The Flycatcher

Tundra Swan, juvenile

2011-12-31T08:32:00.000-08:00

On a rainy day, two days before the New Year comes in, this juvenile Tundra Swan was relaxing on the fishing pond in Willamina, Oregon. The (almost) all-pink bill indicates it is a young bird, but nothing I could see explained why it was here, instead of out feeding in the grass fields with the flock that spends every winter somewhere in the Willamette Valley.

Orange-crowned Warbler and winter grapes

2011-12-16T12:41:00.000-08:00

This Orange-crowned Warbler is continuing to feed on my leftover grapes, but they are almost gone now. I wonder what he (or she) will find to eat next. It's too late to head for Guatemala now.

December Backyard Beauties

2011-12-11T19:55:00.000-08:00

This male Anna's Hummingbird was the star of the show, but the Yellow-rumped and Orange-crowned Warblers (below) were very entertaining.

A short video is at the following link, and please pardon the vehicle noise in the background. It "watches" better if you turn the volume down.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n7-Spg-ysFs

Shorebirds wintering in Hawaii

2011-11-15T20:25:00.000-08:00

Very few shorebird species spend the entire year in Hawaii, but there are a few that can be found wintering there. In addition to the pleasure of watching them, there is (for me, anyway) the additional sense of amazement at the thought of all those thousands of miles of ocean they have to cross to get there. They are not swimmers, and there is no solid ground for them to rest on between Alaska and these islands.

Pacific Golden Plovers can be found in parks and other grassy places everywhere.

This Wandering Tattler was north of Kona on the "Big" island, Hawaii.

Sanderling at Kanaha Pond near Kahului, Maui

Ruddy Turnstones, also at Kanaha Pond

I'iwi at Hosmer Grove, Haleakala, Maui

2011-11-12T18:59:00.000-08:00

I just returned from another working trip to Hawaii, and had only about one hour to spend at Hosmer Grove in Haleakala National Park on Maui. But this time I had better success than ever before in my effort to photograph the I'iwi, one of Hawaii's remaining native species. This particular Ohia lehua tree had more blossoms than any others nearby, and this bird was guarding it diligently, chasing away the Apapane's and Amakihi's that tried to steal some of his nectar.

Airport birding

2011-10-08T21:40:00.000-07:00

Birds are where you find them.

I found this Common Kingfisher about a week ago on the tail of a Kingfisher Airlines plane at the Hong Kong airport.

Birding surprise on Guam

2011-10-04T21:46:00.000-07:00

It should not be surprising to see a Grey-tailed Tattler or a Common Tern on the island of Guam if you consider the ranges of these species, but for a birder on Guam it is surprising to see ANY bird that could be considered native to that island. The only land birds you can expect to see are a few introduced species; the native land birds have been extirpated by the introduced Brown Tree Snake. The Tattler and the Tern can probably be considered "native" only because they might stop in here during migration, or perhaps spend the winter here along the coastline.

So when these two landed briefly in front of me during my recent visit there, I WAS surprised and pleased, not because they are "new" species for me, but provided a small glimmer of hope that Guam will not become a complete ornithological desert. During the remainder of my trip through five Asian countries, I had no time for birding; just brief glimpses of birds through bus and train windows. I did have a minute to enjoy watching a juvenile Black-billed Magpie in a tall tree in Taejon, South Korea.

Swainson's Thrush colors

2011-09-11T17:26:00.000-07:00

One of the i.d. challenges for birders in Oregon is to distinguish between Swainson's Thrush and Hermit Thrush. So when I found this (unfortunate) Swainson's dead on the road, it gave me a chance to look at some of the subtle colors closeup. Some of the details I try to "lock in" are the amount and coloration of the speckling on the breast, the lack of gray flank coloration, and the lack of much rusty coloration on the rump and tail of the Swainson's Thrush. Then, in a few weeks when the Swainson's are all gone to their wintering territory in Central and South America, I will have a chance to study the Hermits who stay here for the winter.

Sandhill Cranes, Lake Co., Oregon

2011-09-02T17:04:00.000-07:00

On August 16 my son took this photo near Paisley, a small town in Lake Co., Oregon. As if I needed a reminder that it's been too long since I've been there.

Annual Barn Swallow flock forming again

2011-08-31T17:46:00.001-07:00

As they do every fall, the Barn Swallows (possibly a significant portion of the west coast population) are gathering again to roost in the corn fields south of Dayton in Yamhill Co., Oregon. This snapshot is taken from a short video recorded on August 30. You can watch the video here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e1-s1sFrook

If you can play it as HD level 1080p and full screen, you will get a better view. But this video does not really do justice to the spectacular show that is playing out there in the low-lying fields along the Willamette River.

Peeps along the Willamette River

2011-08-28T18:56:00.001-07:00

Today after dropping the kids off at the Wheatland Ferry to float down the Willamette River for a few miles, I had a close encounter with a small flock of Western Sandpipers (below) and at least one Least Sandpiper (above) traveling with them. They presumably are on the way to their winter quarters somewhere south of here.

Turkey Vulture at eye level

2011-08-26T22:56:00.000-07:00

Very little time for birding this summer, but this evening on the way to cool off in the Willamette River with the grandsons this Turkey Vulture posed briefly for us on a post at the end of a row of Blueberries.

Hydaspe Fritillary

2011-07-30T21:08:00.000-07:00

This weekend the Hydaspe Fritillary butterfly was one of the brightest "stars" in the show on Misty Ridge. Finally, it seems that real butterfly weather has arrived in western Oregon.

Common Nighthawk in flight

2011-07-25T21:43:00.000-07:00

Just before sunset today this Common Nighthawk flew over Misty Ridge, giving me an unusually close and well-lighted view of the finer details of its underside plumage. "Bzzeert!"

(Click on the photo for an enlarged view.)

A Bluebird Day on Misty Ridge

2011-07-16T19:14:00.000-07:00

Western Bluebird

This day in the Coast Range foothills of western Oregon was about as perfect as a day could be. Temperature just right, birds and butterflies at their best in song and color, and the sunshine interrupted by occasional gentle showers to water the young radishes and zucchini plants.

Western Tiger Swallowtail on Cornflower blossom

Here is a link to a short video of a Rufous Hummingbird female at a feeder.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sv34ajxzANM

Lorquin's Admiral

2011-07-03T21:22:00.000-07:00

This Lorquin's Admiral has staked out a claim to his section of territory on Misty Ridge. He keeps watch from a lookout perch, and then dives down at other butterflies or other large insects that have the audacity to step on his turf uninvited.

House Wren feeding young

2011-07-01T22:11:00.000-07:00

The House Wren pair at my place in the hills of western Yamhill Co. have suddenly become very busy. There must be a bunch of hungry babies in that box, if the volume of noise coming from it is any indication. This evening the pace to the box was about one insect carried in every two minutes, and some of those insects were quite a mouthful.

