Big Birds at the Wetlands

 All the colorful little summer birds have left for south.  But big birds are still here at the wetlands.👍

 

 #1:  Great Blue Heron

"I am still here."😄

#2:  Great Egret

"I am still here for a while."😄

#3:  American White Pelican

"I am passing by today.  I have to meet 

my buddies at the Wildlife Refuge nearby."☺️

Note:  Many waterfowls will arrive soon for winter months.🤩

Fall at the Wetlands

 Summer birds are gone and winter birds are to arrive here gradually. 

"We are Mallards and stay here all the year around."😉

"I am Pie-billed Grebe.  I stay here all the time, too."☺️

"We are American White Pelicans.  We

 left Canada and are on the way to Mexico."😄👍

Busy Summer

 A big family of Mallard.  

"I have to make sure they become independent soon😀😀."

High above, I saw a small flock of American White Pelicans passing by.

"We are on the way to a feeding spot💨💨."

Purple Martins always come back to the wetland.  There are many boxes available for them.

"I think this is my nest box💑😍."

The Wetland Scene

The weather is still warm during the day.  When we stopped over at the wetland, a Rock Pigeon was on the wooden bridge.  It seemed that he/she is used to see people around and let me take his/her photos as I walked by.

"I am not afraid of people.  They are my friends here."

Red-winged Blackbirds are still abundant here.  

"We don't move till the weather gets very cold here."

American White Pelicans were still here, but I know they can take off any day now.

"We will be heading to the south pretty soon."

On a Short Trip

A week ago, we made a short trip to Sauvie Island in Northern Oregon.  Since the airport is near, we often saw an airplane instead of a real bird.  They were a Delta Airlines, an Alaska Airlines, and a Southwest Airlines.  The Southwest was bright and clear against the sky.

The first day, we saw a dozen American White Pelicans, flying together with a couple of Sandhill Cranes far away.

"The summer is back today."

We spent a night at a nearby town and returned to the refuge in the morning for the better bird watching.  Soon, a couple of the Pelicans flew right over us.  First they were too close to have a clear photo.  So I adjusted the lens length for a better photo.

"We are in the Wildlife Refuge, so we are safe here."

Fall is Here.

The temperature this summer was very strange:  it went up to the extreme of 116 F and now  it  is already cold (44 F on my patio) in the morning.    Global warming is leading to this extreme fluctuation.

At the nearby wetland, a family of Lesser Goldfinches were flying around here and there.   They will pretty soon move back to a backyard.

"It is getting cold here in the morning, Mom."

The water level was low, so one Lesser Yellowlegs was strolling for food.

"All my friends are elsewhere.  I may be able to find a fish easily."

One American White Pelican was floating in the water by himself.  Maybe more of his friends are to arrive pretty soon.  They will eventually go down to the south for winter.

"I have to rest for a while before a long distance travel."

Migration

This season we made a frequent trip to the nearby reservoirs due to less winter rain and warmer temperature.   Soon it will be the migration time for birds.

American White Pelicans:  "We know.  We are getting ready."

Trumpeter Swans:   "We do, too.  Right now many of us are here 

to take a short rest before going up north."

Tree Swallow:  "Hi, I have already arrived from south to nest 

as last year.  The nest boxes for us are very handy."

Autumn Wetland

Before the autumn rainy season, we visited the wetland.  The fall sky was filled with honking Canada Geese landing onto the reservoir.  How many are they?  In the hundreds.

"We are a thousand, maybe."

In the midst of the noisy honking, others joined.

"We are American White Pelicans.  Fun to join the geese."

"Riding the warm air, we will hover up, up,  high."

Right before the Trip

A week ago,  I saw many American White Pelicans feeding at the wetland nearby.

That day it was foggy in the early morning.

"I found one."

Just swallowed."

"Now the fog is lifting.  A warm sun is visible.  We will leave

 soon before the cold rain arrives here."

The End of Summer

Last time when I was at the wetland, I saw a flock of American White Pelicans.  They stay here for a while in the beginning of Autumn.

I was very happy to find Common Yellowthroat still here.  They will get ready soon to travel back to south.

"Hi, I am a young male Common Yellowthroat.

 I will be leaving for my winter home soon."

Rufous Hummingbirds are now heading back to south.  I see different ones every week in my backyard.

"Every summer I stop over at your 

place.   The hotlips are my favorite nectar."

On a Clear Day

After the smoky, hazy days of forest fires, we finally saw a beautiful sunrise.

We made a trip to the wetland nearby.  We saw regular residents, ducks and a Great Blue Heron busily hunting for fish.

Then we saw a flock of American White Pelicans floating at the corner of a reservoir.  As I walked around the reservoir, they suddenly took off to the other end of the wetland, flying right over me.

"Ta, ta... we are off to the other end of the lake."

"Have a nice photo shoot!"

Reservoir Visit

Close to the end of summer, many wildflowers are still in bloom at the wetland.

Across a pond, there was a large flock of white birds still in their slumber.  They turned out to be American White Pelicans.

As I walked along the pond, I spotted a bird on top of a wooden pole.  Guess who?  He was a Belted Kingfisher which I've been waiting to see for a long time.

"I am checking on the water down below."

A Big White

The day when we returned to Oregon, we made a stop at a picnic/boat launching area on the Columbia River.  We had a quick lunch and I looked around for birds in flight.  Then there came a big white bird flying toward me without fear.

Who is that?

"I am an American White Pelican.  In summer, we visit

 northern states, while in winter I stay in California, Texas, and/or Mexico."

"We are different from other pelicans who dive for food;

 instead, we dip our bills into the water while swimming."

As we sped home, we saw a beautiful Mt. Hood.  Nice to be back.

On their Way to the South: Pacific Flyway Zone #2

Now the autumn colors surround my neighborhood.  The maple tree is filled with yellow, red and the remaining green.   Pretty soon, it will be all yellow and red.

The other day at the nearby wetlands, we also saw a flock of American White Pelicans.  One of my bird books tells me that the pelicans do not dive to get food like other waterfowls, but dip their bills into the water like netting to catch a fish.  During the cold months, they migrate to warmer regions such as California, Mexico, etc.

"Today is wonderful with the warm sun and calm sky.  

We need to rest up before taking off."