Month: July 2017

The worst part of going to places like Bear River is that it’s a let down when you go birding the next time. With a dental appointment in Vancouver, we made our traditional stop at Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge. Though it can be a great stop during Spring and Fall migration, it is as slow in the summer as the Puget Sound area.

Judging by this trip, it was even slower. The only bird I managed a shot of was this Great Blue Heron scratching itself.

With few birds in sight, I had to shift my focus to Painted Turtles

and Bullfrogs,

though I’ll have to admit I was actually excited over these sightings.

No use being a stick-in-the-mud because your vacation is over.

This is obviously a male Northern Shoveler,

but I’ve never seen one that looks like this before. Somebody, or something, has really managed to ruffle its feathers. The head lacks the green sheen I’d expect to see, particularly in such bright light. If it weren’t for the bill I might have had a hard time identifying it at all. I’m guessing this must be transitioning from its Eclipse Plumage to its breeding plumage.