My First Owl

I am so excited. Got my first owl today. I have been birding almost a year now and have yet to see an owl. Not for lack of trying.

I went out again after picking Sabrina up from work. Went to see if we could find the Yellow belly Sapsucker.  Thought I heard it but I'm not good enough to ID from sound only. But some that had been out there were telling about a Great horned Owls nest. It was pretty far away and on the other side of the freeway.  I was able to just barely see it with my binoculars .  Took a picture hoping it would show up.

Here's the picture:

Not the best picture in the world but enough to ID.  I was so excited poor Sabrina heard all the way home "I have an Owl" !!!!  She actually was very happy for me because she knew how much I wanted to find one.  Persistence pays off .

That's what I call a "NATURAL HIGH" !

Yellow Belly Sapsucker / Not

Went out to North Plains today to try and find a Yellow Belly Sapsucker that was reported by Colby Neuman. Got out there and talked to Colby and looks like I missed it. David Irons confirmed it was indeed a Yellow Belly Sapsucker.

Think I'll try again tomorrow. See if it's there. Hope so. I'll see what happens.

Went to Mc Donalds for a drink and saw a few birds for my yearly list.

Not a great replacement but it will do.

Sun Came Out

The sun came out and actually got to go out and do some birding. I went down to Fernhill first and it was a little breezy and somewhat cold. Loved every minute.

The Tree Swallows are back. Some saw a violet swallow. I missed that one. It was just nice to get out and see life again.

I was able to see a lot. It was my first time to see a group of Blue Herons together. I usually see them one at a time. Just something I never saw.

After Fernhill I had lunch and drove down to Dawson Creek Park. There was more activity there.  Got some pictures that helped fill my bird list file. Nice to have my own shots on them.

Canvasback

American Kestrel
               

Peregrine Falcon

          Peregrines aren't seen very often at Dawson Creek. It was a good day.
                                     

Swallows Return

Looks like the swallows are coming back for spring. They've been reported on ebird the last week or so in Southern Oregon.  I just noticed in the last two days they have been reported to be out at Fernhill.  They were some of the first birds I saw out there. They may be common to some people but I think they are beautiful. They move very fast but at Fernhill there are nest boxes and when they land you can get really good shots of them. I love the blue color.  A couple shots from last year.

TREE SWALLOW

TAKING OFF AT FERNHILL

Tomorrow is going to be somewhat sunny so I'll take a walk through Fernhill and see if I can find some of the swallows that have been reported. With all the snow I haven't been out in a while.

Birding Oregon

Had an interesting day.  Went into the bird store to see if I could get a book Greg Gillson suggested I get.  I asked the girl about the book.  She asked me "Do you know who the author is?" I said I think his name was John something. Couldn't remember his last name. Behind me this guy says "Was it John Rakestraw?" I said ya I think so.  He said oh that's me.  He was very nice and told me the second updated edition will be coming out in a couple weeks. I think he said a couple weeks. Anyway he was able to answer some questions for me.  Very nice guy.

So I got to meet the author before I even got the book.

Here's a link to his web page if anyone is interested.

http://johnrakestraw.net/

 One of my Favorites.

I will be adding things as they come about. This is to keep my life list.  I will post photos if I have them.  For me this is a learning process.

I started off thinking I needed to prove everything I saw with a photo.  I've learned if you take time to take a picture you could lose the bird and not be able to check the field points. Sometimes it's more important than a photo.

Keeping Track of Bird Lists

I started birding years ago with my brother but only on a casual basis. In March of 2013 I started to keep track on ebird. A friend, showed me how to post my lists. I was starting off slow and learned a lot.

Started learning by doing. It really helped my physical problems. Getting out in the fresh air is great. The walking has helped.

For my personal interest I'm Going back and start a calender of my bird list and any photos I have.
Not all photos were taken when and where the list shows. I took all photos and use them for description purposes.

I will add more photos after I find them in my files.

If you see any birds that are ID'd incorrectly please let me know. I'm sure there are some mistakes. Still learning.

Lincoln City Oregon

Oct. 2012 Lincoln City Beach

      1. California Gull

      2. Western Gull (?)

*****************************************************************************
                                                                           2013
Dawson Creek Park

March 24, 2013

      3. Canada Goose
          

        

     4. American Wigeon

    
                                     

             

     5. Mallard Duck

                 

      6. European Starling
           

           
      7. Red-winged Blackbird

           

   
       8. Brewers Blackbird
         

 

 Medford Or.

