Oregon 2004
White-headed Woodpecker: Ponderosa Pine stands are home to this relatively uncommon species, but in Sherman Camp OR, it’s a campground bird! The photo is of a female, pecking away at a Trembling Aspen snag right beside our camper. In my opinion, the calls are distinctive. However they can be somewhat difficult to locate, especially when they are high in conifers. The sound of small bark chips falling as they are feeding can be a give away. We saw several individuals during our stay.
Canada Goose: Hundreds upon hundreds of Canada Geese hang out in the Metolius River Valley. The breeders occupy islands in the fast-flowing stream.
Common Merganser: A nesting pair. They also share islands along the Metolius River with Canada Geese.
Tree Swallow: This one was photographed at the Metolius River Hatchery near Camp Sherman OR.
American Dipper: The Metolius River and its tributaries flow year-round at a relatively constant temperature. Does this explain the high population of American Dippers? This one was photographed at the outlet to Lake Creek, near Suttle Lake OR.
Barrow’s Goldeneye: A pair at Suttle Lake OR. Barrow’s Goldeneyes are common on lakes throughout the interior of NW USA and British Columbia.
Rufous Hummingbird: Photographed April 22 2004 at Black Butte Resort. The hummers were nest building at the time. They were using “fluff” from Trembling Aspen Flowers, visible in the photo on the branch just to the left of the bird.
We returned to Canada by heading north on US 97 and BC 97. This is the old gold rush route from the states north to the Chilcotin Country. We diverted to The Salmon Lake Resort on the Douglas Lake Ranch, south of Merritt BC where we stayed from May 09 to 21. There, we feasted almost every day on fresh-caught Kamloops trout. Our daughter Joanne and her friend Perry Callis spent the Victoria Day Weekend there with us, then we headed west to Chilliwack to visit Son David, Traci and granddaughter Maia, thence to Sooke.
Northern Flicker: On our arrival at Salmon Lake, this woodpecker hole was occupied by a pair of Red-naped Sapsuckers. Within a week they were displaced by a pair of Northern Flickers. Shown is a female of the Red-shafted variety.