It's July. I don't have a whole lot of birds to show you. Time to get random. I will be interspersing Northern Pygmy-Owls throughout this post to make it interesting.
Frog, Alder Flat Trail to the Clackamas River
You all should check out Sondra from South Carolina's Birdathon post from last month! She joined my team, the Bloggerhead Shrikes, and had an awesome day of birds I can only dream about. Not only does she include photos of a Summer Tanager, an Anhinga, and a Yellow-crowned Night-Heron, but also a video of a gator!! Go now!
Portland, Spring 2014
Yesterday I walked the dogs along the Frenchman's Bar trail in Vancouver. It was warm and tame but a there were a few highlights...
Portland, Spring 2014
A Swainson's Thrush was being followed by a vocal young bird that did not strike me as a young thrush. I never got a good look at it, besides this quick photo:
Perhaps if the thrush had read this helpful information, it would not have had to spend so much time plucking snow berries for this young nuisance. Unless of course I am wrong and that is actually a young Swainson's Thrush.
Bad bad photo
The Osprey nest in the river has been successful with two healthy-looking young birds in the nest. Last year I watched the same nest with two healthy-looking young birds. Unfortunately those birds did not live to adulthood because of dickwads and fishing line.
Portland, Spring 2014
So, how are you guys at identifying underwater creatures? My friend and I spent Saturday submerged in the Clackamas River, watching strange critters. There were lots of shells of stoneflies on the rocks...
Underwater there were critters that covered themselves in pine needles and critters that covered themselves in tiny rocks and sand. I read that stoneflies lay their eggs underwater and their nymphs are aquatic. Is this related? I know little about these critters, please share your wisdom.
Two of the critters covered in rocks.
Critter covered in pine needles (or something similar)
Also. This guy was cute:
This spot on the Clackamas was recommended as a more mellow spot on this fast-moving river. I've been to worse spots, danger-wise, but this was no safe swimming hole. We found spots where we could wade in and stay cool, though, and the views were lovely.
Can you spot the Spotted Sandpiper?
What else, what else... Oh! There's a new bird book in town!
It's a fun little book, especially because it's geared towards birds in the northwest. So many kids books are filled with cardinals and Blue Jays, but here we have Steller's Jays and Varied Thrushes. The woman that put this book together founded the Friends of Force Lake and loves our local birds. If you know a kid that could use a book, I would definitely recommend this one! It can be found at Powells.com, or that other online book retailer.
Ok, I think that's it.
Good times!!
You all should check out Sondra from South Carolina's Birdathon post from last month! She joined my team, the Bloggerhead Shrikes, and had an awesome day of birds I can only dream about. Not only does she include photos of a Summer Tanager, an Anhinga, and a Yellow-crowned Night-Heron, but also a video of a gator!! Go now!
Yesterday I walked the dogs along the Frenchman's Bar trail in Vancouver. It was warm and tame but a there were a few highlights...
A Swainson's Thrush was being followed by a vocal young bird that did not strike me as a young thrush. I never got a good look at it, besides this quick photo:
Perhaps if the thrush had read this helpful information, it would not have had to spend so much time plucking snow berries for this young nuisance. Unless of course I am wrong and that is actually a young Swainson's Thrush.
The Osprey nest in the river has been successful with two healthy-looking young birds in the nest. Last year I watched the same nest with two healthy-looking young birds. Unfortunately those birds did not live to adulthood because of dickwads and fishing line.
So, how are you guys at identifying underwater creatures? My friend and I spent Saturday submerged in the Clackamas River, watching strange critters. There were lots of shells of stoneflies on the rocks...
Underwater there were critters that covered themselves in pine needles and critters that covered themselves in tiny rocks and sand. I read that stoneflies lay their eggs underwater and their nymphs are aquatic. Is this related? I know little about these critters, please share your wisdom.
Also. This guy was cute:
This spot on the Clackamas was recommended as a more mellow spot on this fast-moving river. I've been to worse spots, danger-wise, but this was no safe swimming hole. We found spots where we could wade in and stay cool, though, and the views were lovely.
What else, what else... Oh! There's a new bird book in town!
It's a fun little book, especially because it's geared towards birds in the northwest. So many kids books are filled with cardinals and Blue Jays, but here we have Steller's Jays and Varied Thrushes. The woman that put this book together founded the Friends of Force Lake and loves our local birds. If you know a kid that could use a book, I would definitely recommend this one! It can be found at Powells.com, or that other online book retailer.
Ok, I think that's it.
Good times!!
Love the owl, so cute!
ReplyDeleteThose water bugs covered in rock and pine needle casings are caddisflies:
ReplyDeletehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caddisfly#Underwater_architects
AH! Thanks so much!
DeleteLovely post Jen. I wish I had photos of Pygmy Owls barring actually Pygmy Owls) interspersed throughout my entire life. The world would be a merrier place, except for smaller birds.
ReplyDeleteBut I didnt see a Pygmy Owl..wow its sooo cute... cool water bugs I cant tell with the thrush...young ones can be strange looking.- damned fishing line.....grrrr
ReplyDeleteSo many great birds and bugs! The more Pygmy Owls the better! I love your caddis fly shots. In rivers with pyrite in them, they make sparkly cases. :)
ReplyDeleteDo I detect the oncoming of a sister blog, "I Used to Hate Bugs"?
ReplyDeleteNice Pygmy!
Your unspoken guess of cowbird is correct. Caddis fly larva are a favorite of Dippers!
ReplyDeleteJuly is tough for birding. I love the scenery you've shown us. I'd be happy with the just one Northern Pygmy Owl interspersed in my life.
ReplyDeleteI love your blog name, and that header pic is one of the best I've seen.