Bath Time

I was wondering when my birds would start using the bath.
Last night a couple Doves just sat on it for a couple hours.
I try to change the water every day so it's nice and fresh.

Then today a Jay decided to take a full bath.  He was having such a good time. I think I enjoyed it almost as much as he did. Fun to just sit and watch him. The little things in life can change your whole mood for the day.

Blue Grosbeak: The Chase

I don't normally run off and chase a bird siting. Sometimes just too busy and can't get out at the time the bird is seen. Yesterday I was very interested in this one. I drove out to find this little guy. Got to the site and spent a couple hours and of course he never showed himself again. I had to pick Daphne up from her dads house so I had to leave.  I watched and no one else reported seeing it later that day.

This morning I had an early morning dentist appointment so I thought I'd drive over to Nimbus by Koll Wetlands and see if he was around. A couple other birders were there. He finally showed himself and was pretty tame and almost posed for us. At one point he was right down in the gutter of Nimbus Dr. He didn't seem too scared of the cars.

Very pretty little bird. I'm not good at the age thing but some of the birders were saying he was a 1st year bird. How he ended up in Beaverton we don't know.

Yellow-headed Blackbird

I had a chance last year to see a Yellow-headed Blackbird at Fernhill Wetlands. Every time I'd go out there it wouldn't be around. I was disappointed when it was gone.

Yesterday it was reported by Steve Nord that he saw 3 Yellow-headed Blackbirds at Jackson Bottom Wetlands.....

He gave exact directions where to go. So I went out to find them. So of course they weren't there at the same spot. I sat there for a while. I started heading over to Pintail Pond. Thought I'd take a shot of finding the Shrike.  On a fence was a bunch of Red-winged Blackbirds.  Took a look through the bins and there were the 3 Yellow-heads mixed in with the other blackbirds. Now how to get a photo without spooking them off. Well they spooked. I watched and they flew into a big tree by Pintail Pond.  I slowly walked up to where the tree was and got a couple fairly good shots.  I still feel a need to prove my sitings with photos.

So here they are.

Never saw the Shrike. But after all tomorrow is another day.

Evening With The Owls

I have wanted to see Owls for a while. Most of them are out at night and many people Id them by their call. Not good enough to do that yet.

Nels Nelson had reported a Great Horned Owl out at Milne Rd. He had a really close up photo. I had seen one out there but it was across the Freeway and didn't get a good look. Got a so, so, Photo.

So I emailed Nels and he told me exactly where to go to find the owl. When I looked it up on ebird  there had also been some Short-eared Owls in the same area. So Nels said to be at the corner of Milne rd and Harrington at 5:30 and I'd have a good chance to see it.

My friend Nancy wanted to see an Owl in person so her and I and Daphne got in the car and headed out. Daphne of course fell asleep which I expected. We finally found the barn we were told to look for the owl at.

Yep, there it was. In the window of the barn. It was actually very exciting to see it. I took a few pictures from the car then got out and got a few more. We stayed there for about 15 min. just watching.
Decided to head for home. On the way out saw my first Rough-legged Hawk. Got a bonus with seeing a Short-eared Owl. At first I thought it was a hawk. Watched through my bins and he turned his head and it was an owl. Took a few pictures before it took off. What a beautiful bird.
So all in all it was a great evening.

Banded Bird

Reported my first banned bird. It was very exciting to see the tag on it.

Went out to Commonwealth Lake and was watching a flock of about 300 Cackling Geese. In the middle was a bird with a yellow band on it's neck. I knew it was to be reported. Posted on OBOL and a couple guys told me how to report it. Steve Nord told me he was there after me and the flock was still there but flew off before he got close enough to see them.

It's funny how an hour can make a difference in the bird sitings in a certain place.  I didn't see the Great Egret that's usually there but he did. It's interesting.

It will be interesting to get the report and see where this Cackling came from. Something to look forward to.


Here is Y3*

Owl and Goose

Well it's been 3 weeks since mom died. We have been trying to go through her things and get it organized. We were all hit with the flu and viruses one after another. Needless to say we needed a break. Planned for all of us to go to the coast this week-end. I had been wanting to see the Tundra Bean Goose and the Burrowing Owl.

Sabrina got sick again so her and the baby couldn't go.

It turned out to be a beautiful day. It was warm and beautiful.

Yes I got to do a little birding. Les is patient. We went to see the Goose first. Beautiful bird the feet and bill are accented with bright orange.

We headed for the lighthouse and of course the owl wasn't there. So we decided to go into Newport and kill time at the Jetty and then go back. By the time we got back the Owl was finally there. I thought I would miss it. So being able to see it and get a decent picture was a thrill. Les doesn't get it.

 

Thank you to my dearest husband Les.

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker

Saw the Yellow-bellied Sapsucker last year. I couldn't get a good photo. This year I went out to try and find it again. It only took me 5 min. to find her. She was staying on the back side of the tree trunk. I walked around some and she flew almost into my car. She landed on a small tree right next to my car. Then she flew on a tree on the other side of my car. The difference in the photos was amazing. I've seen better photos than mine but I am very proud of mine.

Last years photo:

This years photo:

     This photo shows some of the red on the top of her head.

My Downy that comes to the feeders all through the day. Only seen the male once.
 Taking photos through glass. When it gets warmer I will be outside taking photos.