Last year we did something different and split our 2023 wildlife gallery into two posts, one feathered and one featherless. As with all our wildflower and wildlife posts any corrections or additions to our attempts at identifying what we’ve photographed is greatly appreciated. One last note, while we really enjoy taking pictures as a way to record what we see on our hikes, we are by no means photographers. We use our phones and a point and shoot camera on the auto setting, so the pictures are far from professional, but we hope you enjoy them. We also practice Leave No Trace Principles including Principle 6: Respect Wildlife which means observing from a distance, never feeding, and respecting any area wildlife closures.
For this year’s gallery the photos will be in date order, because why not?
Hermit thrush – 2/11/23, Council Crest Park, Portland
Pied billed grebe – 3/19/23, Minto-Brown Island Park, Salem
Ring-necked duck – 3/25/23, Minto-Brown Island Park, Salem
Bufflehead – 3/25/23, Minto-Brown Island Park, Salem
Sparrow – 3/25/23, Minto-Brown Island Park, Salem
Lesser goldfinch – 4/8/23, Minto-Brown Island Park, Salem
Ruby-crowned kinglet? – 4/8/23, Minto-Brown Island Park, Salem
Egret – 4/8/23, Minto-Brown Island Park, Salem
Marsh wren – 4/13/23, Baskett Slough National Wildlife Refuge, Rickreall
Geese, I believe both cackling and Canada – 4/13/23, Baskett Slough National Wildlife Refuge, Rickreall
California quail – 4/13/23, Baskett Slough National Wildlife Refuge, Rickreall
Northern shoveler – 4/13/23, Baskett Slough National Wildlife Refuge, Rickreall
Western meadowlark (Oregon’s state bird) – 4/13/23, Baskett Slough National Wildlife Refuge, Rickreall
Red-winged blackbird – 4/13/23, Baskett Slough National Wildlife Refuge, Rickreall
Ruddy duck – 4/13/23, Baskett Slough National Wildlife Refuge, Rickreall
Savannah sparrow – 4/13/23, Baskett Slough National Wildlife Refuge, Rickreall
Gold-crowned sparrow – 4/14/23, Minto-Brown Island Park, Salem
Red-breasted sapsuckers – 4/14/23, Minto-Brown Island Park, Salem
Hummingbird (Rufous?) – 4/14/23, Minto-Brown Island Park, Salem
Orange-crowned warbler – 4/14/23, Minto-Brown Island Park, Salem
Dark-eyed junco – 4/14/23, Minto-Brown Island Park, Salem
Northern flicker – 4/14/23, Minto-Brown Island Park, Salem
Turkey vulture – 4/14/23, Minto-Brown Island Park, Salem
Warbler? – 4/22/23, Dave Clark Riverfront Path, Albany
Osprey – 4/22/23, Dave Clark Riverfront Path, Albany
Cormorant – 4/22/23, Dave Clark Riverfront Path, Albany
Red-winged blackbird (female) – 4/22/23, Talking Water Gardens, Albany
Green-winged teal – 4/22/23, Talking Water Gardens, Albany
Yellow-rumped warbler (Audubon’s) – 4/22/23, Talking Water Gardens, Albany
Black phoebe – 4/22/23, Talking Water Gardens, Albany
Acorn woodpecker – 4/22/23, Talking Water Gardens, Albany
Hawk – 4/22/23, Talking Water Gardens, Albany
Mallards – 4/22/23, Talking Water Gardens, Albany
Chickadee (chestnut-backed?) – 4/22/23, Talking Water Gardens, Albany
Nashville warbler – 4/29/23, Canemah Bluff Nature Park, Oregon City
Bewick’s wren – 4/29/23, Canemah Bluff Nature Park, Oregon City
House finches – 4/29/23, Canemah Bluff Nature Park, Oregon City
Spotted towhee – 4/29/23 Newell Creek Canyon Nature Park, Oregon City
Common mergansers – 5/1/23, Rogue River National Recreation Trail, BLM Medford District
Bullock’s oriole – 5/1/23, Rogue River National Recreation Trail, BLM Medford District
American robin – 5/1/23, Rogue River National Recreation Trail, BLM Medford District
Greater yellowlegs – 5/13/23, Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge, Sherwood
Mourning dove – 5/13/23, Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge, Sherwood
Gadwall – 5/13/23, Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge, Sherwood
Killdeer – 5/13/23, Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge, Sherwood
Cinnamon teal – 5/13/23, Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge, Sherwood
Anna’s hummingbird – 5/13/23, Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge, Sherwood
American kestral – 5/13/23, Graham Oaks Nature Park, Wilsonville
European starling – 5/13/23, Graham Oaks Nature Park, Wilsonville
Wood duck – 5/23/23, Stigerwald Lake National Wildlife Refuge, Washougal, WA
Belted kingfisher – 5/23/23, Stigerwald Lake National Wildlife Refuge, Washougal, WA
American goldfinch – 5/23/23, Stigerwald Lake National Wildlife Refuge, Washougal, WA