What is it? Very young Orange-crowned Warbler

2011-06-28T22:01:00.000-07:00

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.

Birding in Oregon, Wyoming, Montana, Canada

2011-06-26T20:18:00.000-07:00

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

Yellow-rumped (Audubon's) Warbler

2011-06-13T20:43:00.001-07:00

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. :-)

Red-shafted Flicker colors

2011-06-08T17:39:00.001-07:00

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!

May Morning on Misty Ridge

2011-05-28T18:47:00.000-07:00

Yellow Warblers are almost always found in riparian areas, so I was surprised to hear one or more singing this morning at my place west of Willamina, Oregon, at about 700 ft. elevation in the foothills of the Coast Range. There is no open or flowing water within a half mile of Misty Ridge. I assume they were just migrating through the area, and stopped briefly to hunt for bugs or caterpillars. In the photo below the yellow has turned to green because of the sunlight shining through the maple leaves.

In contrast to the warblers, White-crowned Sparrows may be the most common birds on Misty Ridge now, and certainly the most conspicuous. I sometimes hear them singing even during a passing rain shower when almost all other birds have gotten quiet.

Chestnut-backed Chickadee at nestbox

2011-05-23T22:04:00.000-07:00

A pair of Chestnut-backed Chickadees was inspecting a nestbox at my place in the Coast Range west of Willamina in Yamhill County, Oregon. But a House Wren and a pair of Tree Swallows were contesting their claim, and it remains to be seen who will actually occupy the house for the nesting season.

A short video shows some of the Chickadees' activity here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hSqbIsC8m_M

Sightings near Black Butte, Oregon

2011-05-22T21:52:00.000-07:00

The Metolius River and the Black Butte area of Central Oregon provide plenty of eye-catching scenes, including Dippers along the rushing streams. This one was chattering under the bridge at the Wizard Falls Fish Hatchery. Here is a link if you want to see and hear some of the activity of the bird, and the river that is his home:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRulcmUOxWo

Barn Swallow

Barrow's Goldeneye pair

Pale Swallowtail

Tree Swallows at Black Butte, Oregon

2011-05-21T14:02:00.001-07:00

Among the many colorful things to enjoy at Black Butte Ranch in Central Oregon are the Tree Swallows that swoop for insects over the horse pasture, and occasionally take a break on the fence along the bike trail.

Vaux's Swifts' migration roost in McMinnville, OR

2011-05-14T22:29:00.000-07:00

Another spectacle of spring migration is the gathering of Vaux's Swifts as they go to their nighttime roost in chimneys in many cities and towns throughout the western states on their way to wherever they will stop for the nesting season. Before long they will not be gathering like this as pairs spread over the region to select the particular chimney in which they will nest this year. To see the spectacle in motion, click on this link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BmZLJeTXSTU

Orange-crowned Warbler crown color

2011-05-11T12:38:00.000-07:00

I have rarely seen more than a suggestion of orange coloration in the crown feathers of an Orange-crowned Warbler. But this week I watched one of these birds bathing in my backyard, and the crown was strikingly orange. Also, I was able to see some blue feathers on the body, which I had never expected to see on this seemingly all "olive-green" bird.

The action can be observed in a short video at this link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wbM3idBBKiQ

Spring migration

2011-05-08T21:56:00.000-07:00

This weekend the spring migration in western Oregon appeared to suddenly shift into "high gear." Every birder, and even many non-birders, were noticing Western Tanagers, like the one above that was in my yard in McMinnville. At about the same time, I also found another spring migrant in my yard that I usually see only up in the Coast Range -- a Hammond's Flycatcher (below).

Yesterday another Hammond's (below) was at my place in the Coast Range foothills, along with two Olive-sided Flycatchers, and about six species of warblers. There were also about 15 other species of birds in the same area, most of them singing continuously, and some of them gathering nesting material.

Orange-crowned Warbler

Black-throated Gray Warbler

The voice of the Northern Saw-whet Owl

2011-04-20T23:04:00.000-07:00

I spent some time working with a different shot of the Saw-whet Owl from last evening, and also uploaded a video. (See below) You can't see the owl, but hopefully you can hear his distinctive call.

Northern Saw-whet Owl in Yamhill Co., Oregon

2011-04-19T22:22:00.000-07:00

This evening I was in the eastern slope foothills of the Coast Range in western Yamhill Co. At about 8:30 p.m. a Northern Saw-whet Owl began calling, so I moved closer to where the voice was coming from, and began talking back to him. Soon he was perching on low branches within about 10 ft. of me, and was snapping his bill, which seemed to be a kind of threat to the supposed invader of his territory. When I left after about 10 minutes he had moved back into the taller fir forest, but was still energetically uttering his endless string of toots.

As I was "talking" to the owl, I heard a flock of White-fronted Geese approaching from the southeast, but I had some difficulty seeing them at first. I was at about 750 ft. of elevation, and the flock was much higher than I was. The photo below was taken at about 10X telephoto, so I estimated that the birds must have been at an altitude of about 2,000 ft.

Wild Turkeys multiplying in Oregon

2011-04-17T21:28:00.000-07:00

Growing up here in Oregon I never expected to see Wild Turkeys in my home state, much less on my own property. But this weekend it happened. These big birds, imports from the east or south, are doing quite well in places along the eastside foothills of the Coast Range.

Image from Bald Eagle nest camera

2011-04-06T22:35:00.001-07:00

This is not my photo. I saved one moment from a live streaming video image that is available 24 hours a day on the internet. It's the closest one could ever be to actually sitting in a Bald Eagle nest while the eagle family is present. And now there are two new nestlings that just hatched a few days ago. At the time this image was captured it looked like they were eating crow, in a very literal sense. But other meals appear to consist of fish or muskrat. The nest is somewhere in Iowa, but you can visit it here:

http://www.ustream.tv/decoraheagles.

Brewer's Blackbird colors

2011-04-03T20:45:00.000-07:00

I just have to return again to my favorite Annie Dillard quote: "Beauty and grace are performed whether or not we will or sense them. The least we can do is try to be there."

Even if it's in a department store parking lot!

Dark-eyed Junco feeding on moss

2011-03-18T22:47:00.000-07:00

A few times every winter I notice Dark-eyed Juncos picking something from the moss clumps on my Vine Maple tree, and eating whatever they are finding. I'm still trying to determine for certain which part they are eating. I suspect it is the spore cases, or "sporangia." You can see some of the action in this video clip by copying and pasting it into your browser's address line:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rtb3D6H7_8A

Blue butterfly in Penang, Malaysia

2011-03-05T04:19:00.000-08:00

I haven't had any time for birding on this current road trip, but today (just hours before heading home tomorrow morning) I had a chance to revisit the Botanical Gardens here in Penang, Malaysia. I did hear and see lots of birds at a distance, but the only good look at a flying creature came when this amazing 6-inch-wide butterfly swooped and whirled over a pond up a side trail in the forest. In the same area there was a group of Leaf Monkeys high in the leafy branches, and they sometimes "flew" from branch to branch.

