Nature Photographer and Music Producer
Posts about birds in the Northwest that includes pictures and descriptions. Photos are by Jonathan Swanson
Some of my most popular Bald Eagle Photos....
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Perched like a living sentinel above the glassy surface of the pond, the young bald eagle looked at once tentative and regal. Oaks Bottom Wildlife Refuge — an unexpected pocket
Continue readingThe Eagles of Oaks Bottom
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The morning I found myself beside the water, camera in hand, I expected the usual solitary moments — a single heron standing like a statue, a kingfisher’s brief flash of
Continue readingA Quiet Lesson from the Water: When Birds Teach Us to Live Together
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In Oaks Bottom I had that rare, clear quality that makes the city seem to exhale: a low, golden sun, a thin, crisp air, and the marsh grasses catching light
Continue readingA Winter Wildlife Spectacal in OaksBottom
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There are mornings that remind you why you carry a camera. My recent walk into Oaks Bottom Wildlife Refuge turned into one of those days: a red-tailed hawk quartering the
Continue readingA Perfect Afternoon at Oaks Bottom: Hawks, Otters, and Herons in Flight
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Today I had a thrilling first: I photographed a Merlin (Falco columbarius) while walking through Oaks Bottom Wildlife Refuge. I’ve been coming here for about 12 years and this was
Continue readingMy First Merlin — A Surprise Sighting at Oaks Bottom Wildlife Refuge
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I spent my birthday exactly where I wanted to be—at Oaks Bottom Wildlife Refuge—surrounded by crisp fall air, dripping gold and copper leaves, and the calm of wetland life. It
Continue readingA Perfect Birthday at Oaks Bottom
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This morning’s walk through Oaks Bottom Wildlife Refuge stopped me in my tracks. A small, unassuming bird — the Hermit Thrush (Catharus guttatus) — hopped through the leaf litter less
Continue reading A Quiet Moment with a Hermit Thrush at Oaks Bottom Wildlife Refuge
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On a recent visit to Oaks Bottom, I had the good fortune to photograph four striking woodpecker species: the pileated woodpecker, the Downy woodpecker, the northern flicker, and the red‑breasted
Continue reading– Drummers of the Oaks: Woodpeckers at Oaks Bottom Wildlife Refuge
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For nearly ten years I’ve come to Oaks Bottom hoping to catch sight of a pileated woodpecker. I had heard rumors of people seeing a Pileated Woodpecker in the forest
Continue reading– Wood Chips kept falling on My Head — A Long Hunt Ends at Oaks Bottom
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That afternoon in Sellwood was a beautiful fall day with perfect golden hour lighting. I was wandering through Sellwood Park and I noticed a high-pitched chatter. A busy, bouncing cloud
Continue readingFluff and Fury: A Flock of Bushtits in Sellwood Oregon
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There are days when the river seems to hold its breath. On a recent fall day, the Willamette lay glassy and gold, fog lingering in low pockets and the cottonwoods
Continue readingUp Close with a Great Egret: A Quiet Fall Afternoon on the Willamette
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This fall noisy visitors showed up at my feeder and made my backyard a little wilder — Downy woodpeckers They are small, bold, and surprisingly photogenic. After making a few
Continue reading Friendly Downy Woodpeckers Visit My Backyard
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On a peaceful late afternoon at the Oak Bottom Wildlife Refuge I had an unforgettable close encounter with a great blue heron (Ardea herodias). The bird landed in a tree
Continue reading Up Close with a Great Blue Heron — Oaks Bottom Wildlife Refuge
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This morning’s walk through Oaks Bottom Wildlife Refuge I had a close encounter with a Red Tailed Hawk that was clearly used to human presence. Perched high on a telephone
Continue readingA Red-Tailed Hawk close encounter
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After putting up a feeder and a small fountain, I never expected the tiny, steel‑blue-and-russet birds that began darting around my fig tree after I installed a feeder and a
Continue readingHow a Feeder and a Fountain Brought Red‑breasted Nuthatches to My Backyard
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Last week I spend some time in Neskowin doing some repairs on a beach house. I found some time to get some photos of the local wildlife. Here are some
Continue readingMy Recent Neskowin Adventure
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A Heartwarming Encounter with Nature: Junco Nesting on My Deck This summer, I had the incredible opportunity to witness the beauty of nature right on my own deck. A pair
Continue readingThe Dark Eyed Junco
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As the seasons change and the days grow longer, one of the first signs of spring in Portland, Oregon, is the cheerful song of the American Robin. This familiar and
Continue readingThe American Robin: A Beloved Symbol of Spring in Portland, Oregon
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Nestled within the serene landscapes of Oaks Bottom Wildlife Refuge, the male Wood Duck stands out as one of nature’s most stunning avian wonders. With its vibrant plumage and striking
Continue readingThe Majestic Male Wood Duck: A Treasure of Oaks Bottom Wildlife Refuge
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