Fern Ridge Reservoir

I keep seeing this area mentioned when people write about birds in the area, so I thought I'd check it out yesterday while the weather was still beautiful.  I am so glad I did!


This Song Sparrow was one of many birds chattering away at Zuwalt Park..  I randomly stopped at this park first and lucky for me it was an off-leash area.  Jake had a blast charging through the overgrown grass.

Here is a terrible terrible picture of what I believe is a Bewick's Wren?

This next one was hanging out in the parking lot of a mini-mart down the road from Zuwalt & Jean Parks..

 Is this a Western Bluebird?

At Perkins Peninsula:
There were tons of robins and this Western Scrub-Jay.

At the road leading into the Fern Ridge Wildlife Area Headquarters was this Ring-necked Pheasant.


As I drove up he refused to budge for at least a minute, but finally gave in and hopped into the bushes.

From the Fern Ridge Wildlife Area:

I wouldn't have even bothered trying to identify this bird but he showed me his backside before flying off..

Could this be a Yellow-rumped Warbler, or is that just too obvious?

This looks like a female Western Bluebird..

Across the gravel road from the wildlife area was a field of cows.  They always make me smile.


This hawk was circling over a pond full of Canada Geese and Northern Pintails..

Huge flocks of geese were constantly coming or going... I loved that I could see the moon behind these guys.


This was the most patient kestrel I have ever encountered.  Usually they take off a second after I aim the camera at them...


At Kirk Pond it sure looked like Spring!


I think this is a Western Grebe flying over the pond..  Bad picture, I know.

Our last stop was Royal Avenue.  It was a beautiful place with great views of the reservoir.   Northern Harriers flew overhead and more coots than I have ever seen swam in the water.

I will definitely be heading back to Fern Ridge in the future!

Comments

  1. Your Western Bluebird images look very much like our Eastern Bluebirds. The hawk soaring may be a Red-tailed hawk, not certain, but it looks like you had a fun day, with nice entries~

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  2. Sounds like a great day out! Yes, that is a Yellow-rumped Warbler and a Western Bluebird! That pheasant is cool; I've never seen one in the wild.

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  3. Some lovely photos - for a little brown job, I still love the Song Sparrow - wren photo is fuzzy, but the white throat suggests it could be a Marsh - but I emphasize the tentativeness. This time of year a bright yellow rump is as you said - obvious. In the east a few other warblers also flash a yellow rump. Nice capture of the Red-tailed Hawk with its faint belly band - probably a juvenile from the light color tail ... and can't overlook the male kestrel - our most beautiful bird of prey

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  4. Some interesting pictures there - if you want some more pheasants, I can send you a few (a family is eating our grain and are fattening up nicely!)
    Great geese and kestrel shots.

    Thanks for stopping by my blog!

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  5. I've never been to Fern Ridge but hear about it all the time, too. You've inspired me!
    The wren is a Bewick's - strong white eyebrow, no stripes on the back. The duck in flight is a male Common Merganser. Great shot!
    Laura

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