Tree Swallow

Posted on June 15, 2012 by jley1

Tree Swallow

June 2012 – Jackson Bottom, Hillsboro, Oregon

There are a lot of swallow boxes at Jackson Bottom, and consequently, a lot of Tree Swallow tenants.

Tree Swallow

June 2012 – Sauvie Island, Oregon

Appropriately, this Tree Swallow was in a tree. Sure, there were many of them flying around too, but every try to get a photo of a swallow in flight? Good luck!

Tree Swallow

May 2004 – Jackson Bottom, Hillsboro, OR

Jackson Bottom is a wetland south of Hillsboro, OR. The wetlands cover a fairly large area, but trails/paths only cover a portion of it. It’s a decent local place to see birds.

Black-capped Chickadee

Posted on June 7, 2012 by jley1

Black-capped Chickadee

June 2012 – Hillsboro, Oregon

A fleeting moment with a backyard visitor

Black-capped Chickadee

April 2012 – Tualatin National Wildlife Refuge, Oregon

A number of chickadees were mostly sticking to the scattered Ponderosa Pines in the forested section of the wildlife refuge.

American Goldfinch

Posted on June 4, 2012 by jley1

American Goldfinch

June 2012 – Sauvie Island, Oregon

I had set up in a portable blind, waiting for a Yellowthroat to land on this branch. He never did, but this female American Goldfinch passed through. I suppose I can’t complain too much… I was happy with this photo, but reminded myself that I really set up on the wrong side of this branch… though, there really wasn’t a good location on the other side. Another problem was an almost invisible spider web that’s just in front of the bird’s head (you can see it on this photo). Nearly all my photos were focused on the spider web instead of the bird, but this one came out OK. I was impressed that my camera’s autofocus could pick-up a spider web, but I’m not sure when that’d be useful.

Savannah Sparrow

Posted on June 2, 2012 by jley1

Savannah Sparrow

June 2012 – Sauvie Island, Oregon

I had a great moment with this Savannah Sparrow an hour after sunrise, just setting out along the trails on Sauvie Island.

Savannah Sparrow

June 2011 – Hillsboro, Oregon

I was surprised to get as close to this Savannah Sparrow as I did. It was just getting near dusk – great light! I just wish I could have gotten a slightly clearer angle. The birds never listen to me when I tell them to pose.

Green-tailed Towhee

Posted on June 2, 2012 by jley1

Green-tailed Towhee

May 2012 – Near Mt. Shasta, California

What was most amazing about this sighting was that it was right in the very climax of the 2012 annular solar eclipse – I mean the eclipse was full for like 2 minute, and that’s when I snapped this photo. I had never seen one previously. It’s not the greatest photo, but the only one I have and I’m not sure when I’ll see another of these. But, I suppose I know where to look!

Wrentit

Posted on June 2, 2012 by jley1

Wrentit

May 2012 – Indian Sands Beach, Oregon

I was walking along the trail saying “This looks just like the sort of place you’d see a Wrentit”. I had only seen one once before, further up the Oregon coast. Sure enough, not more than 30 seconds later, this one appeared. These birds are neither Wrens nor Tits… but seem to be the only American representative of the Babblers found in Europe.

California Quail

Posted on June 2, 2012 by jley1

California Quail

May 2012 – Port Orford Heads, Oregon

This female California Quail didn’t linger long on the mossy branch. This was right next to the old sea rescue station at Port Orford Head on the Oregon coast.

Swainson’s Thrush

Posted on June 2, 2012 by jley1

Swainson's Thrush

May 2012 – Harris Beach State Park, Oregon

The song of the Swainson’s Thrush has a lot more flourish than the bird. It’s like an uphill spiraling warbling gurgle. The birds are generally very shy, and only somewhat visible in the dawn/dusk hours. It was quite dark when I spotted this one, and he only lingered for a few seconds. Not the best photo, but it’ll have to do for now.

Black Oystercatcher

Posted on June 2, 2012 by jley1

Black Oystercatcher

May 2012 – Secret Beach, Oregon

Sometimes you sit and wait for a bird to do something – anything – to make the photo memorable. This Oystercatcher only opened his bill for a moment, but it added a whole new dimension to the image. Almost like he’s warming up his jaw to take-on that mound of mussles he’s standing on. Or, maybe he had something to say. A moment later, he flew off.

Black Oystercatcher

January 2009 – Shi Shi Beach, WA

I came across these Black Oystercatchers on Shi Shi Beach – along the Washington coast – in early 2009. Usually, these birds are quite skittish, but I managed to get fairly close, just being patient. I waited for a wave to crash behind them to add a little drama, and some better contrast to the scene. Normally, having two subjects in an image isn’t a good approach, as the eye doesn’t know where to settle (three or one is better…), but it is what it is… I figure, it’s also pretty uncommon to get a couple Oystercatchers lined-up like this, so I’ll take it.

Black Oystercatcher

May 2011 – Sister’s Rock, Oregon

Here’s another pair of Black Oystercatchers – this time along the southern Oregon coast. Strange that sometimes these birds won’t let me get within 100 yards, and other times, they seem not to care about me at all.

Yellow-headed Blackbird

Posted on June 2, 2012 by jley1

Yellow-headed Blackbird

May 2012 – Tule Lake, California

A bunch of Yellow-headed Blackbirds had staked-out territory in the reeds on the south shore of Tule Lake. Each seemed to hold about a 30ft radius from the next – not a whole lot of territory.

Yellow-headed Blackbird

Another Yellow-headed Blackbird hanging out in the reeds on the south shore of Tule Lake. The females generally stayed much lower in the reeds, but did pop up from time to time.