Random Birds

I haven't posted in many months, partly because I haven't had what I'd call a blogworthy adventure and partly because my photos are just so abysmal. I've been reading two blogs by birders who have really big lenses and a lot of luck....it's enough to give a girl a complex! But this heron at Ridgefield NWR yesterday gave me a good show - stared and stared at the potential vole meal in the grasses then BANG! went for it. Missed....and casually walked away, on to the next spot where perhaps the voles had not yet caught on.




I like the Red-tail below because it emulates Monty Python's Flying Circus but with a hawk. Dark head, light chest, dark belly band and lighter below.


Finally, here is a nifty new bird, a Red-breasted Sapsucker, that glided into the yard, clung to the chimney and had a look around. Took off for parts unknown and, to my knowledge, has not been back. Wish it had come back for the November yard list contest! Maybe I would have had a fighting chance!

Central Oregon Part 3

After a nice quiet night at the Cabin Lake campground we spent another few hours at the blinds photographing the birdlife. I had hoped a Lewis's woodpecker would show up but no such luck. Oh well, there's always next time!



By this time my camera battery had expired and I did not have a spare. My Birding Associate was kind enough to take over photography duties so the rest of these are by him.

Fort Rock was our next destination....it's right down the road from Cabin Lake. It looks like a giant volcanic fallen souffle out in the middle of an ancient lake bed.


You can hike in and all around the area. Be warned.....it's like a souffle on the outside but like a hot wok on the inside....take plenty of water and sunscreen!!



Tons of birds nest here. Thousands of nooks and crannies house everything from swallows and Rock Wrens to owls and Prairie Falcons. We encountered all of those birds plus White-throated Swifts; Fort Rock is a reliable place to see them. The owls had plenty of places to hide for the day but we found ample evidence of their existence along one side of the rock.

All the white you see is bone.


Years (or maybe just months) of dissolved pellets containing the bones of all the little mammals caught by the Great Horned Owls that raised their young here.


Stay tuned for the final destination - Summer Lake.

Laura Goes to the Rodeo

Admittedly, no birding was done at the rodeo.

It was a fantastic show...the 75th Annual St Paul Rodeo in St Paul, Oregon. Very patriotic, very professional, and a clean comedy banter provided by the announcer and rodeo clown. Just a great time on the 4th of July!

Here are some images of bucking, roping, barrel racing, and, of course, the audience.

Central Oregon Part 2

From Sisters, we headed to Bend and then south, finally heading east and arrived at Cabin Lake campground. We'd traveled a Forest Service road to get in and the huge Ponderosa pines were breathtaking. We saw several Lewis's Woodpeckers flycatching from perches and sallying about the treetops. I hadn't had much experience with either sapsuckers or Lewis's Woodpeckers but now I've been reading that both are consummate flycatchers, as witnessed at Calliope Crossing.

The campground was at the edge of the pines and we could look out onto the plains and see the transition from forest to Great Plains habitat. Lots of sage and rabbit brush out there...plenty of wildflowers, too. No water or facilities at this campground and best of all, NO OTHER PEOPLE. Lack of facilities keeps the riff raff out.....


Well, looks like two of the riff raff made it in after all......



The campground was lovely but the real draw for this place are the water features next door at the Forest Service Guard Station. The station is closed but there are two permanent blinds each overlooking a "guzzler"; a small basin filled with water from adjacent tanks. Water is scarce in these parts so birds come from all around to sip awhile. Photographers and birders also flock here and two separate photographers blinds were set up nearby. Still, only four people present....not exactly a hopping tourist attraction, fortunately for us.




I have a Canon PowerShot SD890IS, just a wee point and shoot. It's got a 20x digital zoom on it which works pretty well. Sitting quietly in the blind, with just my little camera with its little lens, even I was able to capture some pretty spectacular bird shots. I will let the birds speak for themselves.

Mourning Dove

Red Crossbills



Western Tanager male and female





Chipping Sparrow

Brewer's Sparrows


Cassin's Finch



joined by a Northern Flicker


Yellow pine Chipmunk? Where's my mammal book....

Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel


Green-tailed Towhee


White-breasted Nuthatch


Yellow-rumped Warbler

White-headed Woodpecker




And it was all capped off by a gorgeous moonrise......this was taken through my scope. Cool!

More soon!