Winter Scene

 It has been cold and rainy.

Many Cackling Geese have arrived at the wetlands.

"We are a big family."☺️

In the morning sun, a Belted Kingfisher dived to catch a little fish.

"Wish me a luck."🙏

"We come back here every year."👍🪿

Winter Visitors

At the wetland nearby, more waterfowls have arrived.  Here are a Gadwal couple. 

"We are very happy in this little pond."👍

(These ponds have been dry thru the fall months.)

Here are a Green-winged Teal couple.

"We like this little pond, too."😉

Here are Northern Shovelers.

"The winter sky in Oregon is super."😁🪿👀

Mid Spring Scene

March weather is chageable.  On nice days we go to the wetland to see waterfowls and summer birds if they are around.

 Gadwall: "We are still here."

Green-winged Teal:  "We, too."

Northern Shoveler: "We take time here."

There are some birds who always stay here.

Trumpeter Swan:  "I am injured and always stay around 

here.  I have many friends, so there's no problem."

Busy Families

 At the wetland, there are many families at this time of the year.

Here comes a Mallard mom with kids.

"My kids are growing up, but they still need someone to watch out👀👀."

Northern Shovelers are here, too.

"My kids can swim pretty good now💨💨."

In the bush nearby, a family of American Goldfinches were also busy feeding the young ones.

"I am hungry.  Daddy, hurry up!😋😍"

Winter Scene at the Wetland

 Lately it rained often.   At the wetland, the flowers are gone, but Lesser Goldfinches still like to feed on the seeds.

"The seeds are wet, but they still taste good for me."

The winter time is the season for waterfowl.  A couple of Northern Shovelers arrived here.

"We always stay here during the cold months."

With a loud shrill, a Pileated Woodpecker appeared right in front of me so close that my camera could not focus in time.   

"I was so scared to see a human in front 

of me that I quickly climbed up the tree."

New Year Greeting from More Waterfowls

During the cold months,waterfowl gather here, swimming and eating in the reservoirs.

"Hi, we are cute Buffleheads (ducks)."

"Hi, we are Northern Shovelers.  Our beaks look like a shovel."

"I have to go, ta, ta..."

"I'd rather walk than swimming.  I am hiding my yellowlegs."

Winter at the Reservoir

Only the rosehips are abundant around the reservoir.  

No little birds, but a plenty of waterfowl.

"We are Northern Pintails."

"We are Northern Shovelers."

"I am Great Blue Heron."

No More Flood

At the nearby wetland, the flood has receded and we strolled around the reservoirs yesterday.  Quite a few people were enjoying the dry weather.   Some wild flowers are now in bloom.

Northern Shovelers were paddling away from me as I walked near.

"Watch out for people!  They are unpredictable."

Many Tree Swallows were busy building a nest nearby.

"Yesterday was very stormy with the tree
uprooting wind.  I'm glad it's over now."

Bird Friends at a Nearby Wetland

For a few months, we had not been to the wetland due to chilly weather.  But on Friday, the sky showed a little blue around noon and we decided to revisit there.

A muddy trail...  We had to walk on the weedy side to avoid the mud. 


Up in the sky, a lone Canada Goose was about to land nearby.

"I'm gonna land on my favorite spot right behind the new picnic area."

 

 

 

On a pond in front, a duck was shoveling weedy food out of the pond bottom.

 "Look at my bill.  Doesn't it look like a shovel?  Efficient digging is my trait.  That's why I am called a Northern Shoveler."


On the other side of the pond, other ducks are ready to take off.

"Run, run, run on the water.... F-A-S-T."

Staring motionless,  a matured Great Blue Heron was standing in the weeds at the edge of a pond for 30 minutes or even longer....

"I'm just looking and listening to whatever is going on around here, like an sentinel."