All photos copyright John Rakestraw unless otherwise noted. All rights reserved.
Tag Archives: American Kestrel
Jackson Bottom
I spent a foggy morning at Jackson Bottom Wetland Reserve. This Great Egret was blending in with the foggy background at Pintail Pond. Belted Kingfishers are almost always distant subjects for my photos. They are quite skittish. The Coyote Hill … Continue reading
Posted in OR Birding Sites
Tagged American Kestrel, Belted Kingfisher, Great Egret, House Finch, Northern Pintail, Tundra Swan
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Mt. Hood National Forest
I had the opportunity to guide a lovely couple from Florida on a trip to Mt. Hood National Forest. The weather was not great, with dreary conditions at lower elevations and driving rain at Timberline Lodge. But we did manage … Continue reading
Autumn at Fernhill
Fernhill Wetlands is the place to be in autumn. Even after the extensive wetland renovations that have taken place, resulting in less open water, the Cackling Geese still congregate here by the thousands. This Great Egret was catching the sunshine … Continue reading
Powell Butte
I hadn’t been to Powell Butte Nature Park in east Portland since they finished renovations. They had been working on one of the water system reservoirs and have added more parking, a visitor center, and new trail markers and maps. … Continue reading
Posted in OR Birding Sites, rarities
Tagged American Kestrel, Mountain Bluebird, Powell Butte, Say's Phoebe, Yellow-rumped Warbler
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Random Images
Here are a few photos from recent ramblings. After delivering some books to Tualatin River NWR, I took a quick walk on the path that leads through some newly planted oaks and along the river. This male American Kestrel had … Continue reading
Dawson Creek
Nala and I went out to Dawson Creek Park in Hillsboro to look for a Rusty Blackbird reported the day before. This site, a private park associated with the office park behind the public library, is a manicured park with … Continue reading
Posted in OR Birding Sites, rarities
Tagged American Kestrel, American Wigeon, Cackling Goose, Dawson Creek, Rusty Blackbird, Wood Duck
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Birds and Brew Fest, 12 October 2013
I led a tour of Fernhill Wetlands for the Birds and Brew Festival. Since there were about 50 people in the group, including many who didn’t have optics, we concentrated on the “charismatic mega-fauna,” like these American White Pelicans. A … Continue reading
Fernhill Wetlands, 2-15-12
I walked around Fernhill Wetlands (Birding Oregon, p. 61) in the mid afternoon. Most of the waterfowl that roost here on winter evenings were still off feeding in the area fields, but there is always something to see. A flock … Continue reading
Fields Oasis
The oasis at Fields (Birding Oregon p. 19) is a tiny site, but one of the better known hotspots in Oregon. This little clump of willows around a spring is surrounded by miles of sage steppe, so it is very … Continue reading
Posted in nesting, OR Birding Sites, rarities
Tagged American Kestrel, Fields, Great Horned Owl, Northern Parula
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Frozen Fernhill
An arctic air mass brought cold temperatures and ice to Fernhill Wetlands (Birding Oregon p. 61), but there was no shortage of birds. Here are some grainy gray photos from a lap around the ponds. Horned Grebe Tundra Swans and … Continue reading
Posted in OR Birding Sites, seasonal movements
Tagged American Kestrel, American White Pelican, Bald Eagle, Cackling Cackling Goose, California Gull, Fernhill Wetlands, Great Blue Heron, Horned Grebe, Northern Pintail, Northern Shoveler, Snow Goose, Taverner's Cackling Goose, Tundra Swan
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