Category: reptiles & amphibians

Spring Herps

by John Rakestraw, posted in reptiles & amphibians

While waiting for spring bird migration to pick up, I have been enjoying the local reptiles and amphibians. Here are a few highlights.

The first herps to appear each year (in February) are Common Garters. Our local subspecies is called Red-spotted Garter for obvious reasons.
another Red-spotted Garter, paler in color
This little specimen had the most intense red I have seen on this species.
Last one, found climbing a tree stump
Our other species of garter is Northwestern Garter. They have smaller heads and lack the red on the face.
This Northwestern Garter had an intensely red dorsal stripe.
The only species of salamander I have found so far this year is Long-toed Salamander, but I have found them in several different locations.
American Bullfrog is an invasive species that wreaks havoc on local wetland ecosystems, eating native frogs, baby turtles, and anything else they can catch.
Another non-native is the Red-eared Slider (native to the southeastern U.S). When I was little, back when dinosaurs ruled the earth, you could buy baby turtles in pet stores. They were almost always this species. Unwanted pets were released into the environment, where they flourished.
Western Painted Turtle is one of only two turtles native to Oregon. I was delighted to find this massive specimen at the Sandy River Delta.

Birding will be heating up in the next week, so I will have to start looking up again.

Happy Spring

Autumn Colors

by John Rakestraw, posted in reptiles & amphibians, seasonal movements

Trees may get all the credit for creating pretty colors in autumn, but I think the birds do their part.

Spotted Towhee flashing his rusty sides and red eye
American Pipit on the rocks along the Columbia River
It is seldom that a Lincoln’s Sparrow will pose out in the open.
Yellow-rumped Warblers are not nearly as colorful in autumn as they are in spring, but they are still quite striking.
This Downy Woodpecker added some bold black and white and a little pop of red to a murky green thicket.
American Kestrel is our most colorful raptor.
Merlins are not really colorful at all, but they are much harder to find and should be celebrated whenever they appear.
The male ducks, like this Northern Pintail, are finally molting out of their drab summer plumage.
Common Merganser
I got to do very little herping this past spring and summer, thanks to the incessant needs of a certain puppy, so I was delighted to find this Western Skink out and about. The blue tail indicates a young individual.

Happy autumn.

Fernhill Wetlands

by John Rakestraw, posted in Invertebrates, reptiles & amphibians, seasonal movements

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I enjoyed a walk around Fernhill Wetlands recently. We are in that in-between time when the seasons haven’t decided exactly who is in charge, so you never know what or who you will find out and about this time of year. This Black Phoebe still shows the pale gape and buffy wingbars of a juvenile.

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Most of the migrant shorebirds have moved on, but this wayward American Avocet was hanging out with the local waterfowl.

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American Coot, enjoying their greens

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I still haven’t taken the leap into studying dragonflies, but I am noticing them more and more. I believe this is a female Cardinal Meadowhawk, but please correct me if I am wrong.

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Southbound raptor migration is pretty hit and miss in the Portland area. You have to be out at the right time when a flock is passing over. I missed the big flights this year, but did get to see a little flock that included a couple of Red-shouldered Hawks.

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I don’t know if this Red-tailed Hawk is a migrant or a resident.

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Now that the rains have begun, the Pacific Treefrogs have become more vocal and more visible. This youngster was sitting in the middle of a leaf on a cottonwood sapling. I missed most of the spring herp activity this year due to the demands of a certain puppy, so it has been great to see a few herps this fall.

Happy Autumn

Cottonwood Canyon

by John Rakestraw, posted in mammals, OR Birding Sites, reptiles & amphibians

My team for the Portland Audubon Birdathon visited Cottonwood Canyon State Park in late May. Birding was a little slow that day, but it is always a treat for me to get to the east side of Oregon.

Chukars were introduced to Oregon from Asia, but they are a stunning addition to the local avifauna.
This Say’s Phoebe was perched on the entrance sign to the state park.
Western Kingbird
Brewer’s Blackbirds were common along the John Day River.
High above the canyon were several Bighorn Sheep. This one had a baby at her feet.
The sheep were almost half a mile away, so this is as close a view as we could get.
Western Fence Lizard, on a fence. Below is a Western Fence Lizard on a rock, defying your labels.

Happy Summer

Common (Red-spotted) Garters

by John Rakestraw, posted in reptiles & amphibians

With our first spring-like day, the Common Garter Snakes have come out in force. On a trip to Sauvie Island I saw lots of Common Garters and a few Northwestern Garters. I wasn’t able to get any good photos of the Northwesterns, but the Commons were pretty cooperative.

This young specimen was especially colorful.
In you face! Actually, I was in her face.

More herps should be out and about in the next couple of weeks. That can keep us busy until the spring migrants arrive.

Autumn at Last

by John Rakestraw, posted in behavior, mammals, reptiles & amphibians, seasonal movements

After a very long dry summer, autumn has finally arrived. While we don’t get the extensive fall colors found in eastern forests, the red Poison Oak highlights the eyes on this Spotted Towhee.

