I first want to thank all of you ‘scouts’ who have been keeping me apprised of sightings of the leucistic Varied thrush in Washington Park.  I received another relayed communication that the bird was seen in the park this morning, but I chose not to go until mid-afternoon and saw no sign of the bird as is usual for that time of day.  For the best chances of sighting the bird one needs to be at the park not long after 7am… in other words, virtually in the dark.

Slate-colored race of a Dark-eyed Junco

Oregon race of the Dark-eyed junco

On the other hand, I spent a little time in the yard today hoping to obtain more photos of some of our rarer yard birds.  While I saw a male Anna’s hummingbird taking a bath (!) in  water in which I can hardly stand to place my hand due to its temperature, I was unable to obtain a photo.  However I did have some success with one of our rarer visitors… a Dark-eyed junco of the Slate-colored race.  This bird, or one of its kin, has been in our yard every winter since 1996-97!  Each year we only have a single one and I often wonder if it’s the same bird that keeps returning.  It seems rather far-fetched, but then the fact that we have only a single one each year might lend some strength to the theory that it’s the same bird. I would be so appreciative if it would bring its family for the winter!

As is the case each year, we are overwhelmed with Oregon race juncos and the color of their plumage varies greatly.  Some are quite striking in their colors and others are very pale.  Picking the Slate-colored junco from the Oregon juncos would be very difficult if it were not for the behavior of the bird.  The Slate-colored junco does not appear to mix well with the other juncos and it is much shyer.  Were it not for these behavioral characteristics I probably wouldn’t notice it.

Oregon race of the Dark-eyed junco

To better appreciate these photos you should click on them to enlarge them to full-screen size!