Author Archives: jley1

Pacific Wren

Posted on by
Pacific Wren

Pacific Wren

July 2011 – Olympic National Park, WA

These birds are part of the essential character of the northwest rainforests. Their bubbling complex song sounds like a poetic thesis given in some alien language. They often perch atop stumps like this one to advertise their presence. It’s astounding that so much volume can come from such a tiny thing.

So… the wizards that decide these things have decided that this bird is no longer the “Winter Wren”, which is indigenous to the eastern US. Instead, they’ve been reclassified as “Pacific Wren”. Ok… I suppose I can see the reasoning, but now do I have to update everything I’ve ever written about them? It’s like being told that your brother, who you’ve known all your life is not named Bob, it’s Jim.

American Dipper

Posted on by
American Dipper

American Dipper

The American Dipper (also called Water Ouzels) are one of the more conspicuous birds of the northwest forests. These birds forage for their food under the surface of whitewater streams. They often squawk loudly while flying purposefully – straight and low – over the water surface, stopping on rocks or branches.  This one was repeatedly returning for food for her two fledgling chicks. This was along a stretch of the Deschutes River, just south of Bend OR. I felt pretty lucky to get such a composition… there’s a lot going on here – the morsel of food, the bright red mouths, the dripping water… Feed me!

 

 

American Dipper

American Dipper

This bird was taking a rest on a log near University Falls in the Oregon coast range.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

American Dipper

American Dipper

The Dipper gets its name possibly for two reasons. First, they dip in the water to get their food. But, they also have a curious habit flexing their legs and “dipping”, almost like a curtsy. They do this almost continuously… rarely just standing still – almost like a tic.

Barred Owl

Posted on by
Barred Owl

Barred Owl

We were just leaving the trailhead from Mt. Mitchell (just south of Mt. St. Helens), when I saw some movement out of the corner of my eye. It was this Barred Owl, swooping down to the forest floor to grab an unlucky mouse. He then floated back up to a mossy limb to have a little snack. A car can work as an effective blind – the bird doesn’t see the car as a threat, and for whatever reason, doesn’t perceive the people inside them. So, I fished around the back seat for my camera and long lens, while the owl ripped the mouse to bloody pieces. I snapped a few shots with the window rolled down, and then tried stepping out of the car for a closer look. I only took a couple steps though, and the owl took off (after finishing the mouse).

Red-winged Blackbird

Posted on by
Red-winged Blackbird - Male

Red-winged Blackbird - Male

May 2011 – The Oregon Garden

The Red-winged Blackbirds were plentiful, noisy, and flamboyant at the Oregon Garden in May 2011. The bird on the top is a male, obviously, and strutting his stuff in a small wetland.

 

 

 

 

 

Red-winged Blackbird - Female

Red-winged Blackbird - Female

May 2011 – The Oregon Garden

The image on the bottom is a female. Usually the females are more timid, but on this day, they seemed every bit as raucous as the males. I wonder if this habitat was just so perfect that they’d let down their guard a bit.

Rufous Hummingbird

Posted on by
Rufous Hummingbird

Rufous Hummingbird

May 2011 – Oregon Garden, Oregon

I spotted this hummingbird checking out a Camas flower in the Oregon Garden in May 2011. I was photographing some other birds at the time, and just noticed him out of the corner of my eye. I only had time to snap a couple quick photos, and got a bit lucky that the focus was dead-on, and the whole composition of the image actually worked.

Warbling Vireo

Posted on by
Warbling Vireo

Warbling Vireo

This Warbling Vireo was flitting around in a tree about 20ft overhead of a path in the Oregon Garden. I was actually trying to get a shot of a more conspicuous American Goldfinch, but was happy to get a much nicer shot of this bird.

Hermit Warbler

Posted on by
Hermit Warbler

Hermit Warbler

June 2005 – Zigzag Mountain, OR

I heard this Hermit Warbler (and many others) for a long while before I could get a clear look. They were all in the top branches of the fir trees, which made spotting, identifying  and photographing them pretty difficult. So, it’s not the best photo, but it’ll do.