Northern Shovelers in the rain

2011-02-13T21:18:00.000-08:00

Today I had a chance to stop in at Basket Slough National Wildlife Refuge near Dallas, Oregon. It was raining, but the ducks seemed to like that, and it created an excellent opportunity for watching these Shovelers going about their business. To see them in action just copy and paste the following link into your browser:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y5gimdWIedg

There were also several Northern Pintail ducks nearby, and a big congregation of American Coots in the water, in the shoreline vegetation, and even up on the gravel road picking up something, maybe small pieces of grit to improve their digestion.

Red-tailed Hawk near Willamina

2011-02-12T20:52:00.001-08:00

I was surprised that this Red-tailed Hawk allowed me to approach so closely today along a road near Willamina, but now looking at the photo, I think he might have a damaged wing. So maybe he's having some trouble catching mice, and is conserving energy.

Some bay-area birds

2011-02-09T22:01:00.000-08:00

I have not had time for much real birding recently, but I did go to Los Gatos, California, in late January, and I was somewhat surprised at how "birdy" the place was. There is a wonderful natural area with hiking trails in the hills just south of town. I recommend that any birder visiting the area take a hike up there.

Lots of Northern Mockingbirds in the residential areas.

A Cooper's Hawk in one of the canyons

Chestnut-backed Chickadees were in both forested and residential areas.

Hermit Thrush in cold weather

2011-01-02T18:15:00.000-08:00

When I arrived at my property in the foothills of the Coast Range this afternoon, the temperature was up to about 35 degrees, but there was still some unmelted snow in the shady areas. But this Hermit Thrush was very energetic, and was apparently finding things to eat on the frozen ground. It was the only bird I saw there today, but it was enough to make the place seem alive. I did hear a few Golden-crowned Kinglets among the Fir branches, maybe searching for spider eggs.

Yellow-rumped "Audubon's" Warbler

2010-12-26T12:08:00.000-08:00

This winter-plumaged Yellow-rump (which birders sometimes refer to as YRW) was hunting among the fallen branches of a Douglas Fir tree in McMinnville, Oregon, on Dec. 21, 2010. A short video of his activity can be seen at the following YouTube link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y5mIRF-Wvaw

...or you can access it also at the link below this photo.

Red-tailed Hawk in rain

2010-12-12T18:16:00.000-08:00

I suppose wet feathers make flying difficult, and soaring is likely impossible. So this Red-tailed Hawk took advantage of a brief break in the weather yesterday to hang his "laundry" out to dry. But the breaks have been very brief recently, so this hawk is probably still wet.

Barred Owl in Yamhill Co., Oregon

2010-11-28T14:15:00.000-08:00

Driving on Highway 18 today one mile west of Dayton, Oregon, I found a dead Barred Owl, apparently killed by a passing vehicle. According to Birds of Oregon, A General Reference, this species was first detected in Oregon in 1974, and the numbers have rapidly increased since then. By 1998 it had been recorded at more than 706 locations in the state. Its "historic range was limited to the eastern U.S. and eastern Canada." The book also says, "...the BarredOwl may represent a significant threat to the Spotted Owl."

(Click on photo for larger image.)

A few sightings on Kauai

2010-11-15T15:50:00.000-08:00

In Hawaii again, on my regular annual trip, I was fortunate to have some free time on Kauai, my favorite of the four major islands. As usual when here, I can't pass up the opportunity to visit the Kilauea Lighthouse, where it's possible to have some close encounters with seabirds. In addition to one passing Laysan Albatross, a few Brown Boobies (above) and hundreds of Red-footed Boobies (below) put on a great show overhead. Great Frigatebirds were almost always hanging in the wind nearby, and a few White-tailed Tropicbirds were cruising back and forth over the small bay between the cliffs.

There were a few Wedge-tailed Shearwater chicks resting in the sun near their underground burrows, and this one spent some time stretching and flapping his wings.

Up in the remnant native forest above 3,500 ft. (in Koke'e State Park) I spent hours trying to get good photos of some of the remaining native species of birds. But the foliage is so dense, and the birds are so active, I managed only a few out-of-focus shots. But the effort, including the round-trip hike of eight miles down to the Alakai Swamp was well worth it, if only for the experience of being in such a unique forest environment.

Apapane foraging in Ohia Lehua trees

Elepaio

A few days earlier I had been in Honolulu, where about the only "native" bird you can expect to see is the Pacific Golden Plover, and that's only because they come down from the Arctic to spend the winter here. They can be found on almost any open grassy area.

But the introduced birds add color and interest to the city scene, even though you know they really should not be here.

Common Waxbill
Red-crested Cardinal

My recent sightings in Asia

2010-10-31T05:10:00.000-07:00

I just returned from another trip to Asia for my job, and now have time to sit down and enjoy again a few of the birds I saw along the way. In addition to the one I had seen in India a few years ago (see previous post) I was happy to see some others that I occasionally see on my annual trips to that part of the world.

The White Wagtail may be about the easiest bird to find in Tokyo, Japan, but it's also always a pleasure to see. This one was with another in a park on a new man-made island in Tokyo Bay near the Sunroute Ariake Hotel.

Black-tailed Gulls were watching for edible scraps stirred up by boats moving through the channels...

...and a few Great Cormorants were resting on the rocks along a breakwater.

In Guam a few days later I again was saddened by the fact that most species of birds have been extirpated by the Brown Tree Snake, but did enjoy seeing two Black Drongos flycatching from a powerline. This species may have gotten to Guam from a neighboring island where it was introduced, and now is quite common on Guam. Unfortunately, it is thought by some to share some of the blame for the decline in other bird species here.

It took me some time to figure out (by using the book) that this bird I photographed on an island in the Mekong River near Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, is a female Brown-throated Sunbird.

Being used to seeing Black-billed Magpies in the high desert of Eastern Oregon, it always seems a bit incongruous to see them in the cities of Asia. This one was in a park in Seoul, Korea, and still being very much a Magpie.

But the "best" bird of my brief stay in Seoul was a new species for me. A small flock of Yellow-billed Grosbeaks landed in a tree near me, and gave me good looks at both males and females. Unfortunately, the angle of view did not allow me to get good photos.

Often in this part of the world when there are no other birds around there will at least be a Brown-eared Bulbul. This one insisted on getting my attention in Seoul.

But at Kaohsiung, Taiwan, it was the Light-vented Bulbul that got me out of bed and onto the balcony of my hotel well before it was time for breakfast.

Oriental White-eye in Kaohsiung

2010-10-15T05:16:00.000-07:00

I'm happy to be back in Asia again for a couple of weeks, and this time made my first visit to Kaohsiung, Taiwan. As usual, not much time for birding, but a small group of Oriental White-eyes came close to me in the hotel plaza, and I was able to get a few shots.

