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. 

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:

Oregon Coast

Went to Newport to celebrate 38th anniversary.. Tried not to spend too much time birding. Les went along with me looking for the Gray Catbird that had been reported behind the Hatfield Marine Science Center. With help from Wayne Hoffman and those on OBOL we found it Sunday Morning and I was able to get a few shots of it. For me it was a thrill. Les actually found someone he could talk trucking with. All and all it was a good week-end.

Gray Catbird

First saw one then two arrived together. There's much talk on OBOL about the fact that they may be nesting there. They think there may be two adults and at least one young. I'll be going back at the end of Aug. so I'm hoping they'll still be there. My Brother is coming up for a visit and he will want to go over to the coast.

Had a great time and the weather was great.

Weekend At The Coast

Went to Astoria over the weekend to meet up with some friends we hadn't seen in over 25 years. Don was the best man at our wedding 38 yrs ago.
Nice to see them.
Went looking for some birds I wanted for my life list. Saw on ebird there was a Long-billed Curlew at Necanicum River Estuary--Little Beach, Clatsop County, Oregon
Took us a while to find the Estuary. It's kind of down in a residential area. Finally found it and when we got there we met a staff member, Mike Houck, of the Audubon Society of Portland. He was very nice and told us the Curlew hadn't been seen for a while.  I also wanted to find the Tufted Puffins that were reported at Haystack Rock. He gave us directions to a place we could see them from. Said we could see it with binoculars but a scope is better.

Got to Haystack Rock and it was beautiful weather. Found the spot Mike told us about .  I was able to just see the Puffins but couldn't get a photo for my ID. It was a really good day.

Went up to Washington to stay the night. Sunday morning we went to Sid Snyder beach and got to see some Caspian Terns. Got close to  those. The most I've seen at one time.   I also got to see a Heermanns Gulls. So I got 2 lifers. The gull was a bonus.


Caspian Terns

Heermanns Gull