Tualatin NWR Birds and Bugs

Today, I ventured out to the Tualatin National Wildlife Refuge near Sherwood, Oregon. I'm teaching a class there next Sunday but haven't been since spring so I needed to see what had changed (lots) since I was out last. The weather was sketchy at first but it ended up being a lovely, warm, breezy day.


First bird spotted was, of course, a Great Blue Heron. They're thick around here.


A pair of turtles sunned themselves on a log in the Tualatin River. Looks like a Western Pond Turtle on the left and a Western Painted Turtle on the right. I checked out Native Turtles of Oregon to make sure.

OK, get out your pencil and paper for the Spontaneous Mystery Bird Quiz!!
What is this bird?

Got it yet?? Here's another shot.......

Be sure to leave a comment with your answer!

We saw two great bugs today; a Wooly Bear caterpillar......

And the most incredible Leaf Hopper I've ever seen. It was about 1\2 inch long and was sitting on top of the car. Very photogenic.


On the way home we passed Elmo Studd's and their funny reader board. I used to work nearby and always enjoyed the latest offering. Nice to take one's mind off of political ads, isn't it?