Grosbeak Goodness

Well, after hurting my neck on Friday (Pilates.  I don't want to talk about it.) and staying in for the entire weekend (uuuuuuuuughghghghgh) it was great to get out and walk in the park again today!  Jack was off work so he came with me, and as we were walking up towards the lake a yellow-rump flew across the road right in front of us.  It was hilarious!  Watching them fly away is like watching a very mini flicker, they both have that rump spot drawing your eye.  At the bridge on the way to the upper lobe we saw this pretty common yellow-throat.

Common Yellow-throat

 By the willow was a brown thrasher.  There has been one here for I think a couple of weeks now.  Same one?  I have no idea.

Brown Thrasher

 We saw several woodpeckers - red-bellied, sapsuckers, downies.  This red-belly is the only decent picture though.

Red-bellied Woodpecker

 There were so many thrushes everywhere!  And yellow rumps!  And thrushes!  And kinglets!  And thrushes!  Ane nowhere a chat to be seen........ Oh who am I kidding, we could have walked by a dozen chat and not seen one........

Swainson's Thrush

 Same wood thrush as Friday?  Maybe.  I have no idea.  Same location certainly!

Wood Thrush

 This yellow-rump is feeling a bit shy.

Yellow-rumped Warbler

 One of the thrushes caught my eye - because it wasn't a thrush at all, it was an ovenbird!  Hello handsome!

Ovenbird

 This redstart posed for us in several locations.

American Redstart

 This black-throated blue is looking a tad bit worse for wear......

Black-throated Blue Warbler

 There was an alert about a blue grosbeak, so we wandered that direction.  While waiting for its appearance we entertained a special guest.  Waxwing!  One of Jack's favorites, I was really glad to see it.

Cedar Waxwing

 And another special guest - Maggie!  This one was so bright and vivid, but sadly unwilling to pose.

Magnolia Warbler

 At last the star of the show - female blue grosbeak!  She was quite gorgeous, it was wonderful to see her.

Blue Grosbeak (female)

As we left her Jack was worn out and ready to head home.  We did see several other birds, and it was a great time!  :-)