December 14, 2011
Today, unfortunately, I did not have my camera with me when I exited the County Courthouse around 10 am. Almost immediately I noted several gorgeous Varied Thrushes around a huge Conifer tree. These are American Robin sized birds (around 9 inches) and their fronts are bright orange color with a black sort of smile on their upper chest. Very dramatic!
The Varied Thrush loves the Conifers and build their nest usually against the trunk using mud, dried leaves, inner bark strips, soft moss, reinforced with twigs, lining of grass or soft roots. Usually they winter in Baja, so it was a special treat seeing them here today.
I was at the Courthouse to serve jury duty. We sat there for a little while only to be dismissed because the defendant settled with a plea. Why didn't I think to tell them about the vandalism at the Land Bridge?
I took the opportunity to continue walking home and strolled down to Esther Short Park, by the Hilton and along the Columbia River. (My usual route).
It was cold and clear and breezeless. The Winter Wrens were in their usual place, along with two Northern Flickers which were on the ground around Esther Short Park. Flying overhead were hundreds of Geese. I am not sure if they were the Cackling Geese that show up daily around Marshall Center. There were numerous "V" shapes in the sky.
