Ruddy Duck - Ducklings

I made another trip to the auto tour at RNWR on Friday. The drive is fairly slow this time of year, but it still serves up something special with each trip.
The first treat I got on this trip was finding this family of Ruddy Ducks. They were swimming in one of the canals on the Kiwa Trail. Most female ducks gather their ducklings and swim off when confronted with someone and though she showed concern at my presence, they broke up several times. Sometimes the mother would be by herself while the ducklings broke into two or three groups and while the mother stayed afloat the whole time the ducklings spent a lot of time diving.

Cedar Waxwing

I found these Cedar Waxwings flycatching over Cedar Perch Pond at Fernhill Wetlands a couple of weeks ago. They would fly for a while then land to rest or eat their catch for a bit then go at it again. The one in the third image could use a bib. :-)
They are such a pretty bird!

Chicory

Chicory are one of my favorite wildflower. Check out those crazy stamen!

Bullock's Oriole - Nest

During the spring of 2010, I saw my first Bullock's Oriole. It was at TRNWR and I got some pretty good looks as it harvested spider nests off the visitor's center. It would gather and then fly off into the giant Oaks only to return a few minutes later. I saw it one more time at the very top of one of the Oaks a few weeks later.
Back on June 29th of this year, I saw both a female, like last year, and a male in the Oaks. They were very active and I noticed that they were focused on one area. After some careful observation, I finally found the nest they were tending. The lighting was difficult, the birds somewhat elusive and I was out of time so the pictures I got were just average. I returned a couple of days later and saw them again briefly, but was shut out of any pictures. What with all my travel, I never did get a chance to take advantage of this find, but I learned from one of the staff there that they have been nesting there for seven years now, so maybe I'll get another chance next year.
Anyway, notice the interesting variety of yarn and string woven in the nest.

Beach Creature

Found on the beach at Bandon. Not sure what it is, but it kind of looks like a little Lobster. Anyone know what it is?

Update: Identified it as a California Beach Hopper (Orchestoidea californiana)

Pelagic Cormorant

Brandt's Cormorants were the predominant Cormorant at Bandon over the 4th, but there were a fair number of Pelagics too. Normally all black, most were displaying breeding colors with red at their cheeks and white on their flanks.

American Coot - Juvenile

With all the traveling I did this Spring, I missed a lot of opportunities I had looked forward to having just started birding last Spring. One of those was to get some good looks and pictures of American Coot chicks. They have the craziest red and gold frizz over their black down.
While I did see a few from a distant on one trip to RNWR I squeezed in, I never got an opportunity for any decent photos. Now in mid-July, the chicks have lost the crazy kid stuff and have transitioned into a drab gray. I got some good looks at a few yesterday at RNWR's auto tour. Check out the foot of the one in the bottom image. Rail's have some of the coolest feet. I found this passage on 10,000 Birds written by Mike:
"Coots flaunt remarkable fissipalmate feet, which means their toes are lobed. This adaptation, shared with other waterbirds like grebes and phalaropes, is useful both to propel the swimming bird and to facilitate passage over matted floating vegetation. Fissipalmation is also instrumental to coots’ noted hardiness, helping the birds hold up in high temperatures by dissipating excess body heat."

Virginia Rail

I made a trip to RNWR today. It had been a while since I had visited and I was hoping to see some juvenile Yellow-headed Blackbirds. I did see some, but I wasn't able to get any decent pictures.
I walked the Kiwa Hiking Trail for the first time since last year. It was actually just the second time for me.
As I walked along the small stream that the trail loops back on, I heard some loud chatter in the tall grass that is growing along the waters edge. I suspected Virginia Rails, but of course, they wouldn't show themselves. They were on the my side of the stream and were literally at my feet.
Then I got the idea that if I looped around maybe I could see them from the other side. This worked out only marginally. I saw one adult creeping along the through the grass and another moving in the grass, but couldn't get a clear view. I was hoping to see a juvenile.
I squatted down and waited a bit and eventually the adult crossed over some matted grass and I got a clear view, but only for a moment and too quick to get a shot off.
Eventually I gave up and wandered back to the other side and then heard another Rail on the other side of the path. They began to call to each other from both sides. This, I decided, was my opportunity. I positioned myself on the path so I was just back a bit from the line that led between them, squatted down and waited, camera ready to shoot. Sure enough, it didn't take too long and the other adult crossed over not far from me. I lucked out as it stopped momentarily and I was able to get some pretty good shots of it. Even the sun was well positioned!