Acorn Woodpecker storing acorns

2010-10-03T13:32:00.000-07:00

Apparently birds, like people, will choose the easy way to do something when it's available. Not to suggest they're lazy, but this Acorn Woodpecker and a partner were storing acorns today in the slot around a window here in McMinnville. There are plenty of dead limbs in the nearby trees, but without pre-drilled storage holes.

White-fronted Geese migrating

2010-09-26T21:40:00.000-07:00

This evening many observers, both east and west of the Oregon Cascades, are reporting White-fronted Geese moving southward. In the last hour before sunset, from a location near the Willamette River here in Yamhill Co., I counted approximately 1,300 in about 10 flocks, all flying very high and heading southeast. The book says their nesting ground is in Alaska, and they winter in the central valley of California and in western Mexico.

Beach Birds at Salishan

2010-09-26T14:27:00.000-07:00

The American Golden Plover, according to the Birds of Oregon book, is considered an "occasional to uncommon migrant" in western Oregon, and it's always a treat to see one. Yesterday this one was associating with a group of 16 Black-bellied Plovers on the ocean side of the Salishan spit at Siletz Bay.

The Golden with a Black-bellied Plover

When the beach got wider I moved higher into the drier sand, hoping to find Snowy Plovers. I did not find them, but I did have a close encounter with this Whimbrel resting among the driftwood logs.

Semi-palmated Plovers were numerous along a half-mile stretch of the beach, but difficult to see when they were not in motion.

The handsome Heerman's Gulls come north with the Brown Pelicans after their nesting season is finished in Mexico, adding some nice variety to the gull scene here.

A few dozen Western Sanpipers were scattered along the northern-most mile of the beach, picking up things around standing water, and occasionally bathing and preening.

Back on the bay side of the spit, in the marsh at the south end of Siletz Bay, a Great Blue Heron was stalking small critters in shallow pools.

Birds against the moon

2010-09-24T22:46:00.000-07:00

This is the time of the year when it's possible to watch birds at night -- that is, if the sky is fairly clear, and the moon is somewhere close to full. Millions of birds are migrating southward at this time, and many of them fly at night. Tonight I watched for about 10 minutes through my spotting 'scope at about 30x magnification. During that time I saw seven or eight birds fly across the face of the moon, and depending on their height above ground and distance from me, it took more or less time to make the crossing. Some went by in a split second, while others took perhaps three seconds. I think most of them were Robins or other thrushes, and one flew like a Flicker. Unfortunately, I didn't capture any of them with my camera, but the moon was worth looking at just for it's own beauty.

Counting birds in Yamhill County

2010-09-18T21:31:00.000-07:00

The Fall North American Migration Count is happening this weekend, and I spent part of this day counting birds here in Yamhill County. I've been participating in this event for many years, and this was the "rainiest" NAMC I have experienced. But the birds are still here, and I had some interesting close encounters with some of them. For example, this Common Yellowthroat came up to investigate my "pishing" noises.

There are still at least tens of thousands of Barn Swallows in this area, and I saw about 70 or 80 thousand of them this evening during heavy rain preparing to go to roost in the corn fields near the Willamette River.

A video of the activity can be seen at:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jCPDHPQDaa4

This Turkey Vulture watched me for a few minutes from his perch on the pole, but finally got too nervous, and launched. Or maybe he just got hungry for more roadkill 'Possum.

Evening Barn Swallow swarm

2010-09-10T22:40:00.000-07:00

This evening the Barn Swallow flock chose to roost in a much more accessible corn field. It was still very near the Willamette River, but also next to a county road a few miles south of Dayton, Oregon. It was impossible to count, and the flock was much smaller than it has sometimes been, but there were certainly many 10's of thousands. Still a spectacular event.

Barn Swallows' annual show

2010-09-07T22:20:00.000-07:00

The Barn Swallows are gathering once again (as they do every year) in large numbers at their staging area along the Willamette River in Yamhill County, Oregon. In past years the number has appeared to reach at least several hundred thousand, and on clear mornings can even be detected by the weather radar installation near Portland. Below is an image from a short loop recorded a few days ago on the morning of Sept. 4, 2010. The bright green, small "bubble" near the lower center of the frame is the radar "picture" of thousands of birds dispersing from their nighttime roost in a cornfield. The flock apparently moved eastward as the birds left the field, which is west of the river. The radar did not detect them until they had gained some altitude.

To read more about this phenomenon in an account published by biologist and researcher, Bruce Cousens, please go to the following link:

http://www.cvbirds.org/CVBC_Bull/V.13no.1/CVBC_Vol%2013%20No%201%20pgs3-19.pdf

Back on September 12, 2006, I photographed part of the Barn Swallow flock as it ascended from the cornfield on Grand Island in Yamhill County just as dawn was breaking. It took only a minute or two for the entire flock to disappear from sight. Click on the photo below for an enlarged view, and you should be able to see the thousands of small specks against the morning light.

Migrating Western Tanager

2010-08-29T13:14:00.000-07:00

For a Western Tanager traveling between its summer home in the evergreen forests of the west and its winter home in the forests of Central and South America, migration time can mean crossing a lot of open spaces in between. My friend Howard photographed this one out in the Eastern Oregon high desert in Harney County, Oregon. The isolated occasional oases, separated by vast stretches of sagebrush and juniper habitat, often provide very exciting birding hotspots during migration. Congratulations, Howard, for being at the right place at the right time!

Summer birds

2010-07-26T17:27:00.000-07:00

In western Oregon it always seems that hot weather and nearly or newly-fledged birds show up at about the same time. On a recent 94-degree afternoon in the eastern slope foothills of the Coast Range, this female Western Tanager took a break from carrying food to its young in the nest just long enough to take a quick drink from the basin of water I offered.

Violet-green Swallows eagerly greeted their incoming parent

Juvenile Turkey Vulture (black head = young bird) swooped down to check me out

Juvenile Cooper's Hawk complained at being frightened away from its meal of baby Robin

Juvenile Chipping Sparrow showing breast streaks not seen on an adult bird

Sunbathing Crow

2010-07-08T19:57:00.000-07:00

This Crow, perching on my back fence during the hottest part of the day (about 90 F.) spent several minutes soaking up the sun. Sitting almost motionless, with feathers disheveled and beak held open as it panted, it must have been hoping the heat would drive out some lice or other pests. But the Audubon Encyclopedia says that some birds appear to gain physical energy from the sun's heat, so maybe that's what was happening. Anyway, I guess he got enough of it, because then he hopped down into the water to cool off.

