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Category Archives: birds

Birthday Birds

Willow and I continued our tour of western Washington with a drive around the Olympic Peninsula – an area I haven’t visited in twenty years. It may have been the best weather of the eighteen days on the road. And it was my birthday! Imagine how excited I was to see Brants, a type of goose, along the shore! For me, this is a rare bird and I cannot remember the last time I saw one. They winter on the Washington coast before heading north for the breeding season. I also saw some ducks, a few shorebirds and Black Turnstones too.

December Feeder Birds

The feeders have been busy recently. Lots of California Quail, Red-winged Blackbirds, House Finches and Dark-eyed Juncos. Today there were three Spotted Towhees which are not common in winter here. Black-capped Chickadees come by occasionally. Woodpeckers too – Hairy, Downy, Pileated and Northern Flickers. And the occasional Cooper’s Hawk. Plus the view from our house on a sunny winter morning.

More Birds from the Skagit

Shorebirds were not the only birds I saw on the west side. There were Snow Geese, many 1000’s of Snow Geese but mostly in the distance. Except for one that was very close. I wondered if it was sick or injured. Avian flu is still a concern.

Also pictured, White-crowned Sparrow, Northern Harrier, Belted Kingfisher, and Great Blue Heron.

Water Birds

Ducks and coots, mostly youngsters.

Birds in Flight

At Malheur NWR, I had plenty of chances to work on improving my birds in flight photography skills. Lots of types of birds around all the time. Forester’s Tern, Yellow-headed Blackbirds, Long-billed Curlew, Swainson’s Hawk, Ferruginous Hawk, Northern Harrier aka Marsh Hawk.