Okay, here is what's been going on lately...


Mrs. Evening Grosbeak


A ruffed grouse seen while cruising along a random Forest Service road near Carson, WA.


Baby osprey in its nest on highway 14


Osprey mama in the fading light




Ah, the California quail. Some of my favorites to watch scooting across the road.




Mr. and Mrs.


A handsome fella.


Cliff swallow nests under Tucker bridge on the Hood River! An exciting discovery while kayaking, requiring a return trip the next morning to get some pics.












A lovely western tanager at Tualatin Hills Nature Park in Portland. Welcome back, tanagers! I have been waiting for you!


Song sparrow


Cooper's hawk at Tualatin hills- it is really dark in that forest so good pics are hard to come by. I am pretty sure this a cooper's and not a sharp shinned hawk based on his rounded tail feathers with a thicker white border... but I could be wrong...


Black headed grosbeak in the yard- a new visitor!


The stellar's jays have been duking it out with the scrub jays for the suet lately. Yes, I know there are twigs in the way.


The lovely dogwood tree is in bloom.

Here are a few updates from around the yard... things are getting pretty green here, but I am still waiting for consistently sunny, warm days!

There were a bunch of white crowned sparrows hanging around, but I haven't seen them for several days. Maybe they moved on already.






The nashville warbler has stayed though, a welcome guest:



I know it's blurry, but I like the abstract quality



getting the stink-eye from a ruby crowned kinglet



I haven't seen the chickadees in their box since this was taken a week ago, I hope they didn't pick a different nest site...

In other exciting bird-related news: a pair of harlequin ducks are cruising around the local rivers- I saw them last on the lower Hood River, and they were spotted again on the White Salmon. Also, the western tanagers are here! Welcome back! Pics of them to come in the next post (my camera battery is charging)...