Canada Goose - Goslings

These are first Canada Goose goslings I've seen this year. They crossed the road a ways in front of me, swam the canal and hung out on a berm. For a while they grazed, then eventually the goslings snuggled up to mom (dad?). Not sure if they were tired or trying to get out of the nasty rain, wind and cold.

Virginia Rail

The Soras and Virginia Rails continue to be very accessible along South Quigley Lake at RNWR. Yesterday I managed to see one catch a worm.

Wilson's Snipe

Tonight is opening night for Bye Bye Birdie at Wilsonville High School. That means I have completed the lighting for the show (well almost, they called me in tonight because a lamp burned out) and can spend more time birding. I was so anxious that I decided to make a quick trip around the auto tour at RNWR.
I saw a lot of good birds, including my closest encounter with a Wilson's Snipe seen above. It's nice to have some grass to offset the Snipe. A striped, brown bird against dead grass makes for a boring picture.

Savannah Sparrow

I saw my first Savannah Sparrows of the year at Jackson Bottom last Sunday. They were up to their old tricks of laying low in the grass and then flying away, just out of range, as I got near. It was great to see them again.

Morning Dove

This Morning Dove has some odd ruffled feathers on its neck. I suppose it could be a molt of some sort, but it is rather intense in a very localized area. Because of this, I'm guessing that it had been attacked by a predator and was lucky to escape.

Greater Yellowlegs

I haven't been able to get much quality birding in for the last couple of weeks as I have been lighting another production at Wilsonville High School. I decided to take a chance on Jackson Bottom Wetlands Preserve in hopes of seeing some migration action. The last time I stopped by about three weeks ago, it was totally flooded. Today it was much better, but there wasn't much happening as far as migrants are concerned.
The most interesting thing I saw while there were eleven Greater Yellowlegs all together. I have never seen so many in one place before.

Pine Siskin

I've only seen Pine Siskins once in the past year. That was last summer up at Timberline Lodge. My second sighting turns out to be this past Sunday in my backyard at the feeders.

American Coot

Seems to be the most abundant bird floating on water at the time.
Anyone know what that red vegetation is floating on the water? It's been thick this winter.

Red-winged Blackbird

I love the song of the male Red-winged Blackbird. And they are especially fun to photograph in the Spring as they allow you to get closer than other times of the year. This is especially true right now at RNWR along the same stretch of the Auto Tour where the Soras and Virginia Rails are found. The blackbirds love to perch on the Cattails and there is short area where they are commonly right along the road.
Even some females got into the action during my last visit. Females typically stay a little more hidden down in the reeds and brush.

Cinnamon Teal

On my second time around the Auto Tour last Friday, I found this pair of Cinnamon Teal near the road on Horse Lake at RNWR. They were feeding on the muck floating on the surface of the water.

Great Horned Owl

I found this pair of Great Horned Owls just past marker 9 at RNWR on Friday. I couldn't get a better shot as a large pickup was dominating the best angle, so I decided to make a quick second trip around the Auto Tour, but they had moved on by that time.
This was my first sighting of Great Horned Owls at the refuge. I know they are fairly common as I have seen photos taken of them by others on the web.

Tree Swallow

Tree swallow numbers have been increasing at RNWR. They had been gathering mostly over Big South Lake, but this last Friday many had moved to the wooded areas along the Auto Tour between markers 9 & 10.
These two males appear to be challenging for breeding territory, perhaps for the possible nesting hole just below.

Virginia Rail

Some more Virginia Rail photos taken at RNWR this past Friday. The lake along the auto tour between markers 2 & 3 has become popular with those looking for Virginia Rails and Soras. The are fairly easy to find and are a lot of fun trying to get clear shots as they wander in and out of the cattails and brush along the waters edge.
I'm getting the itch to move away from Blogger again as these images were altered by Picasa. Many are darker than the way I processed them. Ya get what you pay for though I guess. :-)