Now is the time to seek out local nesters. It seems a little early for ducks to be losing their sharp breeding colors. I often refer to late summer as Ugly Duck Season. This Gadwall is already starting to molt into his dull summer alternate plumage. Hooded Merganser preening at Fernhill Wetlands Tualatin River NWR is hosting at least two pairs of Blue-winged Teal this summer.īewick’s Wren are usually working heavy cover, so it was a treat to find this one dust bathing in the middle of a gravel road. Most Golden-crowned Sparrows are gone by late May, so this bird found on June 2 was noteworthy.Īt Tualatin River NWR, this Lazuli Bunting was singing in the same patch of Nootka Rose that has hosted them in previous years. So now we concentrate on the summer residents, like this Black-headed Grosbeak. Numbers and diversity seemed quite low in the Portland area this spring. Spring migration has come and gone, and many birders agree that it was a dud. Happy Summer Tagged Black-headed Grosbeak, Fernhill Wetlands, Mourning Dove, Osprey, Pied-billed Grebe, Purple Martin, Red-winged Blackbird, Western Grebe Leave a comment Random Summer Birds Southbound shorebird migration has already begun, so expect them to show up soon. They are frequent winter visitors here, but they do not nest anywhere nearby. The most unusual bird of the day was this Western Grebe. The ducks have started their summer molt, but the Pied-billed Grebes are still looking dapper. I didn’t see any dive for fish while I was there. Ospreys were soaring high over Fernhill Lake. It has been such a delight to have an active Purple Martin colony at Fernhill the past few years. Here a Red-winged Blackbird is being harassed by a hungry youngster. So here are some images from a warm walk around Fernhill Wetlands.īlack-headed Grosbeaks are one of our more attractive summer residents. It is sometimes hard to motivate oneself to get outside when the weather is so harsh, but there is always something to see. Record-setting heat and cloudless days are not the best conditions for birding or photography, but here we are. Happy Spring Tagged Anna's Hummingbird, Black-headed Grosbeak, Cedar Waxwing, Cinnamon Teal, Fernhill Wetlands, Lesser Goldfinch, Purple Martin, Ruddy Duck, Tundra Swan 1 Comment Summer at Fernhill While we can argue about the aesthetics, this is actually “natural” for a lot of animals. But given the extent that humans have altered the world (Fernhill Wetlands is a man-made wetland.), a lot of species have no choice but to live among human infrastructure. A lot of people don’t like photos of wildlife on man-made structures. She has been reported at this site since last year, so she is apparently doing alright despite her injury. ![]() This Tundra Swan is missing part of her left wing, so is unable to migrate. These dapper male Ruddy Ducks were staying in the middle of the main lake, so no good photo for me. This Anna’s Hummingbird was stretching his wings. While spring migration has wound down, there is still a lot of bird activity at Fernhill Wetlands. Happy Summer Tagged American Kestrel, Anna's Hummingbird, Barn Swallow, Black Phoebe, Brush Rabbit, Cinnamon Teal, Northern River Otter, Purple Martin, Sora Leave a comment Fernhill Wetlands This Cinnamon Teal at Beal Street Wetland is best identified by his shape. A Purple Martin strafes an American Kestrel at Tualatin River NWR Barn Swallow about to nab an insect off the water’s surface Anna’s Hummingbird feeding on a cedar at Fernhill Wetlands Two Northern River Otters at Koll Center Wetlands This otter was almost too close for my camera to focus Several young Soras put on a nice show at Commonwealth Lake Park Snacking on a snail Black Phoebe with a damselfly at Fernhill Wetlands I always love seeing Brush Rabbits Summer is Ugly Duck Season, as males molt into eclipse plumage and all the duck replace their flight feathers. Here are a few images from various wetlands in the Portland area this summer. In mid to late summer, when conditions are very hot and dry in Oregon, most of the wildlife activity is found near wetlands, at least until they dry up as well.
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