August on the Oregon Coast - Part 1, Cutler City

After a few weeks recovering from a shoulder sprain, I spent some time revisiting some favorite haunts to look at August activity.  I found that the fall migration seems to have already started, while young newly-fledged birds are also plentiful.  What a fun combination!

CUTLER CITY WETLANDS TRAILS, always fun, yielded some special birds.

Red-Shouldered Hawk

 A hawk dipped and swooped through the wooded branches, apparently chasing some AMERICAN ROBINS.  I was unsure of its identity, but after some help believe it was a juvenile RED-SHOULDERED HAWK.  Didn't get great pictures through the dappled shadows, but you can see it somewhat in this cropped, photo-shopped attempt.

 

A couple of YELLOWJACKET hives were a fun find, this very active one is attached to the side of a large tree.

Wilson's Warbler

WILSON'S WARBLERS still abound in all the areas I visited, including this noisy one that greeted me by the Wetland's Turtle Lake.

Bewick's Wren

We saw mixed flocks of BLACK-CAPPED and CHESTNUT-BACKED CHICKADEES.  While I was trying to get a photograph of some, this BEWICK'S WREN snuck up behind me.  Fortunately, my hubby saw him and we got a few photos.





Activity in some fir trees yielded this view of a GREAT BLUE HERON perched high in the branches.

Great Blue Heron

Swainson's Thrush

Some low activity in the bushes allowed us to spot and photograph a young SWAINSON'S THRUSH with unusual markings.

Steller's Jay

I was finally able to catch one of the many STELLER'S JAYS for a photograph.











Glad to be back birding and blogging! Stay tuned for more August Activity posts!