Eurasian Collared Dove coming to a town near you

2010-06-28T21:10:00.001-07:00

The book says: "During the 1600s this Indian species began to expand its range until today it occurs in all of Europe and most of Asia. After introductions in the Bahamas in 1974 and Guadeloupe in 1976 it soon expanded throughout the Caribbean and reached Florida by 1980. It is now expanding into other parts of N. America, reaching New Mexico, Colorado, and Montana by 1997; Oregon in 1998; and Washington in 2000."
-- Birds of Oregon, A General Reference
This evening there were two "cooing" outside my house here in Yamhill Co. I have now seen them in about six different towns in Oregon. I hope they don't begin competing in some way with our native Mourning Doves, but if they compete with the (also non-native) Rock Pigeon, maybe that will be a good thing.

Western Bluebird male at Oregon vineyard

2010-06-23T21:33:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I was assisting a group of out-of-state visitors whose schedule included a stop at a vineyard and winery here in Yamhill Co. During the tour, when attention was drawn to the numerous Bluebird nestboxes scattered around the vineyard property, the host explained that the vineyard owners have for several years been participating in the Prescott Bluebird Recovery Project. As I was leaving, this male Bluebird stopped on a wire near its nestbox just long enough for a quick shot.

Chestnut-backed Chickadee at nestbox

2010-06-19T20:44:00.000-07:00

The Chestnut-backed Chickadees are feeding young now in the Coast Range of Oregon, but I had about given up trying to photograph the activity because they go in and out of the nestbox so quickly. But just when this one arrived, a Cooper's Hawk flew across the clearing being chased and scolded by Swallows. So the Chickadee paused to watch the drama, and gave me a chance to get the shot.

Hermit Warbler

2010-06-15T13:00:00.000-07:00

In my recently acquired piece of forestland (on the eastern slope of Oregon's Coast Range) within the past month I have been hearing Hermit Warblers singing, and finally was able to get some good looks at this handsome individual. A very welcome summer resident, and I hope to discover a nest there someday.

Some San Diego birds

2010-05-29T22:45:00.000-07:00

I recently spent a few days in San Diego, California, and had a chance to do a little birding. In marshes and on beaches just a few hundred yards from the U.S./Mexico border I found some birds only occasionally seen in Oregon, such as the Marbled Godwits above. Others, such as the Terns and the Towhee, would occur in Oregon only as vagrants. The Great Blue Heron, of course, can be found almost anywhere there is open water.

Least Tern

Gull-billed Tern

California Towhee

Black Phoebe

Anna's Hummingbird

Yellow-breasted Chat

- You can see and hear him in action in the following video:

Red-shouldered Hawk

Great Blue Heron

Wood Duck family

2010-05-23T21:33:00.000-07:00

Yesterday some friends took us to the Crystal Springs Rhododendron Gardens in Portland. Lots of beautiful rhodies and azaleas are blooming right now, and the constant movements and sounds of birds made it even more colorful and eye-catching. Of course, none of the others could really compete with the male Wood Duck in the "showy" category, but he was certainly not as cute as his offspring which his mate was watching over.

What the Song Sparrows did not provide in color, they more than made up for by providing a musical accompaniment to the show going on all around us. A recording of a typical Song Sparrow song can be heard at the following link from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology:
http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Song_Sparrow/id.

White-crowned Sparrow nest

2010-05-18T22:21:00.000-07:00

This White-crowned Sparrow nest is hidden on the ground in a clump of grass and young blackberry vines. The location is in the foothills of the Coast Range in western Yamhill Co., Oregon. The eggs are less than one inch long. The nest appears to be lined with deer hair.

Western Bluebirds nest-building

2010-05-06T22:29:00.000-07:00

Today I saw confirmation that the Western Bluebirds are planning to nest in the box I placed at 700 ft. elevation in the foothills of the Coast Range in western Yamhill Co. The female carried in some nesting material, and the male went in to inspect her work.

There was also a single Golden-crowned Sparrow at this location all day. Probably stopped here to take a break on the way north to Canada for the nesting season.

Western Bluebirds at my place

2010-04-27T22:39:00.000-07:00

Since returning from my trip to India, Nepal and Malaysia I have had very little time for real "birding." But I have had opportunities to hear birds, and to watch them casually, while I'm working on the 10 acres of forest land I recently purchased, and hope to live on one day. In the meantime, I've put up several nestboxes, in hope that as spring arrives some birds will find them suitable for nesting in this season. So a few days ago, when I saw a pair ofWestern Bluebirds claiming one of the boxes that the Violet-green Swallows also seem to like, I was quite pleased. It is made even more special by remembering that my dad showed me the eggs in a Bluebird nest in one of his boxes only about 400 yards from my box. And that was almost 60 years ago!

Some additional sightings in Malaysia

2010-03-08T22:32:00.000-08:00

Back home in Oregon now, I'm re-living parts of my recent trip to Malaysia by looking at my photos. Bulbuls and Mynas are some of the most common birds seen and heard there, and the Olive-winged Bulbul was new for me on this trip. I watched and listened to it singing for a long time in this tree in the Penang Botanical Gardens.

A friend in China once told me that a common name there used to refer to the Yellow-vented Bulbul (below) is something like, "Old White-haired Man."

The Common Myna is not only active and bold, but is entertaining because of its variety of vocal noises. This one on the lawn of my hotel in Penang was busy searching for food, but not too busy to stop and sound off loudly at intervals.

Another bird commonly seen along the beaches of Penang Island is the White-bellied Sea Eagle. This one was soaring near Batu Ferringhii just before sunset.

Penang birding

2010-02-28T00:16:00.000-08:00

I'm happy to be in Penang, Malaysia, again, but once again finding the birding here to be quite a challenge. First of all, the weather at this time is very hot and humid, so that even a short, leisurely walk soon has one completely soaked with perspiration. Mosquitoes are a nuisance, but not terrible. But the dense vegetation of the forest is probably the biggest challenge, and most of the birds I hear are never seen. I think they have learned to use the foliage very successfully to cover their rapid flight to a perch in a hidden place. Then they sing continuously until I get too close, and suddenly I hear the song coming from a new location.

But some birds, fortunately, are not secretive, so I've managed to see some very interesting ones out in the open, such as the Chestnut-headed Bee-eaters (above) and the Black-naped Oriole.

The Greater Racket-tailed Drongo (below) is not flashy, but has a loud song, and those remarkable "rackets" on the ends of the long bare central ribs of two tail feathers. In the photo below they can be seen as slightly blurred objects near the bottom of the photo. They are eye-catching in their almost constant flicking motions.

The butterflies are another eye-catching beauty of Penang, and are quite a challenge to photograph. This pair did stop on some wet sand to give me a chancd for a few shots.

Another wagtail

2010-02-26T00:41:00.000-08:00

On my last day in India (yesterday) I saw a species of wagtail I had not known existed. On the lawn of the International School of Bangalore was this very handsome White-browed Wagtail. By its voice I knew it was a wagtail before I saw it, and then its actions and manner of foraging in the grass also were very characteristic of the family.

