Cedar Waxwing – Page 2 – Ethical Birder

Random Songbirds

August 2, 2010 by John Rakestraw, posted in OR Birding Sites, species profile

Here are a few images from Fernhill Wetlands (Birding Oregon p. 61) on July 30, 2010. Songbirds push the limits of a point-and-shoot camera, but occasionally a bird will be close enough and stationary enough to allow a decent portrait.

Cedar Waxwings were flycatching from the brushy edges of the ponds.

This Song Sparrow was going through an extensive molt. He lacked most of his tail, and his body plumage is very disheveled.

Brown-headed Cowbird. The scaly pattern on the scapulars and wing coverts identifies this bird as a juvenile.

Fernhill Wetlands

June 19, 2008 by John Rakestraw, posted in nesting, OR Birding Sites

I visited three of the Washington County wetlands today, but spent most of my time at Fernhill (Birding Oregon p.61). Nesting species were present in abundance, but overall species diversity was pretty low.

The duck at the top of this picture is a Gadwall, a rare breeder in western Oregon, with her newly hatched brood. The duck at the bottom is a Mallard with her larger duckling. We are quickly entering the “ugly brown duck” season, when all the waterfowl are molting and looking increasingly similar.