A frosty start to this day, the 2nd of December. This is, in fact the first actual frost we have had – apart from the deep freeze a couple of weeks ago which simply by passed the ‘frost’ step! That branch, by the way, is a native shrub called ‘Hardhack’.
Today’s walk was in stark contrast to yesterday’s – at least bird wise – a few Golden Crowned Kinglets high up in a cedar grove and that was about it – except for Gulls – lots and lots of Gulls….
and now I am going to call upon some of my birder friends who like a challenge – what do we have here? From the deep pink legs of the one in the forefront I’m thinking Thayer's but the wing tip colour is wrong. The one with the hunk of Salmon in it’s mouth I’m thinking is possibly a 3rd winter bird? but the pink bill is confusing me….and the back one…a Herring? although the gray looks too gray…
Thayer’s – an adult and a 3rd year????
Here is the younger one again… I know they aren’t Mew, Glaucous Wing, or Ring bill – that is about it!
There were gulls over in that little pond too – and Bald Eagles in the trees off of the golf course, although some gun shots from the north east corner of the estuary had sent eagles flying in all directions shortly before I took this picture. Yes, for some had to fathom reason, duck hunting is still allowed in the area.
a lot of eagles out on the flats, especially along the Harrison River, but also sheltering up in the evergreen trees. Hardly any in close to our side today, perhaps because the weather was so nice there were lots of people out walking. The only other species of note were a group of 6 Common Merganser, which included 1 male – the first male I’ve seen in close so far this season.
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