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Descriptions of over 250 birding sites
Checklist of 543 species with seasonal abundance chart
References and Contact Information
Author Archives: John Rakestraw
Fernhill Wetlands
A recent foggy morning found me at Fernhill Wetlands. Birding was a little slow overall, but there were a few neat finds. These were two of about 100 Long-billed Dowitchers out that morning. Black Phoebe has become an expected species … Continue reading
Posted in mammals, seasonal movements
Tagged Black Phoebe, Harlan's Hawk, Long-billed Dowitcher, Nutria
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Killin Wetlands
Another freakishly sunny autumn day took me to Killin Wetlands. This park was developed fairly recently, with a nice parking lot and some informational signage. The trails don’t get very close to the water, so a scope would be useful. … Continue reading
Fernhill Wetlands
The rainy season has been slow to arrive this year, so we have had strings of sunny autumn days. While the dry conditions are preventing many of the seasonal wetlands from filling, the clear skies do make for some pleasant … Continue reading
Tillamook
I had to go to Tillamook Bay to get some photos for an upcoming webinar. This particular day had freakishly nice weather, very un-Tillamook-like. Ideally, during fall migration, a birder hopes for onshore winds to bring seabirds and shorebirds close … Continue reading
“Autumn” Shorebirds
Late summer is a challenging time to bird. The local nesters have finished raising their families and have grown quiet and harder to see. Most southbound migrants have not arrived yet. The weather is hot and many parks are crowded. … Continue reading
Racetrack Lake
Racetrack Lake, located on Sauvie Island, sort of in between the end of Rentenaar Road and the east shore of Sturgeon Lake, has been quite good for shorebirds recently. Good shorebird habitat has been very hard to find in the … Continue reading
Dog Days
I am not sure why the hottest days of mid-summer are referred to as “dog days.” My dogs want nothing to do with the heat, and the hot weather puts a damper on bird activity as well. Wetlands tend to … Continue reading
Posted in nesting, OR Birding Sites, reptiles & amphibians, seasonal movements
Tagged American Crow, Bewick's Wren, Greater Yellowlegs, Green Heron, House Finch, Lesser Yellowlegs, Long-toed Salamander, Northwestern Garter, Osprey, Purple Martin, Spotted Towhee, Tree Swallow, Western Screech-Owl
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Into the Woods
We left Portland for ten days to escape the fireworks which terrify our dogs. We stayed on a farm in the Coast Range in Benton County. The birds where we stayed were typical Coast Range birds which stayed high in … Continue reading
Troutdale
I spent some time exploring the area just west of the Sandy River Delta in Troutdale, OR. A section of the 40-Mile Loop Trail starts just north of I-84 and runs north along the Sandy River, then west past Company … Continue reading
Posted in OR Birding Sites, rarities
Tagged Ash-throated Flycatcher, Great Horned Owl, Lazuli Bunting
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Fernhill Wetlands
Summer is settling in at Fernhill Wetlands. The birds that are here now are probably nesting. Always a treat this far west is this handsome Blue-winged Teal. I hope he has a mate sitting on eggs somewhere. Just as lovely, … Continue reading