       9.  Rock Pigeon

Merlin Or.  Cheryl's

      10.  Rufous Hummingbird
 

11. Red Breasted Sapsucker

Salt Springs Rd, Yoncalla, OR
 
      12. Bald Eagle
   

Tualatin River NWR

      13. Western Scrub Jay

 

14. American Robin

     

15. Yellow-rumped Warbler (

(Audubon's)

 

 

Myrtles

Backyard

      16. Mourning Dove

      17. Black-capped Chickadee

Hunters Run

      18. Song Sparrow

 Dawson Creek

      19. Killdeer   May 2, 2013

  

Backyard   May 2, 2013

    20. Dark-eyed Junco/ Oregon         

Fernhill Wetlands  May 3, 2013

      21. Great Blue Heron

      22. Great Egret

      23. Tree Swallow

   

Backyard   May 3, 2013

      24. Spotted Towhee

Jackson Bottom Wetlands Preserve   May 5, 2013

      25. Northern Shoveler

    26. Double-crested Cormorant

      27.  Savannah Sparrow


                                                  No Photo

      28. Brown-headed Cowbird

   
Commonwealth Lake Park   May 8, 2013

      29.  American Crow (Western)

     




       30. Barn Swallow

      31. House Sparrow

Friends House  May 9, 2013

      32. Anna's Hummingbird

      33. House Finch

 Fernhill Wetlands    May 10, 2013

     34. Cinnamon Teal

       35.  Eared Grebe

       36.  Spotted Sandpiper

Amberglen Parkway By Park   May 13, 2013

       37.  Red Tailed Hawk

Fernhill Wetlands     May 14, 2013

       38. Gadwall

Fernhill Wetlands     May 19, 2013


      39. Northern Pintail

      40. Osprey

            

       41. Greater Yellowlegs (?)
 

      42. Long-billed Dowitcher (?)

                                        

     43. Eurasian Collared-Dove

      44.  Marsh Wren

      45. Cedar Waxwing

       46. American Goldfinch

Fernhill Wetlands  May 28, 2013

  

47.  Wood Duck

     

      48. Pied-billed Grebe

      49. Band-tailed Pigeon

      50. Bushtit

      51. Orange-crowned Warbler

      52. Common Yellowthroat

      53. Lesser Goldfinch

Oregon State Fairgrounds  June 1, 2013


      54. Northern Harrier

Fernhill Wetlands    June 3, 2013

      55.  Western Grebe

Merlin (Cheryl's House)  June 8, 2013

      56. Hairy Woodpecker


Weed Rest Stop I-5     June 8, 2013

      57. Turkey Vulture
 

      58. Ring-billed Gull

Forest Suites Resort    June 9, 2013


      59. White-headed Woodpecker

      60.  Stellers Jay

Lake Tahoe Beach Area  June 10, 2013



      61.  Foster's Tern

      Maxwell I-5 Rest Stop   June 11, 2013


      62. Black-necked Stilt

      63. Western Kingbird

 Turtle Bay Bird Sanctuary     June 12, 2013

        Redding Ca

      64. Cliff Swallow

Fernhill Wetlands    June 12, 2013


      65.  Black-headed Grosbeak

Sabrina's House    June 18, 2013 

      66. Northern Flicker

                         Red-shafted

Red-shafted/Yellow-shafted Hybred

Carissa's House        
Grants Pass Or.       June 20, 2013


      67. Western Bluebird

Beal Road Ponds   June 26, 2013

     

      68. American Coot

Fernhill Wetlands    July 4, 2013


      69. Mute Swan

                                    No Picture

      70. Least Sandpiper (?)

Commonwealth Lake Park    July 8, 2013


     
      71. Green Heron

 Back Yard     July 17, 2013

      72. Cooper's Hawk

Newport Or  Hwy 101     July 20, 2013


      73. Violet-green Swallow

Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area      July 21, 2013  
              Lighthouse



Cormorants (not always 100% sure on these)

      74. Brandt's Cormorant

      75. Pelagic Cormorant (?)
             

      76. Black Oystercatcher

       78. Pigeon Guillemot

      79. Peregrine Falcon

      80. White-crowned Sparrow

 

Fernhill Wetlands     July 30, 2013


      81. Semipalmated Plover
              (poor photo for ID only)

      82. Western Sandpiper

      83. Tricolored Blackbird


Fernhill Wetlands     Aug. 8, 2013

      84. Lesser Yellowlegs

      85. Wilson's Snipe

      86. Wilson's Phalarope

      87. Bank Swallow

Fernhill Wetlands     Aug. 11, 2013

      88. American White Pelican

      89. Belted Kingfisher

Dawson Creek Park       Aug. 12,  2013
 Hillsboro Library


      90. Acorn Woodpecker

 Aug 14, 2013

      91. Brown Creeper

Fernhill Wetlands    Aug. 26, 2013

      92. Cackling Goose

Dawson Creek Park     Sept 9, 2013


      93. Swainson's Thrush

     

