Shorebirds at Fernhill Wetlands

Birding this time of year can get sorta tricky, what with the juveniles at various stages of development and late migrating birds and whatnot.  Throw shorebirds into the mix and then we really have a problem.  


A recent trip to Fernhill nearly had me running for the nearest exit, overwhelmed with so many similar looking shorbirds. Checking my book for current ranges wasn't going to solve this problem. In this strange sort of area, that is the Willamette Valley, where weather conditions vary, and the rules of the birds tend to bend quite a bit, makes it rather difficult, but I found that it IS common to see birds I wouldn't normally expect.


The main issue of the trip was the Dowitchers.  At first glance, I didn't know what to think.  A passerby said they were most likely Long-billed Dowitchers.  I had seen Short-billed there before, but questions still remained.  I hung around for a long period of time, taking pictures and did a full scale investigation when I got home.  (Oh yeah, and don't be fooled by the names "short-billed" and long-billed", there is only a slight difference in the length of only the female long-billed.)


Here's what I found.

At first glance, this Dowitcher could be anything, as far as I was concerned.

This is the same Dowitcher, notice the black and white tail feathers - more white than black.  Next, check out the breast - it's slightly rufous and fades to white.  These features indicate a Short-billed Dowitcher. (Another distinguishing difference between the two is their calls, which for me, is a lost cause.)  

On this one, the tail feathers are more black than white.  Think of it as a black feather with white stripes and the other as a white feather with black stripes.  Again, check out the breast.  In this case it's evenly rufous from neck to underbelly.  Lastly it has barring on the sides.  This one is a Long-Billed Dowitcher.

Here's a fun mix of shorebirds.  a = Short-Billed Dowitcher. b = Long-Billed Dowitcher. c = Least Sandpiper. d = Western Sandpiper.

I was really surprised to see a Red-Necked Phalarope there!

The only Red-Winged Blackbird I saw there.  A young, splotchy male. 

Young Great Blue Heron

We watched this Osprey dive into the water and catch a catfish! 

Quite a pleasant surprise on the way out of the wetland! :D 

The full list of birds we saw (my dad and I that is):

• Barn Swallows
• Great Blue Herons
• Western Sandpipers
• Least Sandpipers*
• Mallards - females only (Lately I've only been seeing females, but today on the way up the hill to my family's house in Scappoose, I saw 2 male Mallards standing near the road. Also weird because I've never seen any sort of water fowl around there!)
• Canada Geese
• Eurasian Collared Dove
• Killdeer
• Brewer's Blackbirds
• Brown-Headed Cowbirds
• Red-Necked Phalarope
• Osprey
• Tree Swallows
• Red-Winged Blackbird - young male
• Song Sparrows
• American Goldfinches
• Cedar Waxwings
• Green Heron
• Short-Billed Dowitchers
• Long-Billed Dowitchers*
• American Robins
• Bald Eagle
• Norther Harrier

*Lifers!

7.16.12