We’ve still got at least two male Anna’s hummingbirds in the yard and at least one female. One of the males is still trying to control the feeders.  This is the dominant male pictured below, with different lighting angles on the bird’s gorget.

Last week I made a couple of pre-winter excursions around the greater area.  I found this Killdeer, and two others, in one of the Cap Sante Marina parking lots.  There were about a dozen more in the area near the Northern Lights Casino where fireworks are sold twice a year.

And on a very unsuccessful photography expedition, I found this Great Blue heron just across the Swinomish Channel.  It was uncharacteristically tolerant of my vehicle, allowing me to take photographs and not flying due to my presence.

Finally, if you’ve ever been confused about the two main species of chickadees we have in the area, here are photos of each.  This first photo is of a Chestnut-backed chickadee, most easily identified when seen from the side or rear.

This second photo is of a Black-capped chickadee. The Black-capped chickadee very closely resembles the Carolina chickadee which is found in the southeastern US.

There are occasional sightings of the Mountain chickadee in our area.  I saw one in Washington Park many years ago but am still waiting for the first one to be seen in my yard.