Searching the Hood River Spit…

…for birds!  A sunny summer Sunday in the Gorge ~ perfect for the monthly excursion of Bird Nerds as we’ve dubbed ourselves.  Forgive the quality of some photos, I forgot to double-check my camera settings again….

An abundance of Gulls at the Spit today, including Bonaparte’s sunned, swam and preened as we scoped.

John was the first to notice a group of female Northern Shovelers swimming just off shore.

A Great Blue Heron always attracts my attention.

A couple of Caspian Terns joined the group of Gulls.

Then they flew off to join another group.

Speaking of flight, a group of little shorebirds teased us all morning, flying back and forth across the Spit but never landing where we could view them.

Dense vegetation grows on the west side of the Spit, perfect for this Western Kingbird…

…and Bewick’s Wren.

Several sparrows searched for breakfast among the brush and shrubs growing all over the rock and sandy beach.  I still have a hard time deciphering Sparrows, but was informed this is a juvenile White-crowned Sparrow.

And of course, the Great Unknown….I was too slow to catch him, but maybe a warbler?

Of all birds I didn’t expect to see a Downey Woodpecker here!

Another White-crowned Sparrow, perhaps a sibling of the one above.

As we left, an Osprey flew directly overhead, making me wish I could stay a little longer….There were many more birds, I’ll edit this post when I receive the official list.

If you’d like to join us for an outing (usually in the Columbia River Gorge), we meet once a month with an extra outing here & there.  Send me an email for information, linda at steiderstudios dot com.

Welcoming me home ~ a Blue Grouse resting near my blueberry bushes.  Love where I live!