Chris from Denver: Birding across the U.S.

Western Gull

Chris Bourg — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 19:20:50 GMT

Western Gull

Ocean Beach WA

7/10/2007

American Goldfinch

Chris Bourg — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 05:24:02 GMT

American Goldfinch

Thanks to Bob at Dungeness River Audobon Center, Sequim WA
7/12/2007

Bright colorful birds are not the rule in Washington. Chocolate browns are preferred.

Perhaps that's why the cheery American Goldfinch is the state bird.

California Quails

Chris Bourg — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 03:52:37 GMT

California Quails

Thanks to Bob at the Dungeness River Audobon Center
Sequim WA
7/11/2007

Swainson's Thrush

Chris Bourg — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 04:09:18 GMT

Swainson's Thrush

Neah Bay WA
7/15/2007

I heard the call of Swainson's Thrushes every day (and night) when in the dense pine forests of the Olympic Peninsula.

But they know how to keep out of sight. This is the only one I saw.

Spotted Towhee

Chris Bourg — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 03:54:02 GMT

Spotted Towhee

Thanks to Bob at the Dungeness River Audobon Center
Sequim WA
7/11/2007

Bushtit

Chris Bourg — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 06:04:32 GMT

Bushtit

Seattle WA
7/9/2007

These drab, busy little relatives of chickadees forage in small flocks.

When many of them are on the same tree, it looks like it has been infested by tiny scurrying mice.

Savannah Sparrow

Chris Bourg — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 06:48:25 GMT

Savannah Sparrow

7/13/2007
Sequim WA

Western Sandpiper

Chris Bourg — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 03:21:59 GMT

Western Sandpiper

Sequim WA
7/11/2007

Western Sandpiper

Chris Bourg — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 08:27:00 GMT

Western Sandpiper

Sequim WA
7/12/2007

Steller's Jay

Chris Bourg — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 04:05:13 GMT

Steller's Jay

Neah Bay WA
7/15/2007

This Northwestern Steller's Jay lacks the thin white eyebrow of the inland Rocky Mountain form.

Pigeon Guillemot

Chris Bourg — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 03:25:45 GMT

Pigeon Guillemot

Dungeness NWR
7/12/2007
These cute little guys remind me of Disney characters.

Pigeon Guillemot

Chris Bourg — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 03:36:41 GMT

Pigeon Guillemot

Dungeness NWR
7/12/2007

About two dozen Pigeon Guillemots were foraging in the nearby strait and carrying food back to their nests, in crevices in the rocky cliff wall.

Long-billed Dowitcher

Chris Bourg — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 01:11:28 GMT

Long-billed Dowitcher

Sequim WA
7/11/2007

Semi-palmated Plover

Chris Bourg — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 08:24:30 GMT

Semi-palmated Plover

Ocean Beach WA
7/10/2007

Foraging at tide's edge on the Pacific shore.

Thanks to Featherbrain for explaining that "Semi-palmated" refers to partially webbed toes.

Rhinoceros Auklet

Chris Bourg — Tue, 24 Jul 2007 06:27:33 GMT

Rhinoceros Auklet

Neah Bay
7/15/2007

Marbled Murrelet

Chris Bourg — Tue, 24 Jul 2007 06:28:32 GMT

Marbled Murrelet

Neah Bay
7/15/2007

Not much of a photo (the tiny bird was too far for my lens) but I was pleased to spot one of these.

The forests near Neah Bay are preserved by the Macah Nation as habitat for these endangered Murrelets.

Surf Scoter

Chris Bourg — Tue, 24 Jul 2007 18:48:00 GMT

Surf Scoter

Neah Bay
7/15/2007

White-winged Scoter

Chris Bourg — Tue, 24 Jul 2007 06:21:21 GMT

White-winged Scoter

Neah Bay.
7/15/2007

Caspian Tern

Chris Bourg — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 03:20:00 GMT

Caspian Tern

Ocean Beach WA
7/10/2007

Often you can find one or two terns sitting near a flock of gulls.

Tufted Puffin

Chris Bourg — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 01:08:33 GMT

Tufted Puffin

Cape Flattery
7/13/2007

Looking (way) down from the awesome cliff overlook at Cape Flattery.