I did a little birding in Portland’s Forest Park yesterday. I live on an ash swale, so it is nice to get out into an actual coniferous forest, the type of habitat that the Pacific Northwest is known for. Among the many Ruby-crowned and Golden-crowned Kinglets were a pair of Varied Thrushes, several Winter Wrens, a Brown Creeper, and a flock of Chestnut-backed Chickadees. My camera is a simple point-and-shoot, hardly suitable for small, fast-moving targets. But I like the way this photo turned out. The bird’s face is in focus (close anyway) while the rest of the bird is a blur of activity. A very fitting portrait of this frenetic species.
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Anna’s Hummingbirds in the snow
Portland had a white Christmas for the first time in 17 years. The snow didn’t last long, but it did provide some interesting viewing at the hummingbird feeder. The male has been defending this feeder for some time, but perhaps the approaching breeding season is making him more tolerant of the female that visited during the snow.
Arctic Loon
An Arctic Loon has been hanging out near Astoria this week, and I finally had a chance to chase him today. The most direct route, Hwy 30, was closed due to a massive mudslide, but the scenic route worked just as well. I am delighted to see this species in Oregon, as it saves me an expensive trip to Alaska, where Arctic Loons typically hang out. The grainy photos below were taken through my scope. My camera is not very compatible with my scope, but it works for ID purposes. Note the blocky head and white flanks that differentiate this species from the Pacific Loon.
shades of pale
I am taking a writing course from Wendee Holtcamp, and needed to work on a journaling exercise so I headed out to Fernhill Wetlands. It was a very gray day, and quite chilly, but I was struck by the amount of white to be found in the birdlife. Large rafts of Common Mergansers, the typical flock of Mew and California Gulls, the heads and tails of the resident Bald Eagles, Great Egrets, and a flock of Tundra Swans really brightened up the landscape. There are always colors to be had, even on a gray day, but you have to appreciate big splashes of white, even after Labor Day.
Ethical Birder 