Dec. 3, 2017 - Oregon - Water Birds

Here is another set of bird photos from our trip to Oregon in October. This is a Western Grebe. At 25 inches long, it is the largest North American grebe species. This photo was taken at Bullard’s Beach near Bandon, Oregon.

GrebeWesternBullard'sBeachBandon20171009

This Common Loon was seen at the South Jetty in Bandon, Oregon. In Minnesota, we have the largest population of breeding pairs of Common Loons in the lower 48 states. But we are used to seeing them in their intricate black and white breeding plumage. So, when we see one like this, in its much duller non-breeding plumage, we do a double take.

LoonCommonSouthJettyBandon20171013

Sanderlings are small (8 inch) shorebirds. They are the ones that look like little wind-up toys as they chase the waves breaking along the shoreline. This one caught something that will make a nice meal.

SanderlingwithfoodSevenDevilsStatePark20171016

Two kinds of small sandpipers are common along the Oregon coast. On the left is a Western Sandpiper which is 6½ inches long. It has a mostly clear chest and neck and black legs. On the right is a Least Sandpiper (6 inches long) which has a brownish chest and yellow/green legs. In this photo, I think the size difference between the birds is exaggerated because the bird on the left is closer to the camera.

SandpiperLeastandWesternBullard'sBeachBandon20171009

Here’s a better look at a Least Sandpiper.

SandpiperLeastBandoncoastline20171017

Surf Scoters nest in the far northern areas of Canada but they migrate to the West Coast for the winter. This photo was taken at the Marina in Charleston, Oregon.

ScoterSurfMarinaCharlston20171014

Here is a photo of a pair of American Wigeon (female in front, male in back). They were part of a flock that was wintering in the South Jetty bay in Bandon.

WigeonAmericanmaleandfemaleSouthJettyBandon20171016