Tag Archives: Fernhill Wetlands

Summer at Fernhill

Posted on July 4, 2021 by John Rakestraw

Record-setting heat and cloudless days are not the best conditions for birding or photography, but here we are. It is sometimes hard to motivate oneself to get outside when the weather is so harsh, but there is always something to … Continue reading →

Posted in nesting, OR Birding Sites, seasonal movements | Tagged Black-headed Grosbeak, Fernhill Wetlands, Mourning Dove, Osprey, Pied-billed Grebe, Purple Martin, Red-winged Blackbird, Western Grebe | Leave a comment

Fernhill Wetlands

Posted on December 12, 2018 by John Rakestraw

I visited Fernhill Wetlands in Forest Grove on a rare sunny December day. The sun is so low at this time of year that if there is no cloud cover the sun is either at your back or directly in … Continue reading →

Posted in OR Birding Sites | Tagged Black Phoebe, Fernhill Wetlands, Greater Yellowlegs, Killdeer, Mourning Dove | Leave a comment

Fernhill Wetlands

Posted on July 22, 2017 by John Rakestraw

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 →

Posted in identification challenges, mammals, nesting, OR Birding Sites | Tagged Barn Swallow, Brush Rabbit, Cinnamon Teal, Fernhill Wetlands, Hooded Merganser, Purple Martin, Red-winged Blackbird, Turkey Vulture | Leave a comment

Spring at Fernhill

Posted on April 2, 2017 by John Rakestraw

While we continue to get above-average rainfall in the Portland area, there have been a few dry days of late, so I ran out for a quick tour of Fernhill Wetlands. Most of the wintering geese are gone, and there … Continue reading →

Posted in OR Birding Sites, seasonal movements | Tagged Cinnamon Teal, Dunlin, Fernhill Wetlands, Northern Harrier, Red-winged Blackbird, Song Sparrow, Sora, Yellow-rumped Warbler | Leave a comment

Autumn at Fernhill

Posted on October 29, 2016 by John Rakestraw

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 →

Posted in OR Birding Sites, seasonal movements | Tagged American Kestrel, Cackling Goose, Fernhill Wetlands, Great Egret, Greater White-fronted Goose, Green-winged Teal, Horned Grebe, Killdeer, Northern Pintail, Western Grebe | 3 Comments

Fernhill Wetlands

Posted on April 4, 2016 by John Rakestraw

If you haven’t been to Fernhill Wetlands since the major renovations were completed, you should definitely check it out. There is still a fairly large lake to attract divers, but now there is also a large emergent wetland to explore. … Continue reading →

Posted in OR Birding Sites, reptiles & amphibians, seasonal movements | Tagged American Bullfrog, Brewer's Blackbird, Fernhill Wetlands, Northwestern Garter Snake, Red-winged Blackbird, Ridgeway's Cackling Goose, Tree Swallow | Leave a comment

Washington County Wetlands

Posted on July 4, 2014 by John Rakestraw

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 →

Posted in behavior, OR Birding Sites, seasonal movements | Tagged American Goldfinch, Barn Swallow, Cedar Waxwing, Eurasian Collared-Dove, Fernhill Wetlands, Jackson Bottom, Least Sandpiper, Lesser Goldfinch, Red-winged Blackbird, Savannah Sparrow, Tree Swallow, Wilson's Phalarope | Leave a comment

Fernhill Wetlands 10 April 2014

Posted on April 12, 2014 by John Rakestraw

I took a quick tour of Fernhill Wetlands this week. Great changes are planned for this site. The main lake will be made smaller, and the other two impoundments will be replaced with emergent wetlands. I am looking forward seeing … Continue reading →

Posted in mammals, OR Birding Sites, reptiles & amphibians, seasonal movements | Tagged Common Carp, Fernhill Wetlands, Garter Snake, Marsh Wren, Muskrat, Northern Shoveler, Red-winged Blackbird, Taverner's Cackling Goose, Tree Swallow, Yellow-rumped Warbler | Leave a comment

Birds and Brew Fest, 12 October 2013

Posted on October 13, 2013 by John Rakestraw

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 →

Posted in OR Birding Sites | Tagged American Kestrel, American White Pelican, Fernhill Wetlands, Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, Yellow-rumped Warbler | 1 Comment

Fernhill Wetlands

Posted on September 24, 2013 by John Rakestraw

Fernhill Wetlands, south of Forest Grove, is a great place to see the onset of autumn. Water levels on the main lake are still very low, but the recent rains will soon change that. Migrant shorebirds, like these Western Sandpipers, … Continue reading →

Posted in OR Birding Sites, seasonal movements | Tagged American White Pelican, Cackling Goose, Common Merganser, Eurasian Collared-Dove, Fernhill Wetlands, Pectoral Sandpiper, Western Sandpiper | Leave a comment

Tag Archives: Fernhill Wetlands

All photos © John Rakestraw unless otherwise noted. All rights reserved.