirds. I found this one on Anvil Mt. just a few miles north of Nome, Alaska, on June 13. The bird was watching me so intently, and was so determined not to leave this boggy patch of tundra, that I was sure there was a nest nearby. But the coloration of the mate that was probably covering the eggs would have made it a very challenging search.

Sharing the shade with me yesterday, but keeping a sharp eye on the multitude of minnows swimming below, was this Belted Kingfisher. You can just see a bit of the rust-colored belly band, which tells us that he's a she.