This weekend was the once a year Great Backyard Bird Count. This is my 6th year participating and 2 things are for sure. I’ll seek and find birds. It will also rain.

This year the weather did cooperate a little more than usual, meaning it rained and was foggy but wasn’t crazy stormy. Sometimes I even saw the sun.

Friday, I went to a park that the kids & I refer to as the Duck Pond. I did see quite a few species of birds to report and was thrilled to see three blue herons. They are one of my favorites.

Saturday and Sunday I went for walks around our house searching for birds in the trees.

Monday, the 5 of us walked some trails around the Audubon Society in Portland. Ironically, we only saw one type of bird. We heard more, but only actually saw wrens.

The view out my car window waiting for the rain to pass.

Duck Pond

American Wigeon

Wood Ducks

Common Merganser

Acorn Woodpeckers

Downy Woodpecker & Northern Flicker

Great Blue Heron

Home

Song Sparrow, American Robin
Steller’s Jay, Spotted Towhee
Golden-crowned Sparrows, Dark-eyed Junco

Audubon Society of Portland

Wren

I always enjoy getting outside walking through nature with my camera in hand. I also kinda have a thing for birds. So, I love this citizen science project.

Until next year…

The post 2016 Great Backyard Bird Count appeared first on .

Double-crested Cormorant

I was glad to see a few pelicans were still there.

American White Pelican

I was so excited to see this bird flying around. I thought for sure it was one I hadn’t logged yet. But, dang it, it ended up being a kingfisher, which I have logged. I guess I’ve only seen them sitting in trees & never flying around in search of lunch.

Ah, but this is a new bird!
Western Grebe

The kids took pics. too.

Thousands of geese are migrating.

Many coots were at the wetlands, as well.

I often see hawks. But, I’m terrible at figuring out exactly which species they are.

Occasionally I see an American Kestrel, but I haven’t been able to get a pic this year… until now.

Northern Flicker

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Hundreds of Northern Shovelers were around that day. They aren’t the prettiest bird with their huge bill & head always hunched in the water.

Ruddy Duck

Great Blue Heron

BIRD SPECIES SEEN IN 2013:

SEEN SO FAR = 92 of 100

The post Birds of 2013: Week 43 appeared first on .

Here’s a few pics from my walk at a wetlands area last week.

Black-capped Chickadee

It was a beautiful day, even with a few rain cloud above.

Mostly Mallards & a Double-crested Cormorant

Double-crested Cormorants, 2 Mallards & a rodent called a nutria.

Great Blue Heron perched atop the post.

Double-crested Cormorant

BIRD SPECIES SEEN IN 2013:

SEEN SO FAR = 91 of 100

The post Birds of 2013: Week 41 appeared first on .

It was a beautiful day.

Brewer’s Blackbirds

Double-crested Cormorant

House Finch

European Starlings with Geese flying in.

American Goldfinch

Great Egret

Western Sandpipers

Pectoral Sandpiper

Least Sandpiper

Greater Yellowlegs in middle of photo

American White Pelican
By far, the most exciting sight of the day

Osprey

Northern Harrier

Wowzers! Identifying the shore birds was difficult, but I think I got them correct. I’m able to add 6 more birds to my list. Plus, I’m going to add in 2 other birds I’ve seen, but haven’t been able to photograph. They are the California Quail & American Kestrel. These latest additions bring my new total to 90 bird species noted this year. 10 more to go in a little over 3 months.

BIRD SPECIES SEEN IN 2013:

SEEN SO FAR = 90 of 100

The post Birds of 2013: Week 37 appeared first on .

Great Blue Heron

Great Egrets

Eurasian Collared Doves

Brewer’s Blackbirds

Brewer’s Blackbird

BIRD SPECIES SEEN IN 2013:

SEEN SO FAR = 82 of 100

The post Birds of 2013: Week 36 appeared first on .

Can you spot the nest?

A little closer view.

A zoomed in shot of the cool, spotted eggs.

Parent nearby the nest

Parent standing over the top of the nest, voicing its concern about our interest in the nest.

Parent laying on the nest.

We also saw a killdeer that day taking a bath.

Another killdeer in the water.

No new birds to report this week. But, at least the year is half over & I’m over half way to my goal.

BIRD SPECIES SEEN IN 2013:

SEEN SO FAR = 70 of 100

The post Birds of 2013: Week 23 appeared first on .

Catching a Fish:

Catching a Snake:

BIRD SPECIES SEEN IN 2013:

SEEN SO FAR = 70 of 100

The post Birds of 2013: Week 22 appeared first on .

Cedar Waxwing
I these birds. I think they’re gorgeous.

Tree Swallow

Belted Kingfisher
Horrible photo, but this is the first time I have ever seen a kingfisher.

Gadwall

Brown-headed Cowbird

Cinnamon Teal

Osprey & its nest

Blue Heron & a Mallard mama with her babies

5 Great Egrets flying in

I’m not positive, but I think this is a bald eagle in its 3rd year.

Another pic of the young eagle

I love that the spring weather here has been nice enough to go on a few bird walks. My species goal for the year is now 70% complete.

BIRD SPECIES SEEN IN 2013:

SEEN SO FAR = 70 of 100

The post Birds of 2013: Week 21 appeared first on .

Goose Family #1

Goose Family #2

Goose Family #3

The kids & I spotted a bald eagle in a tree on the other side of the pond, so we walked over to get a closer peek. It just sat in the tree minding its own business. So, we moved on to finish our walk. When we arrived back at the parking lot, about to leave, my oldest hollered, “Bald eagle!” He was right, the bald eagle was flying right toward us. It was awesome! It flew a huge circle around the pond, then went back to its tree.

I didn’t see any new birds this week, but I surely enjoyed the ones I did see.

BIRD SPECIES SEEN IN 2013:

SEEN SO FAR = 62 of 100

The post Birds of 2013: Week 18 appeared first on .

We did notice one new duck on our walk: an Eared Grebe. It is a peculiar looking bird with red eyes.

Eared Grebe

About to go under for a swim.

Often I’d turn to catch another glance of the duck & this would be all I saw.

Catching a fish. For a little guy, he eats fairly big fish.

Great Blue Heron
We also saw a blue heron catch a fish. I’m sure it’s a similar type of fish the grebe caught, but looks much smaller in the heron’s mouth.

This duck was very interested in us. I’m guessing people have fed it.

BIRD SPECIES SEEN IN 2013:

SEEN SO FAR = 59 of 100

The post Birds of 2013: Week 16 appeared first on .