Category Archives: mammals

Early Spring in the 5MR

Posted on April 6, 2019 by

The weather has gone from winter rain to spring rain, still rather gloomy but definitely more pleasant overall. Spring migration is slowly picking up with new species gradually accumulating in my 5-Mile Radius. Most of the new sites that I … Continue reading →

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5MR: The First Month

Posted on February 1, 2019 by

For the month of January, virtually all of my birding has been conducted within my 5 Mile Radius. This included dedicated birding trips and keeping track of birds while at the dog park and on family hikes.  (This Red-breasted Sapsucker … Continue reading →

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Summer Shorebirds

Posted on August 15, 2018 by

There isn’t much going on bird-wise in mid-summer besides shorebirds. It is nice to have an opportunity to really focus on a single group of birds. Here are a few images from recent weeks. This Long-billed Dowitcher, to the right … Continue reading →

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Birdathon

Posted on May 27, 2018 by

Our team for the Audubon Society of Portland’s Birdathon made a 360-mile loop through the Willamette Valley, across the Cascades, and east to the high desert. We tallied 110 species for the day. Here are a few. Acorn Woodpeckers are … Continue reading →

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Ridgefield NWR

Posted on February 14, 2018 by

On rare occasions, I cross the Columbia River to visit Washington. When the weather is less than stellar, the auto tour at Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge offers a nice way to get close to wildlife without getting too wet. A … Continue reading →

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Koll Center Wetlands

Posted on November 25, 2017 by

A couple of Black-crowned Night-Herons has been hanging out at Koll Center Wetlands recently. This spot is strictly parking lot birding (pull up, get out of the car, and scan the pond), but it has attracted more than it’s share … Continue reading →

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Mount Hood

Posted on October 6, 2017 by

At least once a year I like to visit the moonscape that is Mount Hood above Timberline Lodge. The birding there is hit or miss, sometimes yielding great spectacles like a flock of 200 Gray-crowned Rosy-Finches, and sometimes offering little … Continue reading →

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Fernhill Wetlands

Posted on July 22, 2017 by

With the ongoing renovations taking place at Fernhill Wetlands, each visit throughout the year is a new experience. Most of the breeding species have done their thing, and the resident waterfowl have molted into ugly duck season. Water levels are … Continue reading →

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Smith Rock State Park

Posted on July 7, 2017 by

I hadn’t been to the dry side of Oregon for far too long, so I took a trip to Smith Rock State Park. The avian stars of this site are the White-throated Swifts that nest here. They did not disappoint, … Continue reading →

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Northwest Portland Wetlands

Posted on May 26, 2017 by

I went out to Smith and Bybee Wetlands and Vanport Wetlands to check for migrants. The Smith and Bybee area was pretty slow. Water levels were high so some of the trails were inaccessible. Vanport had some really interesting birds, … Continue reading →

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