New Year, new year bird list.
-
Swallow season has arrived in western Oregon, and to me at least, it has come all at once. I usually see Trees at least a little before VGs, but today they both put on a show at Willamette Park and showed me all their butts and faces, so I could see the difference. Welcome to spring.
61) Tree Swallow
62) Violet-green SwallowSpring continues its approach, and the migration is speeding up. Today, at Ankeny Hill refuge, I spotted my first migrating hummingbird of the year, a great look at a male rufous. After a long flight on such tiny wings, I hope you have a good summer, little one.
63) Rufous Hummingbird
#BirdsOf2026 #oregon -
Spring continues its approach, and the migration is speeding up. Today, at Ankeny Hill refuge, I spotted my first migrating hummingbird of the year, a great look at a male rufous. After a long flight on such tiny wings, I hope you have a good summer, little one.
63) Rufous Hummingbird
#BirdsOf2026 #oregonI spend most of my time watching birds in parks and wilder land, and that means I sometimes miss the ones that hang out in human spaces. These days, you're more likely to see these dudes in a big box store parking lot than their native wetlands and grasslands, but I'm glad I saw them on the farm, in the grass where they belong.
64) Brewer's Blackbird
#BirdsOf2026 -
I spend most of my time watching birds in parks and wilder land, and that means I sometimes miss the ones that hang out in human spaces. These days, you're more likely to see these dudes in a big box store parking lot than their native wetlands and grasslands, but I'm glad I saw them on the farm, in the grass where they belong.
64) Brewer's Blackbird
#BirdsOf2026This was my first real trip to the coast this year, where I could actually sit and watch birds, and it was spectacular. Seaducks for days. The harleys in particular are a bird I don't see every year and haven't in the last few. Add in my first pelicans of the year and a lovely close look at a male crossbill, and it was all such a treat.
65) Western Gull
66) Harlequin Duck
67) Black Oystercatcher
68) Surf Scoter
69) Red Crossbill
70) Black Scoter
71) Brown Pelican -
This was my first real trip to the coast this year, where I could actually sit and watch birds, and it was spectacular. Seaducks for days. The harleys in particular are a bird I don't see every year and haven't in the last few. Add in my first pelicans of the year and a lovely close look at a male crossbill, and it was all such a treat.
65) Western Gull
66) Harlequin Duck
67) Black Oystercatcher
68) Surf Scoter
69) Red Crossbill
70) Black Scoter
71) Brown PelicanSpring continues to arrive, one migrant bird at a time. I had a fabulous half-hour walk at Jackson-Frazier Wetland, with 18 species and 2 new for the year. Oregonians, get out every day you can. Literally see it before it burns, because the summer is going to be rough.
72) Barn Swallow
73) Orange-crowned Warbler
#BirdsOf2026 -
Spring continues to arrive, one migrant bird at a time. I had a fabulous half-hour walk at Jackson-Frazier Wetland, with 18 species and 2 new for the year. Oregonians, get out every day you can. Literally see it before it burns, because the summer is going to be rough.
72) Barn Swallow
73) Orange-crowned Warbler
#BirdsOf2026@ianrosewrites
I am definitely enjoying and appreciating the blue, clean skies while they last. 🫤 -
Spring continues to arrive, one migrant bird at a time. I had a fabulous half-hour walk at Jackson-Frazier Wetland, with 18 species and 2 new for the year. Oregonians, get out every day you can. Literally see it before it burns, because the summer is going to be rough.
72) Barn Swallow
73) Orange-crowned Warbler
#BirdsOf2026Two more spring arrivals, and more importantly, two great moments with both of these birds along the Willamette River today. It's also nice to hit 75, the second earliest in my 9 eBird years that I've reached that number. I'm a slow and careful lister, who only marks birds I am very sure of, so every one is a fairly close, unique experience.
74) Greater Yellowlegs
75) Osprey -
Two more spring arrivals, and more importantly, two great moments with both of these birds along the Willamette River today. It's also nice to hit 75, the second earliest in my 9 eBird years that I've reached that number. I'm a slow and careful lister, who only marks birds I am very sure of, so every one is a fairly close, unique experience.
74) Greater Yellowlegs
75) OspreyVery finchy out today on my short walk, just after the rain cleared. Lots of little guys flitting here and there, but I did see my first definitive breeding season goldfinches of the year. Spring keeps springing.
76) American Goldfinch
#BirdsOf2026 -
Very finchy out today on my short walk, just after the rain cleared. Lots of little guys flitting here and there, but I did see my first definitive breeding season goldfinches of the year. Spring keeps springing.
76) American Goldfinch
#BirdsOf2026It remains very finchy out. A day after I got one common goldfinch species confirmed, I get the other. There are also purples about, but I want to get an actual look before I count them.
