On this particular visit, I saw more Clark’s Nutcrackers than I’ve seen the rest of my life. Dozens of these birds darted among the trees, and soared down the cliffsides. They have the curious habit of finding the very tip of the tallest tree around, and perching on top of it.
Clark’s Nutcracker
The larger cousin to the Downy Woodpecker is quite a bit more shy. I couldn’t get too close for this shot… I’ll hope for a better one some day.
Hairy Woodpecker
I see these from time to time, but they almost always seem to be sleeping the day away far in the middle of the water. This one is a bit drab with Winter coloring, but not too bad…
Ruddy Duck
I was pretty excited to get this shot… I think this requires more luck than anything else. This guy only hung around for a few seconds.
These are such fast and active little birds… I’m surprised I was able to get even this mediocre shot. You can just make out a bit of the ruby crown on the back of the head.
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
These are extremely active little birds, especially in winter where they have to fight for every morsel of food they can turn-up. Not the best photo here, but the best I could muster after a half-hour of tracking this one through a hedge.
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
These Harlequin Ducks were hanging out near the tidepools at Pistol River.
Harlequin Duck
Harlequin Duck
This is a female Harlequin Duck – flapping its wings as part of a preening process on a rock in the Quinault River in Olympic National Park. These ducks nest along tumbling mountain rapids, and spend their winters out to sea.
Not sure what it is about the Pistol River and these particular birds, but it seems like a good place to see them.
Pigeon Guillemot
Not the greatest photo, but the closest I could get to this pair of Pigeon Guillemots. These are very common birds at the coast, but spend much of their time far out to sea.
Pigeon Guillemot
While Western Gulls are common, scenes like this are rare.
Western Gull
Just another photo of a Western Gull, which I like… A wave crashed behind this gull, and it was just trying to keep its balance when I was able to get this.
Western Gull
This Western Gull was scraping the back of an old crab shell – looking for any last morsel left behind… and not above trying to eat the shell itself. Maybe there was something left – a number of other birds were hovering nearby.
Western Gull
A Western Gull takes a rest on some rocks along the beach. This bird let me get pretty close. It didn’t look injured, just really comfortable, and not interested in flying away if it didn’t have to.
Western Gull
Just off the jetty, Pacific Loons get about as close to shore as they ever do.
Pacific Loon
May 2013 – Cape Lookout, Oregon
The Cape Lookout hugs a cliff hundreds of feet above the Pacific Ocean. Far below, and maybe a mile out to sea, these Pacific Loons were going about their business.
Pacific Loon
These birds are spreading rapidly throughout England… some even in larger colonys. Interesting to see what one thinks is a warm-climate bird make a go of it in colder regions. I suppose they’re smart & adaptable… and they have feathers to stay warm.
Ring-necked Parakeet
These birds were introduced to the UK a long time ago. They look a bit mutty to me, but I suppose the look is unique at least.
Egyptian Goose