Dipper, Kingfishers and just a few Bald Eagles

An interesting day....still cold although not as bad as it was by a degree or two...

and here is what I mean by 'just a few' Bald Eagles.  this was just a small section....the majority of the birds were along the leading edge of the gravel bars....as you can see 'just a few' gulls out there too!

on our morning walk, this pair of Trumpeter Swans were in really close to the log bay.

but what was really interesting was this pair as in 'two' Belted Kingfisher that were carrying on.  We often have Belted Kingfisher here, but don't normally see two at the same time, and what made this even more interesting was....

both birds were females.  The female has the rust coloured 'belt'.  The above photos were taken around 9:30 in the morning.....

around one in the afternoon, we again headed over to the park.  This time we spotted this American Dipper in the first bay.   I've seen a Dipper here before but probably not for at least 10 years.  Dippers are usually up at the spawning channel and hatchery.....nice to see one close to home!

Got over to the log bay.....notice all that gravel....didn't used to be like that.  This is what happens when too many people use an area....going down to the water or sitting on the bench and throwing a stick or ball for a dog....oh well....it is all change....  What hadn't changed, at least since the morning...

were those same 2 female Kingfishers carrying on.

one flew into the bushes on what is left of the log barrier at the log bay.

still lots of Bald Eagles out there, we guesstimate about 400 in the area today.  The swans had moved out a bit further.

This juvenile perched in the tip top of this tree that has died mysteriously over the past couple of years.  You can see he is a bit wind blown.

this adult, one of several in the 'eagle' tree.

heading home, spotted this Great Blue Heron and notice the Northwestern Crow in the upper corner....there have actually been quite a few crows around recently.  Another couple of heron flew by and then...

yet another two right across from our boat launch.  Couple of Green Wing Teal ducks there as well.  In fact there were lots of ducks everywhere although mainly out further.

In the small bird department there was a flock of Pine Siskin at the first bay in the morning but they took off before I could get a photo and I'm pretty sure I heard the Evening Grosbeak again, but didn't actually see him today.....had had to go buy more bird seed....with the cool weather we've really been going through it!