Purple Finch? - Juvenile

On our way back home from Bandon over the 4th weekend, we stopped at Shore Acres State Park to walk through the wonderful garden they have there. Other than at my feeder, I got my first sighting of a Purple Finch. It was singing up a storm on a pine branch along the edge of the garden. It seems odd to me that while I see Purple Finches regularly at my feeder, I had not seen one in the field other up until then.
Tonight I saw a bird at my feeder that I wasn't quite sure of, so I grabbed my camera and took some pictures. It was pretty tolerant of me so I figured it was probably a juvenile and when I got a look at the pictures the gummy corners of its bill confirmed my suspicion.
So the next thing to consider was what species was it? My thought the whole time was a Purple Finch because of the frequency of adults I get (I actually get many more Purple Finches than House Finches). Though it has much less of an eyebrow than a similar looking female, I really think this is a juvenile Purple Finch. Let me know if you know otherwise, or if you know for sure!

Brandt's Cormorant - Nests

More pics from Bandon and Oregon Islands National Wildlife Refuge. I saw all three Cormorant species common to the area. These Brandt's Cormorants were probably the most common though there were many Pelagic also.
Their buff throats with tinges of blue were quite apparent, especially as they flew overhead. As can be seen in the second image one flew overhead with seaweed in its bill. I assume this was for nest building based on my research as their diet is fish and squid.
Finally, there were a couple of nests visible on the edge of the ledge of the north side of Middle Coquille Point Rock. It would be great to be able to some young Cormorant! I may have to check out Newport's Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area as it is a much shorter drive for me than Bandon.

Western Gull - Chicks

I didn't notice the Western Gull chicks at Oregon Islands National Wildlife Refuge at Bandon on the 4th, but the morning of the 5th they were hard to miss. Especially these two on the north side of Middle Coquille Point Rock. At first I just saw the one with Mom (or Dad) standing watch. Then another waddled up the rock next to the first. Lighting was tough with the brightly side lit white birds against the dark rocks, but the top two turned out pretty good.
Most sightings where much more distant on the top of Elephant Rock where I also saw many Common Murres and nesting Brandt's Cormorants.

Caspian Tern

The first Caspian Tern I saw was at Fernhill Wetlands. On Saturday, I saw two more there. I first saw one fly over early in the morning, but didn't notice it soon enough to get a positive ID. Then I saw them flying on the opposite side of Fernhill Lake as I approached the parking lot much later. They swooped around, but never showed any interest in coming to my side. I had been there for about four hours and was tired so I decided it was time to go.

Then, as I was getting ready to drive out the parking lot to go home, I saw one hovering over the water just a short ways away. Unfortunately, I could not get my window down and camera ready before it moved on. Even after that experience I still was ready to go home, but something told me I should wait a little longer, so I pulled the car up to the west gate and sat there for a bit. Sure enough, it wasn't long and it was back, flying towards me. I stuck my camera out the window and leaned out to get some shots off. It did this two or three times before leaving. Having gotten what I hoped would be some pretty good close shots, I finally did go home.
While the bright top light made the exposure less that ideal, I like the effect and how it captured the look and elegance of it hunting for prey over the water.

Black Oystercatcher

During both mornings that I birded at Bandon the beach was experiencing low tide. This made it easier to get out among the rocks and see ocean birds. This Black Oystercatcher posed for me and another photographer while perched up on one of the many volcanic rocks that jut out of the sandy beach and ocean shore.
I love these birds. Their bright red-orange bill and eye-ring with yellow iris and fleshy colored legs with wrinkled joints, keeps me interested for hours.

