Brown Creeper
September 2012 – Hood Canal, Washington
Not sure this picture is much better than the previous one, but perhaps marginally so. Anyway, thought I’d post it.
Brown Creeper
May 2012 – Eugene, Oregon
Kind of a basic image of a Brown Creeper… There was a whole family of them flitting among the trees along the banks of the Willamette River in Eugene, Oregon. I’m not sure if this is an adult or a young one; they kind of look the same.
Sharp-shinned Hawk
September 2012 – Jackson Bottom, Hillsboro, OR
It took a bit of deduction to figure out this was a young Sharp-shinned Hawk. Note the fat brown streaks on the chest… the similar Cooper’s Hawk has finer streaking. The Northern Harrier has similar streaking, but is much larger, and has more of a face outline. It would be really helpful, of course, if these birds would just land on a ruler so I could tell what size they were!
Wood Thrush
July 2012 – Kettle Moraine State Forest, Wisconsin
This Wood Thrush was nesting right along a hiking trail – in fact, the “Ice Age Trail” in central-northern Wisconsin. I was a little lucky to even notice the bird, as it was well-hidden, and quiet. I just happened to turn my head at the right time. It appeared very wary, but never fled the nest.
Cassin's Finch
August 2012 – Boise, Idaho
These were popular at a backyard feeder. The male of this bird is more brilliant – rosy red – in different times of the year, but it does appear to be the same species. A good tell-tale on this one is the bill size and shape, plus the streaking in the belly.
Ruffed Grouse
August 2012 – Wind River Mountains, WY
Appears to be a Ruffed Grouse to me… these grouse can be difficult to tell apart, but I believe the crest is more apparent in this species.
Ring-billed Gull
July 2012 – Chicago, Illinois
This Ring-billed Gull is rather sickly looking… it’s a city bird, and was perched on a railing on the Lake Michigan shorefront. It’s not the best example of its species, but it’s honest all the same.
Black-billed Magpie
July 2012 – Big Indian Gorge, Steens Mtn, OR
There were a few of these – what I believe are young Magpies – causing a ruckus among the trees.
Yellow Warbler
August 2012 – Boise, Idaho
A female, spotted along the Boise River, right in town.
July 2012 – Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, OR
It took me quite a bit of stalking to get this one mediocre shot of this Yellow Warbler. He was pretty busy stuffing his bill full of bugs, and just didn’t stop at all.
Yellow Warbler
May 2005 – Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, OR
This Yellow Warbler just paused for a moment on a branch high in a tree. These birds are fairly common, but usually stick to treetops, making them hard to spot or photograph.
Blue-winged Teal
June 2012 – Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, Washington
A Blue-winged teal… not much to tell about this, except it was the only one I saw this day.
Northern Flicker
June 2012 – Jackson Bottom, Hillsboro, Oregon
These Flickers were performing some kind of dance that must have been a kind of bonding/mating ritual. Each would mimic the other’s movements, in a kind of slow-motion mirror-mirror performance. Fascinating…