Chad's 2013 Photo Highlights

[photographmemories]

A look back at some of my favorite shots from 2013. These are in no particular order, I'm going to mix it up to keep it fun!

The Holiday Express, taken in mid December. I used this image for my Christmas cards. I found it interesting, when I did a Flickr search I didn't see any photos taken from this vantage point.

Nothing all that ground breaking here but, I feel that these are two solid shots of a freezing Multnomah Falls...

Here's a first. The first reported Harris's Sparrow in Multnomah County's history. I read the report and went to search for a needle in the haystack and found it!

I saw one of my favorite rock bands this summer. Here's Blue Oyster Cult bringing even more cowbell to Ridgefield Washington!

 

[JLMCPICS]

Nice work Chad! I love the train shot. I bet it made a great christmss card.

 

[JaniceL]

You had a great 2013. Can't wait to see what 2014 brings.

 

[photographmemories]

Thank you, Jan & JaniceL.

Jan, you said it, the card is such a hit! It truly is one of my most popular images.

 

[photographmemories]

I'm going to mix it up to keep it fun!

Here's some more.

This one was taken at the Portland Japanese Garden

A scene from a recent autumn morning stroll at Laurelhurst Park in Portland

Canada Goose with fall colors reflecting on the water at Scott Park in Milwaukie, Oregon

Black Phoebe at the Tualatin River Wildlife Refuge

Another memorable one. I was at the TRNWR one night during the spring, photographing everything. I had been there for a couple of hours and dusk had started to set in and I was heading back to the parking area when all of the sudden out of no where, way off in the distance and moving in closer, here comes mute swan! Wow! I really don't expect to see Mute Swans there again anytime soon, but what a moment!

Here's another unforgettable one; on two consecutive occasions during the springtime I saw a mandarin duck in the creek at Tryon Creek State Park.

The question that I have, is that a female Mandarin duck with the male or is it a female wood duck ??? Wood and Mandarin females look very similar. I'm leaning towards a Female Mandarin because of a longer, skinnier neck and the darker area on the beak. This one is probably the best shot that I have of the female. These birds are very skid-dish and have no interest in having their pictures taken. All of my shots of the Mandarin(s) were taken from quite a ways away.

 

[photographmemories]

I'm rounding off my 'Best of 2013 List' with owls.

Living in the Pacific Northwest, I have spent nearly most of my field time focusing on owls. Owls are considered as a nocturnal bird, sleeping during the day and failing to be detected by predators, they use the cloak of camouflaged feathers.

The owls that I have photographed are all-business and if you show respect for wildlife, they acknowledge you by looking straight in the eyes. If you have a camera they may let you take a picture.

Barred owls are nocturnal but nesting season is a different story. Adults hunt around the clock, they provide food for the nest, while eating prey for continuous energy in their endeavor.

The Owlets

What's Next?

There are daytime owls. This was the first Pygmy owl that I photographed

By the middle of January Great Horned Owls are courting. If you have a line on Great Horned owls in your neighborhood, backyard or local park and you have the energy, look up and listen around dusk, you can see and hear them.

There were two Great Horned owlets in the nest at Tryon Creek State Park in Oregon last year. This particular nest was nearly 100 feet up in a tree. The tree was probably a couple hundred feet off trail and growing up from a ravine. I was there this past week and the nest looks pretty well vacant and matted down. I'm thinking that they may be use a different nesting site this year.

This photo was taken during the last week of March

Although not the first time seeing a Western Screech Owl, this was my first time seeing one totally awake. I took these photos in November at Oaks Bottom Preserve in Sellwood, OR.

 

[JDueckPhoto]

The colors in the mandarin shots are great and the freezing falls pics are good as well. Nicely done.

 

[photographmemories]

Thank you Jeremy.

I like the dimensional aspect that takes place in the falls pics.