Tualatin River NWR    Sept. 14, 2013


      94. Green-winged Teal

      95. American Kestrel

      96.  Warbling Vireo


      97. Vaux's Swift

      98. Downy Woodpecker

      99.  Pileated Woodpecker

      100. Chestnut-backed Chickadee
                                                                           

      101. Red-breasted Nuthatch

      102. Bewick's Wren

Carissa's House Arroyo Dr.     Sept. 21, 2013
        Grants Pass Or.

      103. Common Raven


Fernhill Wetlands      Sept. 24, 2013


      104. Greater White-fronted Goose

      105. Pectoral Sandpiper


Fernhill Wetlands   Sept. 26, 2013

      106. Palm Warbler

Santa Rosa Plateau Eco Reserve      Oct. 7, 2013
--Adobe loop California--


      107. Red-shouldered Hawk
                 This guy was too fast to get a good shot.

      108. Oak Titmouse

      109. California Towhee

Lake Hemet    Oct. 7, 2013

      110. White-breasted Nuthatch

      111. Phainopepla

       112. Chipping Sparrow

      113. Western Tanager


     
 Collier Wetlands Baker Street         Oct. 7, 2013
   Lake Elsinore Ca.

 
        114.  Snowy Egret
                  (not the best picture but shows yellow feet)

        115. Black-crowned Night Heron

             116. Black Phoebe
                    (not the best picture, for Id only)

 
In n Out Burger          Oct 9, 2013


Lake Elsinore Ca.


      117. Say's Phoebe

Ernie's House Lake Elsinore California         Oct. 9, 2013


      118. White-throated Swift

Collier Wetlands Lake Elsinore Ca.   Oct. 9, 2013
   Foot Stuck


      119. Townsend's Warbler
         

Fernhill Wetlands       Oct. 14, 2013


      120. Lesser Scaup

      121. Ruddy Duck

       122. Golden-crowned Sparrow

Boiler Bay State Wayside     Oct. 15, 2013


      123. Brown Pelican

      124. Fox Sparrow

      125. Surf Scoter

      126. White-winged Scoter

      127. Western Meadowlark

 Otter Loop     Oct. 15, 2013

      128. Black Turnstone

 Dawson Creek Park      Oct. 30 & 31, 2013


      129. Golden-crowned Kinglet

      130. Rusty Blackbird  (rare in Or.)

 
Commonwealth Lake        Nov. 4, 2013


      131. Bufflehead

      132. Hooded Merganser

      133. Common Merganser

Fernhill Wetlands         Nov. 11, 2013



     134. Horned Grebe (?) Big question on this one.

     135. Dunlin

Commonwealth Lake       Nov. 13, 2013

     136. Virginia Rail

Dawson Creek Park       Nov. 21, 2013



      137. Ring-necked Duck

 Yaquina Head Lighthouse      Nov. 23, 2013


      138. Harlequin Duck

Females

      139. Common Loon



                                                                      



Fernhill Wetlands         Dec. 3, 2013


      140. Tundra Swan

      141. Mew Gull

   

      142. Herring Gull


Backyard         Dec. 7, 2013

      143. Lincoln's Sparrow
                                             

Dawson Creek Park          Dec. 11, 2013


      144. Eurasian Wigeon

                                                               

      145. Ruby-crowned Kinglet

      146. Varied Thrush

**********************************************************************************

                                                       2014


Fernhill Wetlands    Jan. 8, 2014


      147. Canvasback

     148. Tufted Duck








     149. Great Horned Owl

       

      150. Glaucous-winged Gull (third yr)

        151. Yellow-throated Warbler

      152. Swainson's Hawk
      153. Yellow-bellied Sapsucker

     154. Wild Turkey

155. Blue-winged Teal

156. Ring-necked Pheasant

157. 

American Pipit

158. Brant

159.  Clark's Grebe

160. Red-necked Phalarope

161.  Whimbrel

162. Caspian Tern

163.  Purple Martin

164.  Pacific Loon

165. Yellow Warbler
166. Pine Siskin
167. Bonaparte's Gull
168. Pacific Wren
169. Tufted Puffin
170. Heermann's Gull
171. Purple Finch
172. Gray Catbird
173. Merlin
174. Mandarin Duck
175. Sooty Shearwater
176. Marbled Murrelet
177. White-throated Sparrow

.