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Thursday, March 3, 2011

An interesting day….

A fairly interesting day in a number of ways but first I’ll say that the sparrow pictures from yesterday were, in order, Song Sparrow and then lastly, Fox Sparrow. 

This morning started off by hearing American Robin’s calling and saw at least 7 of them flying from tree top to tree top…so they are around…just not settled in yet.

Sunny day

After a mixed up morning, weather wise, the skies cleared and the sun shone…

Junco bathing

Dark eyed Junco were bathing in every puddle they could find.  Here on some pavement, but there were more bathing down at the bay by the viewing platform….

Varied Thrush

In fact this whole area was a bee hive of activity….Varied Thrush, seen in the above picture through the branches….Steller’s Jay, that Hairy Woodpecker, Spotted Towhee, Black Cap Chickadee, Red-wing Blackbird..

Varied Thrush Female

Here is a better picture of one of the Varied Thrush – this one a female..

snow almost gone

In contrast, there was absolutely nothing over at the log bay, in fact my dog didn’t even want to be there….she fought walking there and couldn’t wait to leave, so I don’t know what she sensed…

Eagle in the tree

heading back you might just be able to make out that adult Bald Eagle in the ‘eagle’ tree – that bird has been there pretty much all the time…

Gold Crowned Kinglet

We spent some time at the viewing platform watching the activity…managed this rather blurry picture of a Gold Crowned Kinglet, I searched for a Ruby-crowned but didn’t spot one yet…..while we were there the Bald Eagle started carrying on…

Bald Eagle pair

and very shortly, was joined by the second one.  I am firmly convinced that this is a breeding pair.  Then as we headed towards home, first I noticed a number of flying insects – that is a good sign because most of the birds we are expecting will feed primarily on insects, so aren’t going to arrive until there is something available to eat!  Then, when almost home a large, mainly white bird flew into the trees on the hillside and immediately Steller’s Jay appeared from all over…there must have been a couple of dozen of them at least, they were joined by one of the Raven.  I couldn’t spot the bird that started all the activity but I suspect it was a Rough Legged Hawk

another look

This picture was taken here a number of years ago.  

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