All photos copyright John Rakestraw unless otherwise noted. All rights reserved.
Tag Archives: Mew Gull
Tillamook
I had to go to Tillamook Bay to get some photos for an upcoming webinar. This particular day had freakishly nice weather, very un-Tillamook-like. Ideally, during fall migration, a birder hopes for onshore winds to bring seabirds and shorebirds close … Continue reading
Mew Gulls
I made a quick trip to Amberglen Office Park in Hillsboro to check the lawn for gulls. Along with a small flock of Ring-billed Gulls were four Mew Gulls. Mews are one of my favorite gulls. They are easy to … Continue reading
Posted in identification challenges, OR Birding Sites
Tagged Mew Gull, Nutria, Song Sparrow
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Twitching in the rain
One of the more popular avian celebrities in Portland this fall is a Virginia’s Warbler that has been visiting the suet feeders at a home for the past several weeks. This is a great bird for Oregon, and the bird … Continue reading
Posted in birding philosophy, rarities
Tagged Mew Gull, Ring-billed Gull, Virginia's Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler
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Cannon Beach/Seaside
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
Posted in behavior, seasonal movements
Tagged California Gull, Caspian Tern, Harlequin Duck, Mew Gull, Ruby-crowned Kinglet
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AmberGlen Business Park
Several office parks in the Hillsboro area have nice open spaces that attract birds. AmberGlen has a pond next to a large lawn which attracts good numbers of gulls in winter. Most of the gulls on my recent visit were … Continue reading
McNary Wildlife Nature Area
Looking past the rather awkward name, the McNary Wildlife Nature Area is a great little spot for birding. The park, which came to my attention by hosting the recent Black-headed Gull, is located in the town of Umatilla, just downstream … Continue reading
New Year Birding
I went out for a few hours on New Year’s Day to scout locations for my upcoming gull class. The weather was freakishly sunny for a January day in the Portland area. The only gull flock I found was at … Continue reading
Posted in OR Birding Sites
Tagged Common Merganser, Hooded Merganser, Mallard, Mew Gull, Ring-billed Gull, Ring-necked Duck
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Vanport
I took Nala to the dog park next to Vanport Wetlands in hopes of seeing a bird or two between throws of the ball. A male Eurasian Wigeon made a brief appearance. Green-winged Teal A pair of Gadwalls swam in … Continue reading
Posted in OR Birding Sites
Tagged Eurasian Wigeon, Gadwall, Green-winged Teal, Mew Gull, Ring-billed Gull, Vanport Wetlands
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Yaquina Bay
Yaquina Bay, at the town of Newport, is one of the more productive sites on the Oregon coast. On this visit, high winds reduced the number of birds that were out and about, but there was still a lot to … Continue reading
Broughton Beach
Broughton Beach is the stretch of shoreline along the Columbia River, just north of the Portland airport. It has been a popular spot to access the river to scan for waterfowl in winter, and the shore attracts some neat birds, … Continue reading
Posted in OR Birding Sites
Tagged Broughton Beach, California Gull, Herring Gull, Horned Grebe, Mew Gull, Peregrine Falcon, Ring-billed Gull
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