Heermann's Gull

Late last August, I saw my first Heerman's Gulls at South Jetty in Fort Stephens State Park. I commented on how they were mostly transitioned to non-breeding plumage.
During my Bandon trip on the 4th, I had my seconding sighting of a Heermann's Gull, but this time, being early July, it was still in breeding plumage.
Also, if you look closely, at the top image especially, you can see just how worn most of its feathers are and that it has a few new primary feathers. Primaries 6 - 9 are new with 6 not fully grown in. It also looks like the primary coverts above the new primaries are new. I'm not versed enough on mottling yet to know exactly if this part of breeding change or an aging rotation. Not even sure if that makes sense. :-)

Eurasian Collared-Dove

I had seen Eurasian Collared-Doves in New Mexico and in Switzerland in the past year, but I had not seen any in Oregon until this past 4th in Bandon. We were driving along Beach Loop Road when I saw them perched on a high voltage line. I was doubly lucky as there was a wide shoulder at that point of the road to pull over and the Doves stuck around long enough for me to get some pictures.

Snowy Plover

Since Crater Lake didn't work out for us (see yesterday's post), we decided to spend the rest of our holiday at Bandon. It's become one our favorite vacation spots since first staying at Bullard's Beach State Park 5 or 6 years ago.
Last time we visited a couple of years ago, we explored the Face Rock and Elephant Rock areas and enjoyed them immensely. My wife had a vague recollection of walking some non-beach trails during that time and wanted to return, so we set out to find them Sunday evening. While looking for the trails, we stopped at one of the entries to Bandon State Natural Area. It wasn't what we were looking for, but there were some interesting signs discussing Snowy Plovers.
Evidently they breed on that beach and the signs were there to help educate people about their existence, their endangered status and how easy it can be to damage their nests. It was very interesting and I decided that I would come the next morning and see if I could find any.
I arrived at about 7:30 on Monday morning and found that a large sand dune with beach grass was roped off. There signs on each post stating that the area behind the ropes was off limits to the public because of the nesting. Because of the sensitivity of the area, I kept my distance from the ropes, but followed along the beach parallel to them.
To my surprise, I wasn't there more than a few minutes when a couple of Snowy Plovers appeared ahead of me on the beach sand. They were aware of me, but seemed OK with my presence as long as I didn't move around too much. I took some pictures then decided I wouldn't disturb them anymore and moved on.
After doing some research, I discovered that Snowy Plovers make nests in the sand similar to the way Killdeers make open nests on the ground. They are easily scared off and will abandon their nests when startled leaving them vulnerable to predators. One thing that that I am still confused on is that the area that was roped off was covered with beach grass. My understanding is that they build their nests on open sand and that introduced European grass was robbing the Plovers of nesting habitat. It doesn't quite add up, but I'm sure they must know what they are doing.

Crater Lake

My wife and I had reserved three nights at Crater Lake Lodge back in December. We were even able to reserve a room with a view of the lake, be it through small windows. We were looking forward to hiking the many trails, but it never dawned on us that it would still be mostly snowed in. A lot of that had to do with the cool, wet, long spring we, but we should have thought of the possibility.
We arrived mid-afternoon on Saturday and was told that the trail to Garfield Peak was about the only trail available, but that it was blocked part way up. So we ventured around 6:00 PM and ran into snow almost right away. My wife decided she didn't want to go on any further and gave me her blessing to go on.
As I continued along the trail, I encountered several patches of snow, but was able to traverse most of them until I came along one that looked a bit treacherous, so I decided it was time turn back. Besides, we had dinner reservations and I needed to get back.
Along the way, I took this picture of the lodge looking back from the trail.

The shot below is looking down at the lake from high above the trail leading to Garfield Peak. The water along the shore had this really cool greenish look as you can see.

Unfortunately, I saw very few birds, but I did see a few chipmunks along the way.

The only birds I saw the entire time at the lake were some Crows, Steller's Jays, a couple of Clark's Nutcrackers and this Yellow-rumped Warbler. It was the only bird that let me get a decent shot.

After giving it some thought that evening, we decided this wasn't the right time to spend three days at Crater Lake, so we changed plans and left for Bandon, Oregon the next morning. That turned out to be a much better experience.