77) Lesser Goldfinch
#BirdsOf2026 -
It remains very finchy out. A day after I got one common goldfinch species confirmed, I get the other. There are also purples about, but I want to get an actual look before I count them.
77) Lesser Goldfinch
#BirdsOf2026Big day at Finley yesterday, my first full day of the year at our fantastic local wildlife refuge. It's a gem, as are so many of our public lands. Two big surprises on the day: I didn't think the pelicans were back for the season, and how HOW did I not have any coots yet? I could have sworn. But I have to trust the app and this thread. They say it's new, it's new.
78) American Wigeon
79) Ring-necked Duck
80) American Coot
81) American White Pelican
82) Hutton's Vireo
83) Marsh Wren
#BirdsOf2026 -
Big day at Finley yesterday, my first full day of the year at our fantastic local wildlife refuge. It's a gem, as are so many of our public lands. Two big surprises on the day: I didn't think the pelicans were back for the season, and how HOW did I not have any coots yet? I could have sworn. But I have to trust the app and this thread. They say it's new, it's new.
78) American Wigeon
79) Ring-necked Duck
80) American Coot
81) American White Pelican
82) Hutton's Vireo
83) Marsh Wren
#BirdsOf2026@ianrosewrites
Pelicans come to Finley National Wildlife Refuge?! Are they just flyovers or do they hang out there for a bit? -
@ianrosewrites
Pelicans come to Finley National Wildlife Refuge?! Are they just flyovers or do they hang out there for a bit?@scandigonian This is the earliest in the year I've seen them, and this time they were only flying over, but in the summer, you can pretty regularly find them on Cabell Marsh in the refuge. Glorious birds.
-
@scandigonian This is the earliest in the year I've seen them, and this time they were only flying over, but in the summer, you can pretty regularly find them on Cabell Marsh in the refuge. Glorious birds.
@ianrosewrites
They are. -
Big day at Finley yesterday, my first full day of the year at our fantastic local wildlife refuge. It's a gem, as are so many of our public lands. Two big surprises on the day: I didn't think the pelicans were back for the season, and how HOW did I not have any coots yet? I could have sworn. But I have to trust the app and this thread. They say it's new, it's new.
78) American Wigeon
79) Ring-necked Duck
80) American Coot
81) American White Pelican
82) Hutton's Vireo
83) Marsh Wren
#BirdsOf2026Farthest north I've gone on the coast this year (Haystack Rock) and sadly no puffins today. Fingers crossed for tomorrow. But I did see these beauties. But the real treat was the rock itself.
84) Common Murre
85) Pelagic Cormorant
#BirdsOf2026 #oregon
-
Farthest north I've gone on the coast this year (Haystack Rock) and sadly no puffins today. Fingers crossed for tomorrow. But I did see these beauties. But the real treat was the rock itself.
84) Common Murre
85) Pelagic Cormorant
#BirdsOf2026 #oregon@ianrosewrites I saw puffins in Port Orford yesterday -- you went the wrong direction!
-
Farthest north I've gone on the coast this year (Haystack Rock) and sadly no puffins today. Fingers crossed for tomorrow. But I did see these beauties. But the real treat was the rock itself.
84) Common Murre
85) Pelagic Cormorant
#BirdsOf2026 #oregon@ianrosewrites
Beautiful photo! -
Farthest north I've gone on the coast this year (Haystack Rock) and sadly no puffins today. Fingers crossed for tomorrow. But I did see these beauties. But the real treat was the rock itself.
84) Common Murre
85) Pelagic Cormorant
#BirdsOf2026 #oregonMorning was the puffin time. Alcid paradise at Haystack Rock this morning.
86) Tufted Puffin
87) Pigeon Guillemot
#BirdsOf2026 -
@ianrosewrites I saw puffins in Port Orford yesterday -- you went the wrong direction!
@sarae I just went at the wrong time. Great puffins this morning at Haystack!
-
@sarae I just went at the wrong time. Great puffins this morning at Haystack!
@ianrosewrites oh good!
-
Morning was the puffin time. Alcid paradise at Haystack Rock this morning.
86) Tufted Puffin
87) Pigeon Guillemot
#BirdsOf2026Another one that I really thought I'd already counted this year, but apparently not. Always happy to see these stripey boys with their trademark whistling calls and the most misleading name in all of birddom. An old coworker of mine once drew a comic of them flying straight through deer like arrows.
88) Killdeer
#BirdsOf2026 -
Another one that I really thought I'd already counted this year, but apparently not. Always happy to see these stripey boys with their trademark whistling calls and the most misleading name in all of birddom. An old coworker of mine once drew a comic of them flying straight through deer like arrows.
88) Killdeer
#BirdsOf2026I'm pretty sure I've heard them already, but got my first good look of the year at this classic American farm bird. Incidentally, when I started typing its name, my phone tried to autocorrect to "Brown-hearted" and I have questions.
89) Brown-headed Cowbird
#BirdsOf2026
