Drying Out

I photographed this Red-tailed Hawk this morning, apparently drying out its wings. We have had a couple of days of rain, so he was probably ready for the sun this morning.  I’m used to seeing Turkey Vultures and Double-crested Cormorants engaging in this behavior on a regular basis, but this is the first time I can recall seeing a Red-tailed Hawk doing this. 

Elegant Terns

Saturday night I read on the Internet that Elegant Terns were reported on the South Jetty in Newport.  Ever since the showing of the movie Big Year, most people assume that serious birders go to unbelievable lengths to chase after unusual sightings of rare birds as depicted in the film. I often explain to people, as well as tell myself repeatedly, that I don’t “chase birds”, rather just enjoy the birds that I find where ever I happen to be, and yet on Sunday morning I found myself bolting out the door and speeding off to Newport in search of the Elegant Tern. It’s classified as a rare bird in Oregon and would be a new listing on my Life List.  When I arrived in Newport I could barely see the jetty due to the fog.  An hour and a half of peering through the fog provided a few birds including Caspian Terns, but no Elegant Terns. As I was driving away I came across a birder who had found them on a finger jetty and I stopped and took some photos.  Not the best photo due to distance and fog, but a new Life Listing. In the time of year that many bird species are beginning to head South, the Elegant Tern who neither nests or winters here occasionally  makes a brief journey North up the Oregon Coast before turning around and going South for the winter. 

Incidental Observation

When I submit my bird sightings to eBird there is a category titled “Incidental” which is further explained as when “Birding was not your primary purpose”. This is what was going on when this bird was spotted. Jeanette was busy mowing the lawn at the Welcome Center when she saw it. She motioned me over and I came and took this photo.  We were both unsure of the identification. Turns out it is a Red Crossbill, but because it is a juvenile it does not have the bright coloring of the adult which would have clued us in right away.

Dual Images

Because of the distance and the fog when I took this this morning I didn’t realize that I was also getting a second image from the reflection on the water. This was taken on Beaver Creek just before it flows into the ocean at Ona Beach State Park. The bird is a Red-necked Phalarope, but because it is a juvenile it lacks the red neck plumage from whence it gets its name.  From what I have read it’s possibly on its migration route from Northern Canada or Alaska to the Southern Hemisphere where it will winter at sea. I believe we saw this same bird in the same location last evening.  Not sure what he is doing all by himself, I would have expected to see him in a migrating flock. 

Barred Owl

Jeanette and I took my sister Susan, and her husband Jeff hiking yesterday morning on some of the Loop Trails of Beaver Creek State Natural Area.  It was great fun to share some of the beauty of the area, get in some exercise, and enjoy a good visit. The highlight of our wildlife sightings was this Barred Owl we got to see on the Beaver Creek Loop Trail. It flew up into a nearby tree and perched for some time so we all got a good look at it.  Barred Owls have had an interesting range expansion from the East Coast, to the West Coast of Canada, and South into Washington and Oregon.  They are now being viewed with concern in forest management circles because there is evidence that they may be replacing the environmental sensitive Spotted Owl.  

Extra Volunteer Help

We have discovered that Jeanette has some extra volunteer help with the lawns here at the Welcome Center of Beaver Creek State Natural Area.  For three evenings in a row we have watched as this big bull Elk has come and mowed through the clover. He is not much interested in the dried up sections of the lawn, just the lush green clover. Sometime after dark he evidently also helps himself to the apples. We know it’s him as he always leaves his “calling card”. 

Birthday Birding

Yesterday was my 73^rd birthday, and I got to do whatever I wanted, so we went birding. We spent the morning birding along the Yaquina Bay Road from Newport to Toledo, and the in the afternoon made a brief stop at Yaquina Head. I was able to add five good bird photos to Cascade Ramblings, two of which were new additions to my Life List.

 Whimbrel

California Gull

Least Sandpiper

Common Murre

Brandt's Cormorant