Chasing a Dickcissel
Last week my friend Sarah and I took a risk to chase a rare (to Oregon) bird called a Dickcissel. Chasing birds is inherently risky, they can fly, they can hide, they can be eaten, but this bird has an added element of risk. It is currently hanging around the Philomath Sewage Ponds (aka Philomath…
Shorebirds!
That is genuine enthusiasm. Not excited? Here’s an adorable Semipalmated Plover to ease some of the discomfort. Fall migration is happening and I am facing it head on. Because I went to Smith and Bybee Lakes and totally failed at identifying birds. I forgot how hard it is. There’s hundreds of shorebirds there, and I had…
Eider to Gyrfalcon in a Day
Last week Jen invited me on a mid-week coast trip to chase rarities. I was thrilled to skip work for a day-trip with the potential for an Eider-Brambling-Costa’s-Thrasher combo. We left at 4am, but that was fine because we took naps in the car while Ralph did most of the driving. Good boy, Ralph. Along…