Category Archives: behavior

Fernhill Wetlands and Jackson Bottom

Posted on July 28, 2016 by

I made a quick trek around Washington County’s two prominent wetlands. There was nothing unusual to report, but there is plenty of bird activity at these sites this time of year. Green Heron, lurking Great Blue Heron, not lurking Juvenile … Continue reading →

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Commonwealth Lake

Posted on July 11, 2016 by

I brief walk around Commonwealth Lake in Beaverton revealed lots of recently fledged Barn Swallows. They were perching on branches above the water, waiting for their parents to fly in with food. still waiting note the bulging crop on the … Continue reading →

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Pacific City

Posted on May 6, 2016 by

I led the Three Capes Tour for the Birding and Blues Festival last weekend. Spring migration had not quite kicked into high gear, but there were some nice birds around. This is one of two Black-bellied Plovers we saw on … Continue reading →

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Cannon Beach/Seaside

Posted on April 11, 2016 by

Nala and I spent a unseasonably warm morning around the towns of Cannon Beach and Seaside. Spring migration is just starting to kick in, but things are still pretty slow. Since the tide was out, we were able to get … Continue reading →

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Smith and Bybee Wetlands

Posted on June 7, 2015 by

Nesting season is in full swing at Smith and Bybee Wetlands in northwest Portland. There is a small colony of Cliff Swallows nesting under the highway overpass. Here is the tail end of a Cedar Waxwing sitting on a nest. … Continue reading →

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Double-crested Cormorants

Posted on March 20, 2015 by

Double-crested Cormorants always put on a good show along the Willamette River in Portland. For being an all black bird, they really show a lot of interesting details in their plumage. The blue eyes on an orange face are also … Continue reading →

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Jackson Bottom

Posted on September 6, 2014 by

There was a recent flurry of shorebird activity at Jackson Bottom, south of Hillsboro. I missed out on seeing some of the less common species, but a brief visit one morning provided lots of both Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs, among … Continue reading →

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Washington County Wetlands

Posted on July 4, 2014 by

There are big changes underway at Fernhill Wetlands. The main lake has been drained, and the two impoundments to the south are completely gone. This is all to make way for large emergent wetlands that will replace the ponds. This … Continue reading →

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Silver Lining

Posted on May 4, 2014 by

I led the field trip for my Warblers and Flycatchers class Saturday morning. We walked around Mt. Tabor Park in SE Portland for several hours. Spring migration tends to occur in waves, with some days producing large numbers of migrants, … Continue reading →

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Slow Spring

Posted on April 3, 2014 by

The end of March and beginning of April have been cool and wet. Spring is progressing, but seemingly very slowly. Here are a few images from the past week. Pacific Wrens are singing everywhere. This bird was at Powell Butte … Continue reading →

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