American Robin
Bob E., the husband of Alice's bridge partner, went birding with me today (and the next day). We started out at the Tolt River Park. I had read that the best birding there was on the west side of the river, and a large wooden suspension bridge provided access to that side of the river. At first, all we saw were lots of Robins and Black-capped Chickadees, and a juvenile Spotted Towhee joined the Robins.
American Robin
American Robins
American Robins
American Robins
American Robins and Spotted Towhee
Spotted Towhee
And then, a juvenile Northern Bobwhite walked out of the brush to greet us. It was most likely a released bird.
Northern Bobwhite
Northern Bobwhite
Northern Bobwhite
We decided to skip the Willow Trail.
Willow Trail sign
We saw quite a few species after continuing on our hike.
Anna's Hummingbird
Band-tailed Pigeon (another life bird for me)
Band-tailed Pigeon
Band-tailed Pigeon
Northern Flicker (western)
Steller's Jay
Steller's Jay
Spotted Sandpiper
There were a few potential life bird flycatchers that I wanted to see. They can be tough to identify, and hearing them is the best species indicator. The only flycatcher I heard on this Seattle area trip was a Western Wood-Pewee (another life bird for me).
Western Wood-Pewee
Western Wood-Pewee
On our return hike to the bridge, I got lucky. The only Evening Grosbeak I had previously seen was a female, and I really wanted to see and photograph a male of this species.
Male Evening Grosbeak
Male Evening Grosbeak
Male Evening Grosbeak
Male Evening Grosbeak
Male Evening Grosbeak
Male Evening Grosbeak
Male Evening Grosbeak
I did a short hike on the east side of the bridge, and saw a few more species. I got a quick look at a flycatcher that might have been a Pacific-slope Flycatcher (potential life bird), but the quick look and photo looking into the sun was not good enough to make the call.
White-crowned Sparrow
American Goldfinches
Unidentified Flycatcher
Our next stop was Carnation Marsh, but there wasn't anywhere to park, and the vegetation was so dense that there wasn't anything to see. We then went to Rattlesnake Lake. This lake and adjacent trails were loaded with people and hardly any birds. I saw a loon far out in the lake, and got a few photos. It was most likely a Common Loon.
Common Loon