This very ragged Bushtit was found at Wapato Lake NWR, which has finally opened up to birders after a long wait. The refuge will be closed to non-hunters from December-February, but should offer some great birding when it is open.

American Pipits are common migrants this time of year on mudflats and other open habitats.

Male American Kestrel

This American Crow was actively fishing in a tide pool along the Columbia River. I don’t normally think of crows as fish-eaters, but they take advantage of whatever food source is available.

There are still a few American White Pelicans around. They will be gone soon.

Brush Rabbit, blending in with the fall colors

Pacific Tree Frog on a maple leaf. These frogs are very common, but they seldom perch out in the open.

This Black-tailed Deer was just off the path at Cooper Mountain Nature Park.

Happy Autumn

Early Spring

by John Rakestraw, posted in behavior, nesting, reptiles & amphibians, seasonal movements

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Spring is kicking into gear. Lots of birds have starting pairing up in anticipation of nesting. These Tree Swallows were checking out a tree cavity.

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Yellow-rumped Warblers are becoming more common and some have acquired full breeding plumage.

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There are still a lot of “winter” sparrows in the Willamette Valley. Here is a typical view of a Lincoln’s Sparrow. This bird had no interest in posing out in the open.

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Green-winged Teal do not nest in western Oregon, but they have started to pair up and are looking very dapper.

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This Double-crested Cormorant has caught a Rainbow Trout. When the county parks department stocked this lake with trout, I doubt that cormorants were the intended recipients, but I always like to see native wildlife benefiting whenever they can.

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I have found just a few Long-toed Salamanders so far this year. Amphibians should become more active in the next week or so.

Happy Spring

Jackson Bottom

by John Rakestraw, posted in mammals, OR Birding Sites, reptiles & amphibians, seasonal movements

Despite air temperatures in the 40s, the sunshine brought out some signs of spring on a recent visit to Jackson Bottom Wetlands Reserve in Hillsboro.

tree swallowTree Swallows are usually the first swallow species to arrive in spring. When the weather is still cold, they hunt for insects close to the water’s surface.

tree swallo perchedSome Tree Swallows were already laying claim to the many nest boxes at this site.

ca ground squirrel smallThis California Ground Squirrel was singing (screaming) from a log perch.

Northwestern Garters instaThe sunshine brought out a good number of snakes, despite the cold temperature. These are Northwestern Garters.

Common Garter instaThis is a typical Common (Red-spotted) Garter.

pale Common Garter left instaThis Common Garter is lacking the red pigment shown by most members of this subspecies.

Long-toed SalamanderThis Long-toed Salamander was hanging out under a big piece of bark.

Happy last days of winter.

Random Non-birds

by John Rakestraw, posted in Invertebrates, mammals, reptiles & amphibians

Here are a few images of various animals I have seen lately. When the birds refuse to pose for photos, it is nice to find other creatures that are more cooperative. As I have said, there is always something to see.

brush rabbit smallBrush Rabbit, Fernhill Wetlands

bullfrog smallBullfrog female smallThe top image shows a massive male American Bullfrog found at Dober Reservoir. Note the injury around his right eye. The bottom image is of a newly emerged female. At this stage, she was about the size of the males head, but females typically grow larger than males of this species.

butterfly smallOrange Sulphur, found at Jackson Bottom. Unfortunately, this species perches with their wings closed, so you can’t see the vibrant colors on the top.

Mylitta Crescent smallThis Mylitta Crescent at Fernhill Wetlands was much more cooperative.

striped meadowhawk smallI don’t know the dragonflies, but I am told this individual from Fernhill Wetlands is a Striped Meadowhawk.

ground squirrel smallCalifornia Ground Squirrels, one of my favorite rodents, have become more common at Fernhill Wetlands since the reconstruction a few years ago.

Black-tailed Deer and fawnThis Black-tailed Deer and her fawn were enjoying the lush vegetation at Smith and Bybee Wetlands.
Black-tailed fawn

Back to birds next time.

Happy Autumn

Wasco County

by John Rakestraw, posted in mammals, nesting, reptiles & amphibians

river smallHere are a few more images from my trip to central Oregon. The main purpose of the trip was to get the dogs away from the fireworks in Portland, but I always enjoy a trip to the dry side of the Cascades. It was indeed dry, and very hot. Bodhi cooled off a little in the Deschutes River.

tv flockI found a small flock of Turkey Vultures roosting along the river one morning.

tv left smallEven in the early morning the sun was pretty intense.
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spotted sandpiperThis young Spotted Sandpiper was perched on a rock in the river.

mule deerThe Mule Deer were usually found along the river, which provided the only green vegetation in the area.

fence instaSince birding was pretty slow, I spent a lot of time with Western Fence Lizards. This individual was basking on a big piece of obsidian. Since it was so hot, these lizards usually basked in the shade except during the early morning.

fence lizard smallThis individual was hanging out under the deck where we were staying. I had to use a flash in this dark environment. I normally don’t like the results of flash photography, but the flash really brought out the pattern on this lizard.

fence instaan adorable little dragon

Happy Summer