There was also a species of crow in this area some distance from the city -- the Large-billed Crow. I did not see any of them in the city where the House Crow is so common.

The area I visited is about 20 miles from central Bangalore, and there are numerous small ponds and marshy areas here. Among the few waterbirds I saw, there were some Eurasian Coots. Cattle Egrets were watching for insects close to cattle in pastures along the road, just like they do on several other continents around the world. This small group was perched in a tree on a school campus.

Some Delhi birds

2010-02-24T08:39:00.000-08:00

From my hotel room window I saw my first Yellow-footed Green Pigeons perched in the upper branches of trees below me. Later in the hotel garden I saw more of them and became familiar with their call. In the evening hundreds of Rose-ringed Parakeets flew in to roost overnight in the trees.

The most constantly visible bird in both Nepal and India has been the Black Kite. A pair has a nest in one of the hotel garden trees in New Delhi, and there have usually been several within view from wherever I've happened to be in Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore. They seem to be primarily scavengers, but when the fly close to the side of the hotel the pigeons all leave their ledges in a flurry.

A short video of a small group of circling Black Kites in New Delhi

Birds I found in Kathmandu

2010-02-20T05:07:00.000-08:00

Oriental Magpie Robin

I'm on the road again, this time starting out in Kathmandu, Nepal. My birding was restricted (by the tight work schedule) to only a few brief intervals in the hotel garden, but as usual, where there is even a bit of natural habitat, one is likely to find a few birds. The pair of Magpie Robins brought not only their lively, bold activity into the garden, but their beautiful song was a very welcome note at the beginning and ending of the day.

White Wagtail

A pair of wagtails appeared on the lawn for about 10 minutes during breakfast one morning. But the most abundant birds in Kathmandu appeared to me to be the House Crows and the Rock Pigeons. They were literally "everywhere" all the time, and especially in and around and on the many ancient temples, which are also abundant in the city.

House Crow

Rock Pigeon in the temple of Kumari

But the most famous bird of Kathmandu is probably the peacock carved in wood as part of a window screen facing the street on the front of the temple where the current incarnation of Kumari lives -- in the form of a five-year-old little girl. She did not seem to be very happy when she was brought to another open window to appear to the people (mostly tourists like us) watching from the street below.

Odd Junco

2010-01-26T13:03:00.000-08:00

Among the aberrations we see in birds' plumages, albinism or leucism is perhaps one of the more interesting, or at least eyecatching. Recently some friends sent me these photos of what appears to be a Junco with a lot of white in its wing, rump and tail feathers, and a very unusual appearance of its normally dark-hooded head. It's almost odd enough to raise some doubt about it even being a Junco.

Brown Pelican on rooftop

2010-01-17T16:35:00.000-08:00

Yesterday at Lincoln City on the Oregon Coast some gulls were attracted to the sight of bread crumbs being thrown out on the deck of a beach house. Suddenly among the flurry of wings there was a pair of much larger wings as an adult Brown Pelican came in to claim a share of the crumbs. I was surprised to see a Pelican eating bread, and was made to wonder if there might be a shortage of a Pelican's usual food in the ocean along this coast.

California Quail in winter shelter

2009-12-31T17:24:00.000-08:00

On the same day I saw the Bluebirds and Waxwings feeding on Juniper berries, I also saw another bird species making use of a Juniper tree, but this time for shelter from a wind blowing in 25 degree temps. This pair of California Quail was huddled together about 20 ft. high above a residential street in Bend.

Western Bluebirds and Juniper berries

2009-12-27T20:46:00.000-08:00

On the eastern side of the Cascade Mountains this week (where I'm spending some time with family in Bend) the freezing fog has covered almost everything in a layer of white crystals. Today I found a mixed flock of Western Bluebirds and Cedar Waxwings hanging out in and around several dense Juniper trees, apparently managing to find some ripe berries.

The two species seemed to be getting along without conflict, even though they were both after the same food supply. They both show up briefly in the following video clip:

More Robin variations

2009-12-13T19:33:00.000-08:00

Today the Robins poured into my yard to feast on Hawthorne berries and old grapes, giving me a chance to add to the collection of photos I started yesterday. The one above has a black head; the one below is very gray, even on the breast.

White in the secondary and tertial feathers like this one has is apparently a variation caused by one of the unusual pigmentation anomalies. I've never before seen a Robin with this pattern. The one below has a dark head, but not quite black, and the white streaks on the throat run from the chin to the orange of the breast. After several days of freezing weather, the water in the bird bath was another attraction in the back yard.

American Robin variations

2009-12-12T18:51:00.001-08:00

Every winter here in the Willamette Valley there is an influx of American Robins, probably moving in from the north or from higher elevations, or both. Presumably it's easier for a Robin to find food here in our relatively warmer and wetter climate than where they come from. And every year I notice a lot of variation in the plumage details when there are several together on the same lawn or field. I'm thinking of starting a collection of Robin photos, so these two, which I saw today, are good examples to begin with. The one above has only a small amount of white on the face and throat; a broken eyering and a small mark in front of the eye. The one below, in addition to a browner head, almost has a "supercillium" or eyebrow, and a more pronounced broken eyering. I wonder if these differences have any significance beyond differences of age and sex.

European Starlings on a cold day

2009-12-08T18:38:00.000-08:00

Maybe it's because I've had almost no time to even look at a bird in recent weeks. Or maybe it's because I'm overcoming a long-held prejudice. (I don't think that's it.) Maybe it was the brilliant sun and blue sky today, with the high temperature at about the freezing level. Whatever it was, a closeup view of some European Starlings searching for food in the frozen grass in front of my office reminded me that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. For just a moment or two there I saw Starlings in a new light.

Remembering C.S. Lewis on the 46th Anniversary of His Death

2009-11-22T20:10:00.000-08:00

Waimea Canyon, and Waipo'o Falls, on Hawaii's island of Kaua'i

Everyone who has read C.S. Lewis must be familiar with his vivid descriptions of natural landscapes hinting that a revelation of beauty and exuberant life is just beyond the horizon.

"For if we take the imagery of Scripture seriously, if we believe that God will one day give us the Morning Star and cause us to put on the splendour of the sun, then we may surmise that both the ancient myths and the modern poetry, so false as history, may be very near the truth as prophecy. At present we are on the outside of the world, the wrong side of the door. We discern the freshness and purity of the morning, but they do not make us fresh and pure. We cannot mingle with the splendours we see. But all the leaves of the New Testament are rustling with the rumour that it will not always be so. Some day, God willing, we shall get in."

From "The Weight of Glory" by C.S. Lewis, 1942
_

Hawaiian Hawk

2009-11-19T16:22:00.000-08:00

Today, just as I was leaving Hilo on the drive over to the Kona side of Hawaii (the "Big Island") just by chance I happened to see a large flying bird over some houses in a suburb of Hilo. Large flying birds are very unusual in Hawaii away from the immediate shoreline, so it instantly caught my attention. I could see that it was a hawk, and then, after my memory clicked a few times, I recalled that there is only one hawk species in this state, and it occurs only on this island. The Hawaiian Hawk is endemic to Hawaii, and is listed as endangered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. There are estimated to be only about 2,000 individuals in existence.

