May 2014 – Hart Mountain NAR, Oregon
It was kind of strange seeing this bird in a hot desert area… perched in a bush. But, whatever… There are small bits of early summer wetlands in the Warner Valley, which is where this photo was taken.
Willet
Greater Yellowlegs
July 2013 – Fernhill Wetlands, Oregon
This bird was wading all along in the shallows, not far from the parking area at Fernhill. It was almost like a bonus bird as I prepared to hit the road.
Western Sandpiper
July 2013 – Fernhill Wetlands, Oregon
A Western Sandpiper pokes through the shallows at Fernhill.
Least Sandpiper
July 2013 – Fernhill Wetlands, Oregon
This might look a bit like the Western Sandpiper, but I have other photos in this series that show the distinctive yellow legs.
Long-billed Dowitcher
October 2012 – Fern Hill – Forest Grove, Oregon
A group of 3 Long-billed Dowitchers were probing the shallows in a corner of Fern Hill. We spotted them when we first arrived… and when we left an hour or so later, they were still there… still probing.
Long-billed Dowitcher
These birds spent the summer on the Arctic coast, but by mid-autumn, are in their wintering grounds from the Oregon coast down to Mexico.
Surfbird
November 2012 – Bandon, Oregon
A number of Surfbirds were picking through the tidepools at Bandon Beach. Interestingly, there weren’t a whole lot of birds at all at the beach on this particular outing.
When you look at this image contrasted with the one below, it doesn’t even look like the same bird. But, in flight, these birds are very distinctive.
Surfbird
March 2009 – Seal Rock State Wayside, Oregon
This Surfbird (Yes, that’s the actual name of this bird species), was one of a small flock, picking through the tidepools looking for small morsels. These frenetic little creatures don’t linger long in any one place.
Wilson's Snipe
July 2012 – Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, WA
I’ve seen dozens of these birds flying far overhead, making that distinctive whistling sound with their tail feathers, but this was the first one I caught on the ground. Not the best photo, but good enough to figure out what it is.
Sanderlings
October 2011 – Ft. Stevens on the Oregon Coast
A couple more images of a flock of Sanderlings that were running up and down the beach… sometimes flying to a new location.
Flock of Sanderlings
I was having fun photographing these birds until some idiot driving his car on the beach (yes, this is allowed on this particular beach) drove right through the flock and made them scatter. I’m sure he didn’t give it any thought. I suppose that’s the definition of being a “thoughtless jerk”. These birds live a precarious existence, just scraping by on little morsels they extract from the inter-tidal zone. Any little bit of stress added to their lives is harmful to them. Sure, these aren’t rare birds, but they deserve their space.
Sanderling
Earlier Image
These restless little birds gather in large flocks for protection. They run along sandy beaches, continuously probing for tiny morsels.
June 2009 – Todd Lake, Oregon Cascades
This wasn’t a typical place to see a Spotted Sandpiper, but a bunch of them were hanging out along the shoreline of Todd Lake high up in the Oregon Cascade mountains. Surely, it was a good place to be, as the newly thawed shoreline muds were crawling with bugs. Yum.