Nature and Wildlife of the
Willamette Valley
Photographing wildlife is as much about the activity as the result. It is simply an enjoyable experience to go out for a walk in nature and see what you can find. Sometimes the wildlife is willing and allows me to take a good picture. Sometimes not. Either way, I feel that it is time well spent. In these photos I am trying to express a sense of adventure and discovery in nearby places, things you could see for yourself if you looked for them while walking or hiking.
We have so much natural beauty in the Pacific Northwest, much of it almost right outside our front door. Oregon and the local communities have done an amazing job preserving wetlands and other natural areas for all of us to enjoy. I wanted to document the fantastic preservation work that has been done, and how much you can see and experience without going far from home.
I especially enjoy taking wildlife pictures that tell a story, or capture an aspect of an animal’s personality. These are all taken in full color, and edited to represent my experience of the scene at the time the photo was taken.
This is an ongoing project. Check back periodically for new additions.
Black-necked stilt and greater yellowlegs, Tualatin River Valley Wildlife Refuge, August 2025.
Osprey landing on branch, Commonwealth Lake Park, August 2025.
Young deer, Jackson Bottom Wetlands, August 2025.
Nutria, Jackson Bottom Wetlands, August 2025.
White pelican, Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge, September 2025.
Great blue heron, Commonwealth Lake Park, August 2025.
A pair of female house finches with a dragonfly, Commonwealth Lake Park, August 2025.
Pied billed grebe, Commonwealth Lake Park, September 2025.
Brown creeper, Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge, October 2025.
White pelican, Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge, September 2025.
White breasted nuthatch, Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge, October 2025.
Green heron, Commonwealth Lake Park, July 2025.
Squirrel, Summerlake Park, June 2025.
Hairy woodpecker, Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge, October 2025.
Fox sparrow, Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge, October 2025.
Black and white dragonfly, Commonwealth Lake Park, July 2025.
Lesser yellowlegs, Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge, September 2025.
American coot, Commonwealth Lake Park, October 2025.
A pair of barn swallows, Beaverton, July 2025.
Male northern shoveler, Commonwealth Lake Park, November 2025.
Female American widgeon, Commonwealth Lake Park, November 2025.
American coot is landing on water, Commonwealth Lake Park, November 2025.
Male American widgeon flying over water, Commonwealth Lake Park, December 2025.
A pair of female common mergansers, Commonwealth Lake Park, December 2025.
A double breasted cormorant, Commonwealth Lake Park, December 2025.
A flock of Canada geese, Commonwealth Lake Park, December 2025.
Great blue heron on rock, Beaverton, Oregon, July 2025.
Osprey in flight, Commonwealth Lake Park, August 2025.
Cedar waxwing, Beaverton, Oregon, July 2025.
White egret, Beaverton, Oregon, July 2025.
Spotted towhee, Beaverton, Oregon, November 2025.
Red breasted nuthatch, Beaverton, Oregon, October 2025.
Male house finch, Beaverton, Oregon, October 2025.
Downy woodpecker, Beaverton, Oregon, October 2025.
Dark-eyed junco, Beaverton, Oregon, November 2025.
Black-capped chickadee, Beaverton, Oregon, November 2025.
Female common yellowthroat, Jackson Bottom Wetlands, August 2025.
Red-breasted nuthatch, Jackson Bottom Wetlands, August 2025.
Goldfinch, Jackson Bottom Wetlands, August 2025.
Cooper's Hawk, Beaverton, Oregon, November 2025.