Tualatin National Wildlife Refuge

May 26, 2014 • 1 Comment

Jill and I enjoyed spending a few leisurely hours today at TNWR. Most of which we spent sitting on the southern-most dike watching the activity in and around the marsh beneath the Bald Eagle nest. The lone eagle chick did not spend much time perched up and/or working its wings so we're thinking it won't fledge for another week or two. But please don't rely on my uninformed estimate if you would like to watch the chick fledge; you'll be in much better hands if you call the refuge headquarters and ask for their opinion.

The lack of abundance of passerines, today, was astonishing - we would have never thought waterfowl and a few aggressive Red-winged Black Birds would be the highlight of our day. Perhaps the most surprising find for us was the lone male Ring-necked Duck that was hanging out below the river overlook at the end of our walk.

Eagle nestling waiting for its next meal to arrive :-)

Cinnamon Teal (male) on a flyby:

I first Identified the bird below as Northern Rough-winged Swallow, and in spite of the many comments I've received in support of that ID - I think Bob Archer has most likely correctly identified the bird pictured below as a juvenile Tree Swallow. While it is difficult to make out in the photo below, this bird does present a sharp line of demarcation between its throat and face which is strongly indicative of a juvenile Tree Swallow.

Immature Cooper's Hawk stalking a nearby willow-patch:

. . . and then being driven off by a Red-winged Black Bird:

A Gadwall (showing-off):

A pair of Cinnamon Teal getting comfortable:

Killdeer:

Mallard:

Cinnamon Teal displaying its discomfort with the arrival of another pair:

Bald Eagle being chased by a Red-winged Black Bird while returning to the nest with a meal for junior.

One of just two Cedar Waxwing - we normally find them in flocks of twenty or more:

Mourning Dove:

Ring-necked Duck:

Keywords: Bald Eagle, Cooper's Hawk, Gadwall, Northern Rough-winged Swallow, Ring-necked Duck

Comments

Chris Sanborn(non-registered)

As always, Jack, wonderful photos & enjoyable narrative. Love the bald eagle shots -- esp. that fly-in to the nest. I guess I'd have expected an eagle would rather make a meal out of a blackbird, but perhaps because it already had something for its eaglet, it put up with the annoyance? The Cooper's is like the RT and RS hawks around here with the crows -- indifferent. Thanks again for the show!

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Tualatin National Wildlife Refuge

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