Greater Seattle, Washington area, 8/13-22/15

All photos are © Marshall Faintich

Tolt River - John MacDonald Park; 8/22/15

I bought a new power connector for my GPS unit the evening before this last trip, but didn't think that it was worth a 130-mile round trip to maybe find a MacGillivray's Warbler, so I went back to the Tolt River Park. As soon as I got to the wooden suspension bridge, I saw a flock of 16 Common Mergansers in the river.


Common Merganser


Common Mergansers


Common Mergansers

I hiked the west side of the river again, and as soon as I got to the place where I had seen the Bobwhite the previous time, it came out and walked right up to my feet!


Northern Bobwhite

I looked up and saw a couple of Vaux's Swifts (another life bird for me), and a juvenile Cooper's Hawk was in a nearby tree.


Vaux's Swift


Vaux's Swift


Vaux's Swift


Vaux's Swift


Cooper's Hawk


Cooper's Hawk

I took a side trail that I had skipped the last time, and stopped when I heard birds singing. In addition to Black-capped Chickadees, there was a Wilson's Warbler near eye level, and a Townsend's Warbler high up in the trees. An interesting slug was on the trail next to where I was watching the warblers.


Wilson's Warbler


Wilson's Warbler


Wilson's Warbler


Townsend's Warbler


Townsend's Warbler


Slug

On my return hike, I got some good looks at another flycatcher - probably a Willow.


Willow Flycatcher


Willow Flycatcher


Willow Flycatcher

I still had some time left for birding that day, so I drove to the nearby Stillwater Wildlife Area. The 1.5 mile road to the site was closed to vehicle traffic, so I started walking. But it was hot, and I was tired, and my feet hurt, so I went only part of the way, and got a few photos along a creek.


Common Yellowthroat

Click here to continue on the trip to the complete avian trip list



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