Palm Tanager
February 2013 – The Sloth Sanctuary, Costa Rica
Not the best picture, but… didn’t have a lot of time with this particular bird.
Palm Tanager
Category Archives: ** – Poor
Chestnut-mandibled Toucan
Chestnut-mandibled Toucan
February 2013 – Osa Peninsula, Costa Rica
If someone had described the Toucan without any evidence, I doubt it would be believed. There are a number of toucan species in Costa Rica, and I did see a couple others, but they zoomed by very quickly. This is the only one I was able to identify and photograph.
Crested Caracara
Crested Caracara
February 2013 – Osa Peninsula, Costa Rica
One of those birds I always considered so rare, but simply because they live in another place. In their own habitat, they’re not rare at all… rather a very visible large bird.
Common Loon
Common Loon
September 2012 – Hood Canal, Washinton
Not the greatest photo, but I just wanted to get these added to the blog. I wasn’t aware these were living in Hood Canal, but there they are… and seem fairly common as well – mostly sticking to the middle of the canal, far from shore.
Wilson’s Snipe
Wilson's Snipe
July 2012 – Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, WA
I’ve seen dozens of these birds flying far overhead, making that distinctive whistling sound with their tail feathers, but this was the first one I caught on the ground. Not the best photo, but good enough to figure out what it is.
Green-tailed Towhee
Green-tailed Towhee
May 2012 – Near Mt. Shasta, California
What was most amazing about this sighting was that it was right in the very climax of the 2012 annular solar eclipse – I mean the eclipse was full for like 2 minute, and that’s when I snapped this photo. I had never seen one previously. It’s not the greatest photo, but the only one I have and I’m not sure when I’ll see another of these. But, I suppose I know where to look!
Swainson’s Thrush
Swainson's Thrush
May 2012 – Harris Beach State Park, Oregon
The song of the Swainson’s Thrush has a lot more flourish than the bird. It’s like an uphill spiraling warbling gurgle. The birds are generally very shy, and only somewhat visible in the dawn/dusk hours. It was quite dark when I spotted this one, and he only lingered for a few seconds. Not the best photo, but it’ll have to do for now.
Black-necked Stilt
Black-necked Stilt
May 2012 – Lower Klamath Lake, California
All legs and bills… still they manage to make a living in the mudflats. This one was hanging out with his cousins – the Avocets.
Gadwall
Gadwall
May 2012 – Tule Lake, California
Ok, so it’s not the most striking bird… and not an impressive photo. But, it is a Gadwall… and… well, that’s what they look like.
White-Headed Woodpecker
White-Headed Woodpecker
March 2006 – Methow Valley, WA
I spotted this White-Headed Woodpecker while cross-country skiing in the Methow Valley in Washington. The photo isn’t the best, but it’s all I could come up with given the circumstance.