I had a great day of birding on October 20, 2025, as can be noted on my prior post of that day. My crop of madrona berries was significantly diminished due to two factors: 1) birds eating the berries and 2) the stems having dried as the berries ripened and tending to break off when jostled.

My success on October 20 elevated my bird observation priorities for the following days, so October 21 found me in the yard anticipating another broad slate of visitors. I was disappointed to find that I didn’t have nearly as many visitors as the previous day, but what I lacked in number I made up in quality!

I first photographed this Song sparrow defending its bathing spot from encroaching House sparrows.

This Golden-crowned kinglet hung around the watercourse long enough for me to obtain many good photos.

This was a first appearance of a Fox sparrow, a bird I thought should have made an appearance before now. The photo wasn’t as good as I would have liked, but I wanted to document the bird’s arrival.

Finally (there’s always a “finally”), i had been occupied with my camera and was just getting ready to call it quits for the day when I saw some movement under a bush that attracted my attention. I realized that a Hermit thrush was hopping directly towards me! I froze but the bird seemed unconcerned by my presence (completely out of character for the species) approaching to within about six feet of me. It then toured the entire watercourse area, giving me ample opportunity for photographs. .

This day had been largely disappointing until the arrival of the thrush.