Tuesday, October 21, 2014

Back Yard

My backyard is just filled with activity. Put up a bunch of new feeders. I put up thistle seeds and almost immediately got some Lesser Goldfinches.

Not the best pictures. I was taking through a screen.








I had heard that it takes a while to get hummingbirds to come to a new feeder. I was prepared to wait. I placed the feeder on the patio table while I was getting the liquid ready. I had two hummers start checking it out. I filled it and then put it up on the pole and they were there eating within a half an hour.  I was really surprised.







I also had a Flicker visit today. He really seemed to like the suet.






Thursday, October 16, 2014

Downy at My Feeders

I was so excited to look out this morning and see a Downy Woodpecker at my feeders. He spent about half an hour here. The activity in the back yard seems to be increasing.

The amount of Black-capped Chicadees has increased too. It's really hard to count them because they come and go so quickly. The Juncos are easy to count because they tend to stay on the ground eating.
I was thrilled to have Red-breasted Nuthatches here but now the Downy was or exciting. Wonder what will be next.

Having such fun from my recliner.



Monday, October 13, 2014

Western Grebe at Dawson Creek

Went back looking for the Mandarin Duck. She hasn't been seen for a couple days. She may have gone somewhere else. I'm going to keep looking.

While looking for the duck I was following the creek that goes behind the Wood Duck pond and saw what I thought was a Grebe.  Had to get closer to see if it was Clark's or Western. As I got closer the Mallards all flew away. Saw it was a Western. He let me take all the pictures I wanted. I sat on the bench for a while and just watched him float along the creek. He was just going back and forth. It actually was very relaxing.

I got home and looked up on ebird and no one has ever reported a Western in Dawson Creek. Of course that doesn't mean there's never been one there before but it has never been reported. Feel good to be the only one to report it.

Some of the birds i saw today

Western Grebe

                   



A gull I still can't ID. Any help appreciated.  Pink feet. Could it be a Glaucous-winged?









My favorite:  Great Blue Heron




Red-winged Blackbird

Sunday, October 12, 2014

Red-breasted Nuthatch

So excited. My first Red-breasted Nuthatch in my yard. Never seen them at the feeders.
I just changed the furniture in my living room to face the windows. Now I can watch the feeders from my chair.

Heard them fist then saw them. Hard to get a picture through the screen window or door. Best I could do. Hope to get better picture later.






Dawson Creek / Mandarin Duck Hunt

After Birds and Brew at Fernhill I decided to go to Dawson to see if I could find the Mandarin Duck that had been reported. Ran into a gal I met at the Birds and Brew. She was also looking for the duck. Between the two of us (she first spotted it) we found it. I was able to get a half way decent picture of it. Had fun looking. By the time I was done there I was pretty tired. Got a few shots though.

Mandarin Duck? Or maybe not. May be a young male wood duck.






Acorn Woodpecker


Some Cedar Waxwings
 Loved the Fall colors on some of the leaves




 Wood Ducks are Back


Kris says this is a young Wood Duck
He must be at that awkward stage

Fernhill With John Rakestraw

Went to Birds and Brew At Fernhill yesterday. John Rakestraw was leading a walk through the parts of Fernhill that was still open. Construction has taken the entire front ponds out.


 John Rakestraw


 Fernhill Construction






We were able to go through the rest of the trails.
I got to see some of the area I never been in. Back behind Dabblers Pond. Les doesn't like me going into back areas alone. So it was fun to see parts I've never seen.  We all had a great time.


 First time I could get a shot of a Killdeer in flight. They are usually too fast for me.


Loved getting a close up of a Merlin

Mandarin Duck

I think I found the Mandarin Duck. Very close to the Wood Ducks at Dawson Creek. Others had seen it. Another gal (Kris) and I were both looking for it. Pretty sure we found it. She was mixed in with the other Wood Ducks and just kind of fit in but the eye markings were different. Not the best picture I've ever taken but good enough. Anyone sees this (Greg) and thinks I'm wrong or wants to confirm it  let me know.  This seems to be the one everyone is calling Mandarin Duck.

Heard from Greg Gillson. This may be a young male Wood Duck.  Going to go check it out again. 








Thursday, October 9, 2014

Max Smith Birdwalk

Les and I went on a Birdwalk with Max Smith at Dawson Creek. It was perfect weather. I was able to go into areas I've never been in. Most in the group were looking for the Acorn Woodpeckers.  Max was a great guide. I would have missed the Downy Woodpecker if I hadn't been with the group. I was testing out my new eye. It was working pretty good.
I got one of Max's books. It's really very informative. Great pictures to help with id on some birds.

Must-see Birds of the Pacific Northwest





Checklist

http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S19971232

Got a few pictures:

Acorn Woodpecker




  Cedar Waxwing







Dark-eyed Junco



Red-breasted Nuthatch (not the best picture)


White-breasted Nuthatch



Wood Duck Pair


Mandarin Duck ?? Don't think so, see next post.


 Yellow-rumped Warbler


Great day


Grants Pass Visit

Been a while since I was actually birding. Had very bad cateracts and couldn't see very well. Had my first surgery 3 weeks ago. I can't believe the difference. I can actually see the birds now. Other eye being done in Nov.  I should be able to see much clearer then. Can't wait.

Went down to my friend Cheryls house in Grants Pass Oregon. Needed a little rest. Cheryl, Cheri (daughter-in-law) and I took one day to go birding. Had a great time. I have seen Red-breasted and White-breasted Nuthatch before but really far away and could never get a good picture. Saw both at Cheryls feeders and I could almost reach out and touch them. So thrilled.


White-breasted Nuthatch



Red-breasted Nuthatch



While visiting I also saw my standard GP birds

Turkey Vutures






Wild Turkey



Cheryl was thrilled to see her first Bald Eagle



Spent a day birding with my daughter-in-law She loves photography, biking and now some birding. She told me about a bird she saw but didn't get a picture of. We decided to go hunt it down. She said she thought it was a Brown Kingfisher. No brown kingfishers I know of in US.  I figured it was a Belted. As soon as we got to the park (along the Rogue River) I heard  him and saw him flying around.  The guy would not land for anything. He finally landed way down the river. Se didn't have a lens that would take a shot that far away. I got a poor shot. She's going back to the park to try again.

Belted Kingfisher
      
        

In the same park is a stream that runs through the park.  Cheryl and I both noticed something across the stream. Got the bins out. It was a Green Heron trying to swallow a frog. I got a few pictures of him and the frog then Cherie started chasing him down. Don't know how many shots she got but got a few.

Here are a few of mine.












My other new birders

                                                Cherie my daughter-in-law


                              Cheryl and Cherie

                                              


Cheryl's house is in Merlin. I tell her it's like going camping with a house. Was able to really relax. The deer are an every day visit. I did get mad at one of the momma deer. She kept eating the birdseed. Never knew a deer would eat seed.

Seed thief: