Lesser Goldfinch

August 24th, 2019: Southern northwestern birds in Portland, OR

My wife and I love to head down to the Portland, OR area. We have friends there that we don’t see often and we both love the food and drink scene. There’s an amazing gluten-free brewery there (I’m Celiac) and too many cideries to count (each, it seems, with 30 or so ciders on tap.

Oh yeah, and there are birds there too. In the heat of the summer, there was no way to make this a birding trip, but it doesn’t mean I didn’t keep my eyes peeled for some “southern northwestern” birds! Even walking around the city, for example, I love hearing the rasping, loquacious California Scrub-Jays. We have a few in Vancouver from time to time, but they’re irregular visitors.

I was really hoping to track down a Hermit Warbler on this trip. It’s about the last PNW breeding bird I’ve never seen and, while I haven’t looked hard in breeding season, I’ve ventured out a few times for these guys (who shouldn’t be particularly tough to find) and struck out. Our planned hike around the summit of Larch Mountain seemed like a good place to find them. Indeed, a few had been reported in the last couple of days.

We had an awesome hike! We drove up most of the altitude (no time for long hike today) and did the Larch Mountain Crater Loop. It was a 10.5km (6.5mi) loop with relatively gentle inclines and ended with a stunning view of the surrounding peaks from Shepard Point.

Sadly, I saw very few birds, and no Hermit Warbler. The highlight was the 20–30 Vaux’s Swift buzzing just above our heads at the summit viewpoint.

We were actually staying with friends in Washougal, WA, however. And it was on their property in the morning when I heard the most bird activity. It was wonderful just watching the finches and waxwings in the conifers downslope of their place while I ate breakfast. I ventured outside for a quick walk and immediately heard a Hutton’s Vireo (always a nice bird to see). I find that they’re usually solitary and relatively quiet, so hearing its strident song across the yard was a great way to wake up!

The vireo was soon joined by Anna’s Hummingbird, Bushtit, Cedar Waxwing, Chestnut-backed and Black-capped Chickadee, Western Tanager, American Robin, Spotted Towhee, Steller’s Jay, Turkey Vulture, American Goldfinch, Northern Flicker, and Red-breasted Nuthatch.

But the highlight was a flock of Lesser Goldfinch, singing and calling as they visited the tops of different conifers in the area. They’re such beautiful finches and definitely not birds you can find in Vancouver. They’re common in Oregon, but I was very pleased with them as “consolation.” The Hermit Warblers will have to wait until next time!