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Category Archives: birds

A Few Birds

This time of year, activity at the bird feeders picks up. For the first time we are trying a platform feeder and it is very popular. Finches and quail and other birds are really enjoying it. And the Steller’s Jays have returned. We haven’t seen them here since before the fire in 2014! There are lots of woodpeckers – Downy and Hairy Woodpeckers and Northern Flickers too.

House Finches
Female Downy Woodpecker
Male Hairy Woodpecker
White-breasted Nuthatch
Steller’s Jay
Worn tail feathers
Not a feeder bird. I do wonder if it has a deformed beak or if that’s a stain from its last meal.

Jays at Washington Pass

It’s not unusual to see Canada Jays at Washington Pass. These sweet birds, often referred to as Camp Robbers and formerly known as Gray Jays, are gregarious and opportunistic. They have evolved to know that people often have food with them and so when they see people, they will investigate the situation. And people see these sweet looking birds and often want to lure them closer for fun and photos. I watched as others fed the jays in the parking lot and was able to get some nice photos of them in the snow.

A Few Birds

The western larch trees, sometimes called tamarack, provide homes for Williamson’s Sapsuckers and other birds. The male and female appear quite different and there was a time when they were classified as two separate species. I found a nest just below our campsite and was able to photograph the two birds coming and going as they fed their young. It was a long ways up in the tree and I had to sit down and lean back to get these images and wait patiently while they foraged for insects in between feedings. If you scroll through the photos you will get a good idea of the two different plumages of the male and female. And at the end are a few other birds.

There were lots of loons and they will get a separate post.

female Williamson’s Sapsucker
The male waits while she feeds the young
And off he goes for more bugs
American Coot
Eastern Kingbird
Red-winged Blackbird

Spring Birds

After our big trip to Alaska, I got pretty far behind on my photos around here so yes, I am catching up. Here are a few pretty migratory birds I have seen on our hillside.

Western Bluebird
Western Bluebird
White-crowned Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
I think this is a Brewer’s Sparrow. Even the little brown birds are interesting.
Tree Swallow
Tree Swallow
Tree Swallow
Tree Swallow
Pair of Tree Swallows
Red Crossbill
Red Crossbill
Red Crossbill

Bird Life

Remember the Great Horned Owls from this post? I continued to visit them, not too frequently, but often enough to follow the progress of the nest. I was up there on May 11 and 23 and June 6. Three days later all of the owls were gone – mom, dad and the youngster. I don’t think the little one had any flight feathers so I don’t think it survived. On the 6th, there was someone camped in front of the nest and also the adjacent vacation cabin had a LOT of guests. Maybe it was disturbance? Maybe the owlet died of natural causes and the parents left? Maybe they could not feed it enough although I think it looked healthy. Maybe mouse poison or pesticide use? I’ll never know. Hopefully they will return next year and try again.