Spotted sandpiper – 5/23/23, Stigerwald Lake National Wildlife Refuge, Washougal, WA
Purple martin – 5/23/23, Stigerwald Lake National Wildlife Refuge, Washougal, WA
Common yellowthroat – 5/23/23, Stigerwald Lake National Wildlife Refuge, Washougal, WA
American bittern – 5/23/23, Stigerwald Lake National Wildlife Refuge, Washougal, WA
Lark sparrow – 5/28/23, Criterion Tract, BLM Prineville District
Horned lark – 5/28/23, Criterion Tract, BLM Prineville District
Mountain bluebird – 5/28/23, Criterion Tract, BLM Prineville District
Black-headed grosbeak – 5/29/23, Riley Ranch Preserve, Bend
Lewis’s woodpecker – 5/29/23, Tumalo State Park, Bend
Magpie – 5/29/23, Tumalo State Park, Bend
Black-headed cowbird – 5/29/23, Tumalo State Park, Bend
Tree swallow – 5/29/23, Tumalo State Park, Bend
Pygmy nuthatch? – 5/29/23, Tumalo State Park, Bend
Lazuli bunting – 6/3/23, Conboy Lake National Wildlife Refuge, Trout Lake, WA
Yellow warbler – 6/3/23, Conboy Lake National Wildlife Refuge, Trout Lake, WA
Western bluebird – 6/3/23, Conboy Lake National Wildlife Refuge, Trout Lake, WA
Sandhill cranes – 6/3/23, Conboy Lake National Wildlife Refuge, Trout Lake, WA
Warbling vireo – 6/3/23, Conboy Lake National Wildlife Refuge, Trout Lake, WA
Raven – 6/11/23, Lewis & Clark Trail, Hermiston
Eastern kingbird – 6/11/23, Lewis & Clark Trail, Hermiston
Caspian tern – 6/11/23, Lewis & Clark Trail, Hermiston
Geese – 6/11/23, Hat Rock State Park, Hermiston
Cliff swallows – 6/14/23, Imnaha Trail, Hells Canyon National Recreation Area
Hawk – 6/14/23, Imnaha Trail, Hells Canyon National Recreation Area
Common nighthawk – 6/15/23, Hells Canyon National Recreation Area, Wallowa-Whitman National Forest
Chipping sparrow – 6/15/23, Hells Canyon National Recreation Area, Wallowa-Whitman National Forest
Cassin’s finch – 6/15/23, Hells Canyon National Recreation Area, Wallowa-Whitman National Forest
Western wood pee-wee – 6/15/23, Hells Canyon National Recreation Area, Wallowa-Whitman National Forest
Western tanager – 6/15/23, Hells Canyon National Recreation Area, Wallowa-Whitman National Forest
Red-eyed vireo – 6/16/23, Trail 1890, Hells Canyon Wilderness
Bushtit – 6/24/23, Rogue River National Recreation Trail, Wild Rogue Wilderness
Macgillivray’s warbler? – 6/25/23, North Umpqua Trail, BLM Roseburg District
Woodpecker – 6/25/23, North Umpqua Trail, BLM Roseburg District
Hawk – 6/25/23, North Bank Habitat, BLM Roseburg District
White-crowned sparrow – 7/1/23, Boundary Trail, Mt. St. Helens National Volcanic Monument
Cedar waxwings – 7/1/23, Boundary Trail, Mt. St. Helens National Volcanic Monument
Ouzel – 7/22/23, Metolius River Trail, Deschutes National Forest
Sooty grouse – 7/22/23, Metolius River Trail, Deschutes National Forest
Canada jay – 8/5/23, Timberline Trail, Mt. Hood Wilderness
Wilson’s warbler? – 8/29/23, Nestucca Bay National Wildlife Refuge, Cloverdale
Clark’s nutcrakcer – 9/2/23, Dry River Canyon, BLM Prineville District
Great horned owl – 9/3/23, P Ranch, Malheur National Wildlife Refuge
Western grebe – 9/3/23, Krumbo Reservoir, Malheur National Wildlife Refuge
Unidentified bird – 9/3/23, Krumbo Reservoir, Malheur National Wildlife Refuge
White-faced ibis – 9/3/23, Cental Patrol Road, Malheur National Wildlife Refuge
Ring-necked pheasant – 9/3/23, Central Patrol Road, Malheur National Wildlife Refuge
Townsends solitaire – 9/4/23 Fryrear Canyon, BLM Prineville District
Rock wren? – 9/4/23 Fryrear Canyon, BLM Prineville District
Mountain chickadee – 9/4/23 Fryrear Canyon, BLM Prineville District
Black-backed woodpecker – 9/9/23, Pacific Crest Trail, Sky Lakes Wilderness
American pipit – 9/9/23, Devil’s Peak, Sky Lakes Wilderness
Golden eye – 9/16/23, Fish Lake, Mt. Hood National Forest
White-breasted nuthatch – 9/16/23, Fish Lake Trail, Mt. Hood National Forest
Stellar’s jay – 9/30/23, Big Creek Park, Newport
Red-tailed hawk – 9/30/23, Strom Boulder Ridge, Burnt Woods
Varied thrush – 10/9/23, Babyfoot Lake Trail, Kalmiopsis Wilderness
Seagull – 10/28/23, Oceanside Beach, Oceanside
Great blue heron – 10/28/23, Oceanside Beach, Oceanside
Red-throated loon – 10/28/23, Pacific Ocean, Oceanside
Bald eagle – 10/28/23, Tillamook Wetlands, Tillamook
Hawk – 10/28/23, Tillamook Wetlands, Tillamook
Hooded merganser – 11/18/23, D River, Lincoln City
Crows – 11/18/23, Siletz Bay, Lincoln City
Brown pelicans – 11/18/23, Siletz Bay, Lincoln City
