Winter Waterfowl

by John Rakestraw, posted in seasonal movements

While birding for some species can be hit-or-miss this time of year, winter in the Willamette Valley always provides great numbers and diversity of waterfowl. Here are just a few I have seen recently.

Canvasback at Force Lake. This little pond always hosts a few of this distinctive species.
Ruddy Duck is another diving duck often found at Force Lake.
This Common Goldeneye was in the creek at Westmoreland Park. Westmoreland used to be the place to see gulls in Portland. But since the duck pond was replaced with a more natural creek channel and wetland, gulls don’t hang out there anymore. The creek is always good for a few ducks, though.
Ring-necked Duck at Westmoreland Park
Hooded Merganser at Amberglen Park
Ridgeway’s Cackling Geese grazing with some American Wigeons at Amberglen
One of two Eurasian Wigeons at Amberglen
It has been a good winter for Eurasian Wigeon in the Portland area. This bird, grazing at Commonwealth Lake, appears to be a young male just starting to molt into breeding plumage. The head color is a little too intense for a female, and there is a hint of blond coming in on the forehead.
American Wigeon at Commonwealth

Happy Winter

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