As we close out the rest of 2020, here are some of the last shots for the year. Next year should be better yet.
Here is a Western Wood Pewee, a common flycatcher in Oregon during the summer
A Western Sandpiper taking a dip
Here is a Short-Billed Dowitcher. The bill is really not very short, just usually a little shorter than his cousin the Long-Billed Dowitcher
Cedar Waxwing. This shot is a little over exposed by light
American Goldfinch in his winter plumage. There are 2 Siskins behind him
A female White-winged Scoter at the Philomath Sewage Ponds. This was the first county record in some 20 years.
A Pine Siskin eating small sunflower seeds.
A 2nd Pine Siskin eating small sunflower seeds.
An immature Gyrfalcon, a rare visitor from the tundra, and not every year in Oregon anymore. He has stayed around into the new year so far, allowing many to see one for the first time. For some it took going back a few times before he finally showed up. I've seen him 7 times now.
A Western Meadowlark, our state bird in Oregon
A Peregrine Falcon. It is not easy to get a good photo of one of these stately raptors. They usually fly off when people get too close
A Brant's Cormorant. I was practicing birds in flight. Not sure how the upper wing did not make it here though
Even Starlings can look attractive............
An immture Red Knot. Sometimes these can be difficult to find.
A Marbled Godwit. If the lighting was better, this may have been a quality shot
A Swainson's Hawk, a very rare visitor west of the Cascades. This one stayed in one location for over a week
A young Barn Swallow, of which there are many by summer's end
Just another Bald Eagle
Another Short-eared Owl
Sometimes in the late fall or early winter Pine Grosbeaks will show up on Mary's Peak. A couple were being seen for a couple weeks this year, so I went up with hopes of adding such to my Benton County list. It took a few hours for some to show up, but it was worth the wait. While waiting I was able to get a few good shots of my favorite bird, Rosy Finch.
Pine Grosbeaks
Not many more birding jaunts before the end of the year, but here are a few as we wind down.
Brant (Goose) over in Newport on 12/14/20
This White-fronted Goose has mud caked to the bottom of his foot. I did not think this was possible. It was hilarious watching him walking around.
A Common Loon in winter plumage
A Horned Grebe in winter plumage at the coast in Newport
A Pine Siskin eating teasel seeds at Newport.
12/14/20 was a great day to be at the coast as it was warm, mild and very little wind and no rain.
Well, before I got to sending last year's photos out, I went on a rare bird chase. I went north to Hagg Lake and saw the Yellow-billed Loon. These are very rare on our coast, and much rarer inland. Then I drove over to Portland to find the female Orchard Oriole which has been on her territory for about a month. After that I drove a little father north for a Great-tailed Grackle. He has been hanging around a certain McDonald's, and has not been dubbed, "McGrackle." After that I was back in Polk County and again saw the local wintering Gyrfalcon, for the 7th time.
Orchard Oriole
Yellow-billed Loon
Yellow-billed Loon
Orchard Oriole
Great-tailed Grackle on the Left, Crow on the right
Mr McGrackle