'Apapane and 'I'iwi on Maui

2009-11-17T23:19:00.000-08:00

'Apapane

Hosmer Grove on the slopes of Mt. Haleakala is one of my favorite places on Maui. Today I spent my lunch hour driving the few miles to get up there for a short while, and managed to get recognizable photos of two beautiful native Hawaiian birds -- the 'Apapane and the 'I'iwi. They seem never to sit still for more than a second, so it's very challenging. But watching them is a great pleasure.

'I'iwi

A Day of Birding on Kauai

2009-11-15T23:21:00.000-08:00

Waimea Canyon, "Grand Canyon of the Pacific"

Erckel's Francolin is native to Sudan and Ethiopia, so at first it seems that Hawaii would not have the kind of habitat this bird needs. But then when you see Waimea Canyon on the island of Kauai, it's immediately clear that there is plenty of rocky, inaccessible habitat here. The canyon is 10 miles long and 3,500 ft. deep. This bird, however, was with several others along the highway that skirts the canyon on the way up to Koke'e State Park. (If you enlarge the photo by clicking on it, you will be able to see 800 ft. Waipo'o Falls farther up the canyon.)

Erckel's Francolin (introduced in Hawaii in 1957)

On this trip I saw very few of the endemic species of birds, except for Apapane, that live in Koke'e State Park, but this female White-rumped Shama (native to Southeast Asia) almost seemed to enjoy sharing the trail with me. She hopped along in front of me, picking up worms or bugs, for about 150 ft.

White-rumped Shama, female

Common Waxbill on Oahu

2009-11-14T21:21:00.000-08:00

This being Saturday, and thus a free day, I took advantage and drove around the island of Oahu. When I stopped to do some snorkeling at Hanauma Bay I noticed two Common Waxbills feeding on grass seeds. This introduced species is native to Africa.

In a marshy area somewhere on the North Shore, I found three Black-necked Stilts, the same species found in the western U.S., but of a race endemic to Hawaii. About 10 years ago a survey determined that there were only about 1,350 of these birds in existence.

Honolulu birding

2009-11-13T17:03:00.000-08:00

My job has brought me to Hawaii again, and as always the birding here gets weird immediately. The Golden Plovers are expected here in winter, but it's still a shock to see one on the grassy strip along a busy Honolulu street. Then, in the city parks, the mix of Asian and South American species (and European, if you count House Sparrow) just doesn't seem right. When I got free at lunchtime today I walked through a park and saw Red-crested Cardinals, Common Mynas, Zebra and Spotted doves all competing for a scrap of food someone had
dropped. In the trees were several Red-vented Bulbuls, and the Java Sparrows were roaming around gleaning something from the grass.

Barred Owl in SW Portland

2009-11-12T08:14:00.000-08:00

It's no longer the novelty that it was a few years ago in Oregon, but a Barred Owl still is interesting and noteworthy, if only to track the progress of this species' expansion in the state. This one was photographed recently by my friend Bruce near his workplace in southwest Portland.

Red-breasted Sapsucker

2009-11-10T21:57:00.000-08:00

This is the time of the year when I begin to see Red-breasted Sapsuckers more frequently away from forested areas. I suppose they wander away from their nesting territories in search of good sap-filled trees to claim as their winter food source. I actually took this photo about 15 years ago when this bird (here in McMinnville, Oregon) allowed me to approach to within 6 ft., but I just rediscovered it as I was looking for a different photo. I don't expect to ever get that close to a free-flying, healthy Sapsucker again.

Camel Cricket

2009-11-09T21:22:00.000-08:00

Once again I've been reminded that one of the best ways to learn new things about the natural world is to go exploring with a child. Last Saturday, my 5-yr.-old grandson and I went exploring in the hills near his home in Bend, Oregon. We found this creature under a rotting log, and I recognized it as a cricket. But in my ignorance I thought all crickets have wings, so I did not have answers for some questions that quickly came up. Now, after doing some "digging" on the internet, I believe that this insect (which my grandson quickly identified as a friend) is a Camel Cricket, and as such does not have wings, and thus does not "chirp."

Merlin in Washington

2009-11-03T20:50:00.000-08:00

Birding time has been scarce for me recently, but on a recent working trip to Vancouver, Washington, a noisy Flicker in a golden Black Walnut tree caught my attention. I soon saw why the Flicker was so agitated -- a Merlin was lurking in the same tree, and no doubt was having visions of a Flicker lunch.

Cedar Waxwing season

2009-10-16T12:52:00.000-07:00

In the Willamette Valley at this time of the year, many people (and not only birders) notice the presence of Cedar Waxwings, often in flocks of a dozen or two. If there is a holly tree with bright red berries in your neighborhood, there's a good chance you will hear their high-pitched squeaky notes emanating from the tree, even before you see the birds. Today, they are just outside my office window.

Hoffmann's Woodpecker in San Jose

2009-09-22T18:54:00.000-07:00

Today I traveled to the Dominican Republic, but yesterday at a school in San Jose, Costa Rica, I got a better look at a Hoffmann's Woodpecker than I did when I was there last year. It's just now occurring to me that I've seen eight species in this group of very similar woodpeckers, including the endemic Hispaniolan Woodpecker here in the D.R. I hope to see that one again tomorrow on the same school campus where I saw it last year.

Traveling by air can be a kind of torture for a birder. When we stopped briefly in Panama today, I had tantalizing glimpses of several islands just offshore. I can only imagine what treasures must be waiting for a birder on this one that appears to be totally unoccupied by humans.

Red-crowned Woodpecker

2009-09-19T15:52:00.000-07:00

Today being Saturday, and the others in my group being away on a "cultural activity" I chose to skip, I was free to do a little birding. I was told by a friend who lives here in Barranquilla about a restaurant along the shore of the Magdalena River whose owner takes visitors out to an island where he has another restaurant near a large natural area. My taxi driver found the restaurant and the boat, but because of recent rains the island is under water today. So... what to do? The driver did not know of any parks with natural areas in the city, but suggested the zoo. Knowing that wild birds sometimes hang around zoos, maybe for company but more likely for the chance to sneak in for some easy food, I agreed to go there. It paid off for me in the form of this Red-crowned Woodpecker, a new bird for me, although it appears to be very similar to the Red-bellied Woodpeckers I've seen in Pennsylvania. It even has a red belly patch, slightly visible in the photo below.

Also hanging out at the zoo were some opportunistic Black Vultures, stealing dead fish that had been offered to the turtles, although I saw only one turtle that seemed to be interested in eating a fish.

Russet-throated Puffbird in Barranquilla

2009-09-19T14:22:00.000-07:00

This afternoon on my way back to my hotel I took a shortcut through a small park and playground surrounded by busy streets and businesses. I chose a route under the few trees that were there, both for shade from the blistering sun, and because there might be some birds there. At first I found only a few Greyish Saltators feeding, but as I was about to leave, another bird arrived, and I immediately knew I'd never seen it before. It stayed just long enough for me to grab a few shots, and then back in my room with the help of the resources on the internet, I identified it as a Russet-throated Puffbird.

Bicolored Wren in Barranquilla, Colombia

2009-09-18T20:18:00.000-07:00

I've learned that sometimes my best chance at finding new birds is on the way to and from the airports in the cities I visit, because the few birds I find in the city itself are usually fairly common. This time, before we even got out of the airport parking lot after arriving in Barranquilla, I watched this bird that acted like a wren, but seemed too big to be one. Not so. I discovered that it is indeed the Bicolored Wren, about 8 inches long, and found only in northern and eastern South America. I soon began to see it in many parts of this city on the northern coast of Colombia.

A day later while visiting one of the excellent high schools in this city, I enjoyed watching the iguanas that freely wandered over the lawns and climbed the trees on the campus. If you don't have squirrels, you might as well have lizards, I suppose.

White-capped Dipper at Machu Picchu

2009-09-14T12:43:00.002-07:00

It is seldom that I visit a place so spectacular that a shortage of birds almost doesn't matter. On my visit to Machu Picchu a few days ago I was hoping to find several birds I'd never seen before, but I saw very few besides the many Blue-and-white Swallows that were nesting there, and the ubiquitous Rufous-collared Sparrow. As our train followed the river for a couple of hours from Cusco, I tried to spy a White-capped Dipper, but not until we had visited the sanctuary and had returned down to catch the train in the town of Machu Picchu did I finally see one in the creek beside the market. A dandy little bird.

Blue-and-white Swallow, parent and young

Hotel birding in Bolivia

2009-09-08T19:56:00.000-07:00

Sayaca Tanager

My job has me in Bolivia for a few days, and fortunately the hotel where I'm staying in Santa Cruz has a some nice landscaping with some big trees. Today a tree that is apparently fruiting right now was attracting dozens of tanagers, but I saw only two species: the Palm Tanager and (if the book is correct about the range) the Sayaca Tanager. Also, the Sayaca does not have the white shoulder patch of the Blue-gray Tanager, and I haven't seen any white patches so far.

Palm Tanager

Vaux's Swifts entering chimney

2009-09-06T20:32:00.001-07:00

At the same time (literally) that the Barn Swallows are going to roost in the cornfields, the Vaux's Swifts here in western Oregon are going to roost in chimneys all over the Willamette Valley. This evening about 300 to 500 went into a chimney of house on my street, as they do every evening for several weeks each September.

Great Horned Owls watching Barn Swallows

2009-09-05T22:19:00.001-07:00

This evening while I was watching the huge flock of Barn Swallows swirling around above the cornfields before plunging down to their nighttime roost in the corn, I heard a Great Horned Owl hooting behind me. I turned around and discovered these two owls that also appeared to be watching the show. They flew away in the opposite direction, but I wonder if they had just stopped in to see where their midnight snack would be waiting for them.

Barn Swallows above their cornfield roosting area

Barn Swallow morning flyout

2009-09-04T22:12:00.000-07:00

This morning I arrived on Grand Island (in Yamhill Co. on the west side of the Willamette River) at about 6:05 a.m. I wanted to see the exodus of the huge flock of Barn Swallows that I had watched going to roost in the cornfields at dusk the evening before.

Because of the low light it was difficult to see the action very clearly, but I could see successive waves of many thousands of birds taking off out of the standing corn, and rising quickly until they were almost out of sight against the lightening clouds overhead.

But it was not difficult to hear them! The volume of their collective chattering was remarkable, and I think any person standing there (birder or not) would have instinctively looked up to see what was going over.

I recorded a short video, not for the visual images, but hoping to record something of the sound. If you turn up the volume on your speakers, I think you will hear it here:

Barn Swallow flock on Doppler radar

2009-09-03T21:26:00.000-07:00

The green "burst" just above the word "Woodburn" on the map above was recorded this morning at about 6:25 a.m. The flock of Barn Swallows that is spending every night roosting in cornfields just to the west of the burst (across the Willamette River in Yamhill Co.) apparently begins every day by heading east, but at 7:30 p.m. they can be seen returning to the cornfield from every point of the compass. (Clicking on the image above will make it easier to see that the flock is airborne between Newberg and Woodburn at 6:25.)

This evening I tried again without much success to video the swallows that gather here before they head to South America for the winter. I estimate that there are several hundred thousand swallows here, but the video captures only a very small portion of the near edge of the huge flock.

Barn Swallows swarming again

2009-08-30T22:49:00.000-07:00

Once again, as they have been doing for at least 12 years to my knowledge (and maybe for decades more), a huge flock of Barn Swallows is gathering here in Yamhill County. For several weeks they scatter out during the day across this part of the Willamette Valley, and then join a multitude of their fellows to roost in a cornfield during the night. This evening I watched as many tens of thousands swirled together just after sunset, and then plunged down to find a perch in the standing corn. A short video clip of a small part of the major flock can be seen at the following link. The big group was too far away to video effectively.

(Unfortunately, I discovered after posting this that it cannot be enlarged for viewing, so you really can't see the birds in motion. Sorry.)

A few days in the Olympics

2009-08-28T19:05:00.000-07:00

A few days with the family at Lake Crescent in Olympic National Park provided a fun, relaxing time in a spectacular setting, but Barn and Violet-green Swallows were the most common birds over the water. But one day a group of immature Common Mergansers cruised into view, and spent an hour sunning on the boat ramp.

There were some attractive butterflies near the lake, including this Pine White, even though I did not see any pine trees in the thousands of acres of conifer forest covering the hills.

One day we drove west about an hour to the northwestern-most point of the U.S. lower 48. A trail led through lush rainforest to the viewpoint at Cape Flattery, where there was another spectacular view, and also a flock of about 90 Black Oystercatchers, the largest group of these birds I've ever seen.

Tatoosh Island, about a half mile off the point, was like a tantalizing glimpse of another world. I'm sure it would be a wonderful place for a birder to visit, and would be a great vantage point from which to watch for passing shearwaters, kittiwakes, and alcids.

Brown Pelican adult in flight

2009-08-20T23:09:00.000-07:00

Last weekend I spent part of a sunny afternoon on the beach near Tillamook. I was entertained by the many Brown Pelicans diving for fish in the channel between the jetties, and also by a small beetle that landed on my hand. From illustrations I've found by Googling "beetles," I believe it is one of the world's 3,500 species of Soldier Beetles. Apparently they are good to have in your garden, since they are known to dine on aphids.