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Western flycatcher. Identification of Epidonax flycatchers are always considered among the hardest birds to identify, especially in the absence of vocal cues. Merlin has identified Western wood-pewees, Hammond’s flycatchers, and Western flycatchers in my backyard. Seeing them is more of a...

They could be from the same brood, especially given their similar sizes. Were they small enough to be this year's brood? From what I can find online, females typically give birth in late July through September. But with a mild winter, the females may have mated earlier in the spring...

Wow, just wow. Amazing composure by the Knicks. Steve

I’ve been doing a deep-dive into forest-dwelling coralroot orchids lately (more later). That pursuit brings me into clearings under Douglas fir canopies. During one recent expedition, I encountered a favorite fungus, the bird-nest fungus (Nidula niveotomentosa) . For most of its life, this...

Due to their abundance, deer have carved preferred paths through my yard as they transit between the creek below my property and the upland meadows and forests above. Other mammals also use those trails, albeit far more episodically, such as coyotes, foxes, and raccoons. I haven't seen (or...

Surprisingly fast decision. Here is some more detail of the court's decision from Northwest Sportsman. Steve

Pale evening dun (see here)??? Steve

Several reports indicate that the Quinault tribe seeks to expand their "usual and accustomed" (U&A) fishing areas to include Willapa Bay, Shoalwater Bay, and south through to the lower 60 miles of the Columbia River (see here and here). They organized a "meet and confer" meeting last Friday...

And no fossil fuels required... Steve

Cute spring ducks and geese. McLane Creek Nature Trail & Billie Frank Jr. Nisqually NWR Diverted by other adventures, I’ve had time to come back to some sweet duck and goose pictures that I took a little over a month ago. We’ll start with mallards. At the main beaver pond at McLane, this...

Predatory birds: Upper Umptanum Road to the North Wenas Rd. While our primary focus was seeing bluebirds, we also had great looks at several predatory birds (and their potential targets). As we were slowly driving, I spotted a massive bird flash up from behind a line of shrubs just off the...

The Bluebird Trail, Upper Umptanum Road to the North Wenas Rd.. Last year, my wife and I discovered the amazing spring wildflowers and fauna in the eastern Cascade foothills. With a good forecast and free time, we decided to revisit the area last week. A highlight was exploring the Yakima...

You have to be that cryptic to survive the sharp eyes of great blue herons, mergansers, and large trout. Steve

Great closeup images, Coach. Steve

One of the biggest threats to kelp beds, especially giant kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera) in Southern California is the lack of nutrients that typically accompanies a strong El Niño. While giant kelp has the potential to grow at an amazing rate (a foot or more per day), that growth rate requires...

Nisqually NWR: More soras. This has been a wonderful spring for seeing elusive marsh birds at Nisqually NWR. You know them; the birds that are uncommonly heard and even less commonly seen even though you know that they have to be there in the marsh. But this spring, sightings of American...

Oystercatchers use their bills like chisels to remove limpets from rocks or cut the adductor muscle of an oyster or mussel. They don't typically use their bills to probe into the sediment like a whimbrel would. On a beach, especially one with soft sediments, like sand or mud, there are...

As predicted, the first fawn of the season trotted past my window this afternoon. The tiny fawn and its mom were moving too quickly for me to shoot pics from my office window, but I managed to click a few pictures from my bedroom window as the fawn and the doe trotted toward the creek near our...

Billie Frank Jr. - Nisqually NWR & McLane Creek Nature Area. Part 6: Woodpeckers. On a bird walk, I have my hearing focused on any sign of life: a ripple in a pond, a flash in my peripheral vision, a scratching sound in the undergrowth, or an unnatural “drum” sound in the trees. The later is...

As most know, the Galapagos finches (and mockingbirds) played a large role in Charles Darwin's investigations of evolution via natural selection. But another bird, the domestic pigeon (aka rock dove), was also a critical link in his insights and evidence. This research formed part of Darwin's...