Motorless Birding.

Hey do you remember the motorless birding list I started last July?  Yeah, I barely remember it myself.  Oops.  Oh well, today my car was having a part replaced and I decided to take advantage of the sunshine (and below freezing temperature) to ride my bike to some North Portland spots to add to my motorless list.

My first stop (after the post office) was at Vanport Wetlands.  I was able to add several species to my list like Cackling Goose, Canvasback, Green-winged Teal, and Northern Shoveler...


After Vanport I headed over to Force Lake, which was mostly frozen.  There were barely any birds around besides this fluffy fluffball of a Song Sparrow:


He seemed to have an itch on the back of its head...



Cutest. Song Sparrow. Ever.

After frozen Force Lake I headed over to less frozen Smith Lake and somewhat frozen Bybee Lake.  When I walked down the trail towards Smith I was enveloped in a swarm of juncos, kinglets, chickadees, and Bushtits.  I tried to stand still while they flitted all around me.

This kinglet was pulling some stuff off a branch:


Near the blind on Smith Lake were Purple Finches also pulling stuff off branches:


I trudged around the tall grass between Smith and Bybee hoping for one of the shrikes.  Nope.  At this point I am afraid that if I ever do find one I might just strangle it to death with my bare hands.  Not really, of course, but I'm getting frustrated (been looking for over a year at this spot now).  The Red-shouldered Hawk was again perched in its usual tree being extremely vocal.


Flying around the area instead of shrikes was a big flock of Yellow-rumped Warblers.  They seemed to be following me for a bit.


So, not a very exciting outing, but fun nonetheless...  My motorless birding list is now up to 60 species and I hope to venture out for more species soon.  Good times and a gorgeous day!


Comments

  1. Great Sparrow and Kinglet pictures. Sounds like it was a great trip al natural

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  2. What a great idea! Sounds like a very enjoyable experience. Wonderful images! That fluff of an itchy Song Sparrow is the cutest.

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  3. WOW you found all that under your own steam...GOOD going--HOPE you get that Shrike and you dont give it a choke hold when ya do..lol
    Love the little sparrow and the kinglet and Congrats on the new waterfowl additions!!!!

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  4. Hi Jen, it is great you can still get out and enjoy your birding minus the car. I love the cute kinglet and the cute sparrow. Looks like a good day of motorless birding. Congrats on adding new birds to your list. The last shot with the view of the mountain looks beautiful. Happy Birding!

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