Tuesday, June 28, 2011

What is it? Very young Orange-crowned Warbler

Now that someone has correctly identified this newly fledged chick, I'm putting the name here. Actually, I'm not sure if it qualifies as a fledgling, but it was not in the nest when I found it hidden in a Scotch Broom bush. Location? In western Yamhill Co., Oregon, at about 700 ft. elevation in the foothills of the Coast Range. It is about two inches in length, beak to tail.

Sunday, June 26, 2011

Birding in Oregon, Wyoming, Montana, Canada

Just returned from a 10-day road trip east to Wyoming, north through Montana and western Alberta, Canada, and back south through British Columbia and Washington. We recorded about 110 species of birds observed along the way, as we enjoyed the spectacular scenery of several national parks, and numerous dramatic mountain ranges.

In eastern Oregon, before crossing the Snake River into Idaho near the dam at Brownlee, among many other species, we saw...

White Pelicans

Lark Sparrow

Horned Lark

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Brownlee Reservoir

Then at a cousin's home in Jackson, Wyoming, we enjoyed closeup views at the bird feeders:

Black-headed Grosbeak female

Cassin's Finch

Downy Woodpecker

Then heading north through Teton National Park...

Osprey

Lincoln's Sparrow along Lewis River

Common Mergansers fishing in a tributary of the Snake River.


In Montana we spent a day in Glacier National Park where this Ruffed Grouse reluctantly allowed us to pass.

And this Gray Catbird serenaded us at sunset in the campground at St. Mary Lake.


St. Mary Lake, Glacier National Park

Farther north this Tennessee Warbler was singing energetically and endlessly in a picnic area along the road in Banff National Park, Alberta.


At Lake Louise a black and yellow wasp became a snack for a Clark's Nutcracker.


Lake Louise, Alberta

Returning south through British Columbia our route took us onto a ferry across Arrow Lake, one of many reservoirs along the course of the Columbia River. There were several pairs of Barn Swallows nesting on the boat, which meant they had to travel back and forth across the three-mile width of the lake several times a day, just to stay close to their nests.


A large ferry in the distance

A Barn Swallow nest on the ferry

Monday, June 13, 2011

Yellow-rumped (Audubon's) Warbler

Yellow-rumped Warbler

On the road again, but this time just for fun. Heading east to Jackson, Wyoming, and then north through Montana and Alberta, Canada. Great scenery in central and eastern Oregon (especially in Wallowa Co. and along Hell's Canyon and the Snake River.) And of course, many beautiful birds, too, including this Yellow-rumped Warbler about 30 miles north of Halfway, Oregon. That's about halfway from Joseph to Halfway. :-)

Wednesday, June 08, 2011

Red-shafted Flicker colors

This photo was taken recently by Gary Fawver, a fellow birder here in Yamhill Co., who shared it with me. I've never before seen a photo that shows so dramatically why a Red-shafted Flicker bears the name that it does. (Don't forget to click on the photo to see an enlarged view.) Great shot, Gary!