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Descriptions of over 250 of the best birding sites in Oregon, checklist and seasonal abundance chart, additional resources.
Category Archives: birding philosophy
Snowy Owls
Several Snowy Owls have been reported recently from Fort Stevens State Park, so I made the trek out to see them. I walked around the marsh at Parking Lot C, snapped a few photos from a respectful distance and then … Continue reading
Feeding Frenzy
For the past few weeks I have been enjoying a large flock of Pine Siskins at my feeder. But as often occurs during years of high siskin numbers, I started noticing a few sick birds. So I stopped feeding for … Continue reading
Posted in birding philosophy, conservation issues
Tagged bird feeding, Lesser Goldfinch, Pine Siskin, Purple Finch
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To Bird or to Twitch?
I finally had a few hours to get out birding, and had planned to visit some of the Washington County wetlands. But a Brambling visiting a feeder in Woodburn presented me with a dilemma. Should I spend my birding time … Continue reading
Posted in birding philosophy, rarities, Uncategorized
Tagged Brambling, Dark-eyed Junco, Downy Woodpecker
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Eastern Kingbird
A few years ago I blogged on birding and aesthetics , describing how beautiful birds and beautiful scenery do not always occur together. I saw another example of this recently. Tucked away in this scene of power lines and invasive … Continue reading
Posted in birding philosophy, OR Birding Sites
Tagged Eastern Kingbird, Sandy River Delta
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Seen it all
A birder recently told me that he didn’t do much local birding because he had “seen it all.” I understand what he meant; once you have birded an area long enough, it becomes increasingly unlikely that you are going to … Continue reading
Posted in birding philosophy
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Duckzilla
Domestication is a strange thing. It enhances certain traits while diminishing others, usually not for the better. A classic example is the Muscovy Duck. In its wild form, this large duck is black with green iridescence and white wing panels. … Continue reading
Wild Turkey
Unique to the Americas, the two species of turkey are beautiful, huge birds. Wild Turkeys are native to North America, while Oscillated Turkeys can be found in Central America. Close to extinction in the early part of the 20th Century, … Continue reading
The best laid plans
It is sometimes the case, when I plan to look for a certain type of bird, that my target species are nowhere to be found. On those days we have to let go of our expectations and open ourselves to … Continue reading
A Sense of Entitlement
There was an interesting thread on the Oregon Birders On Line (OBOL) email list this week. It started with two birders reporting an Eastern Yellow Wagtail on the north shore of the Necanicum Estuary in Gearhart (Birding Oregon p. 122). … Continue reading
Posted in birding philosophy
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Of Dog Days and Guilt
It’s hot. There is nothing unusual about this, being mid-August and all. And in a few days it will be cool and cloudy, if you can believe the forecast. But for now, it is hot and I am inside, where … Continue reading
