Waterfowl seem to dominate the birding scene in the Willamette Valley in winter. Year-round residents, like this Pied-billed Grebe, are joined by a host of winter migrants.
My camera hates white birds, but managed to capture this Common Merganser pretty well.
I usually gloss over Mallards, but they are a pretty duck.
Ring-necked Duck
Eurasian Wigeon have been hard to come by the past couple of winters, so it was nice to see this pretty boy at Dawson Creek.
American Wigeon remain common on grassy lawns and ponds.
Green-winged Teal, also at Dawson Creek.
There are other birds around this time of year, like sparrows and raptors. But while it is nice to see that Merlin fly overhead and the flocks of Golden-crowned Sparrows deep in the brush piles, sometimes it is good to take the time to study and appreciate the waterfowl that sit out in the open in the daylight.
Happy Winter
Ethical Birder 
Always enjoy your work. I realize many skip over the all too prolific Mallard, but they are beautiful subjects, with highly graphic feather displays. (The females are pretty as well.)–ek