Hermit Thrush

April 2013 – Hillsboro, Oregon

Sometimes you just don’t know who might be visiting your own backyard. These are common birds, but they’re a bit secretive and camera-shy. I was only able to click a couple of frames before this one fluttered away.

Downy Woodpecker

April 2013 – Smith and Bybee Lakes, Oregon

This bird was very actively probing cracks and crevices for insects, really more like a creeper than a woodpecker. I managed to snap a few decent shots as he poked out from behind some brambles.

American Kestrel

March 2013 – Sauvie Island, Oregon

As common as these birds are, they’re quite skittish. You’d think a tough little bird like this would stand its ground more boldly, but no.

American Widgeon

March 2013 – Sauvie Island, Oregon

These were a fairly common sight on this morning at Sauvie Island.

Green-winged Teal

March 2013 – Sauvie Island, Oregon

Not the best photo, but my time with this pair was fleeting… they only appeared for a few moments among a number of other species.

Red-breasted Sapsucker

April 2013 – Sauvie Island, Oregon

Same bird, different day… a few weeks later. This tree must be pretty productive for this pair of Red-breasted Sapsuckers, because they were both still there, a few weeks after my previous visit (below). Anyway, here are a couple more photos from the exact same location.

Red-breasted Sapsucker

Red-breasted Sapsucker

March 2013 – Sauvie Island, Oregon

This one was very intent on maintaining his sap tree, about 15-20ft high on the side of a tree along the trail.

Pintail

March 2013 – Sauvie Island, Oregon

Ok, not the greatest shot of a Northern Pintail, but it’s a start… about a dozen of them were over on the lake at Wapato access area.

Bewick’s Wren

April 2013 – Smith and Bybee lakes, Oregon

The Bewick’s wrens have just returned for the spring, and were busy establishing their territories. This location is in north Portland, a bunch of wetlands between a landfill, an industrial zone, and the main port of Portland. You might not think a great natural area could exist here, but it does.

Bewick’s Wren

June 2012 – Hillsboro, Oregon

This wren was just hammering an unfortunate caterpillar on the fence. The thing turned into a pulp when he was done. He was feeding fledgling chicks who were hiding in nearby bushes.

Bewick’s Wren

April 2012 – Tualatin National Wildlife Refuge, Oregon

This wren was flitting around the branches, singing his heart out. He stopped just for a moment to let me snap his photo.

Double-crested Cormorant

March 2013 – Fernhill wetlands, Oregon

This is a young Double-crested Cormorant. The older birds are much more black. Cormorants need to air-dry their wings (not very practical for a seabird), which is what this was is doing in the early morning light.

Brewer’s Blackbird

March 2013 – Fernhill Wetlands, Oregon

These birds are common in suburban parking lots across the country. They’re often overlooked, and dismissed. But, they do have a certain beauty – just look at those eyes. This one is a male.