New Year, new year bird list. As I've often said, I'm a better watcher than lister, but I'd still like to see more birds this year than last. A rainy, cold Jan 1 was never going to be the fastest start ever. But between a long look out the window and a quick walk along the river, I'm very happy with it. Highlight of the day was seeing two of our white-headed winter ducks side by side for easy comparison.

1) Anna's Hummingbird
2) Steller's Jay
3) California Scrub-Jay
4) Black-capped Chickadee
5) Red-breasted Nuthatch
6) Dark-eyed Junco
7) Yellow-rumped Warbler
8) Mallard
9) Bufflehead
10) Hooded Merganser
11) Double-crested Cormorant

#BirdsOf2026 #oregon #birds

Nice wet morning walk at Jackson-Frazier Wetland, always a great place for raptors. Today was no exception. The red-shouldered and the harrier were both close and in perfect light. Sometimes it feels like the birds are blessing you.

12) Northern Harrier
13) Red-shouldered Hawk
14) Northern Flicker
15) Bushtit
16) Bewick's Wren
17) American Robin
18) Song Sparrow
19) Spotted Towhee

#BirdsOf2026 #corvallis

Just me, walking in the woods and looking at birds as my country commits an illegal invasion / smash and grab oil heist. I'm so tired and sorry and angry and sad.

20) Wild Turkey
21) Red-breasted Sapsucker
22) Brown Creeper

#BirdsOf2026

I've gotten out on at least short birding walks 4/4 days this year, a streak that will probably end this week. But I'll do my best, because stress is definitely higher than I'd like it to be, between work and *gestures broadly*. About time you showed up, crow.

23) American Crow
24) Ruby-crowned Kinglet

#BirdsOf2026

One streak that will definitely end today, 5/5 days in 2026 visiting a different park in my area. We are so lucky to have a lot of options, but I'll start repeating now, because only so many are in the range I can reasonably take off work to visit. And the rain seems to be returning tomorrow. Pretty out today, though.

25) Mourning Dove

#BirdsOf2026

Another rough day in the teetering empire, and the birds once again helped me stay reasonably mentally stable. Special shout out to this hawk, who not only let me get close, but even posed by fanning out their wings and tail. Pretty bird.

26) Cooper's Hawk
#BirdsOf2026

Oregon is a paradise for corvids. My easy four (crow, raven, scrub and Steller's jays) are all on the list now, with just Canada Jay left to find. Most years, I don't get to magpie or pinyon jay country, but I hope to at some point soon.

27) Common Raven
#BirdsOf2026

My day was dominated by my other Birds, but despite that game not going my way, I got to see a top-notch sunset and as a huge bonus, actually saw, not just heard, my resident neighborhood owl. I'll take that.

28) House Finch
29) Great Horned Owl

#BirdsOf2026

I'm slowly running out of the easiest winter birds to see in my home counties. Neither rare nor elusive, but very pretty nonetheless. Starlings would be prized birds if they were rare and native, rather than invasive and common. So shiny.

30) European Starling
31) Red-winged Blackbird

#BirdsOf2026

Less than ideal viewing conditions. (There is a river there, I promise.) But fog and other limited visibility can have a bright side. You see less, but you also see different things, because it changes bird behavior. Some come closer than they would on a clear day. Some fly lower. There are also sometimes fewer people out, especially if it's both cold and foggy, as it definitely is today. I see scaup fairly often, but usually from pretty far away. Today, they were close and clear.

32) Lesser Scaup

#BirdsOf2026

Fabulous day, bird-wise at least. It's very funny how long it took me to see a goose. They're everywhere, just not where I was walking until today. One of my favorite things is seeing two similar birds next to each other, to clearly see the differences. Today I got that with the woodpeckers. What a treat.

33) Canada Goose
34) Downy Woodpecker
35) Hairy Woodpecker
36) American Kestrel
37) Pacific Wren
38) Fox Sparrow

#BirdsOf2026

@ianrosewrites Oh how glorious ! I’ve never seen downies and hairies right next to each other. I am a big fan of the photos I find online of such moments, however. 🙂

I haven’t added to my list much this week, but I was tickled it took me ‘til #31 to see a house sparrow: I’ve noticed before that I live in a quite song sparrow-dominated spot!

@faerye I still haven't seen a house sparrow! Or a pigeon. I haven't done any bird watching on city streets yet, so those two will have to wait.