Tag Archives: Pectoral Sandpiper

September Shorebirds

Posted on September 23, 2021 by John Rakestraw

Shorebirds have been trickling through the Portland area all month. Finding proper habitat can be challenging. As wetlands dry up during the summer, we have to hope that deeper bodies of water recede enough to create mudflats for shorebirds to … Continue reading →

Posted in behavior, seasonal movements | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Tualatin River NWR

Posted on May 21, 2021 by John Rakestraw

The long hiking trail at Tualatin River NWR is open, and this refuge always offers some good birding in the spring and early summer. A pair of Blue-winged Teal was in the southwest pond. As is typical for this species, … Continue reading →

Posted in OR Birding Sites, rarities, seasonal movements | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

“Autumn” Shorebirds

Posted on September 4, 2020 by John Rakestraw

Late summer is a challenging time to bird. The local nesters have finished raising their families and have grown quiet and harder to see. Most southbound migrants have not arrived yet. The weather is hot and many parks are crowded. … Continue reading →

Posted in seasonal movements | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Fernhill Wetlands

Posted on October 20, 2018 by John Rakestraw

We have had a long stretch of sunny warm weather lately. On one hand, it is lovely to be warm and dry on an outing. On the other hand, water levels continue drop and the harsh lighting makes for lousy … Continue reading →

Posted in OR Birding Sites | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Smith and Bybee Wetlands

Posted on October 1, 2014 by John Rakestraw

Smith Lake, the larger body of water at Smith and Bybee Wetlands in NW Portland, currently has a lot of mudflat habitat, attracting good numbers of shorebirds and gulls. Greater Yellowlegs at sunrise Long-billed Dowitchers and Pectoral Sandpipers Black-tailed Deer … Continue reading →

Posted in mammals, OR Birding Sites | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a 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 , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Shorebird Class 7 September 2013

Posted on September 13, 2013 by John Rakestraw

I took my shorebird class to the north coast. We ended the day with 14 species of shorebirds, plus one that got away unidentified. Our first stop was The Cove in Seaside. The tide was very low so the birds … Continue reading →

Posted in OR Birding Sites | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

And More Shorebirds

Posted on October 4, 2008 by John Rakestraw

Another quick trip to Fernhill Wetlands this afternoon produced a couple of species that were not present a few days ago. A Long-billed Dowitcher (left) and a Pectoral Sandpiper. Both birds are in juvenal plumage, indicated by the pale edges … Continue reading →

Posted in behavior, identification challenges | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment