Adult female Am. Robin, observed from the trail, gathering food for nestlings. This bird is white over about 60% (more? I don't consider myself a good judge, but the bird is certainly more than half white) of its body, with very scattered patches of color.


>From the parking lot at the eastern terminus of the trail (SW Hillburger Rd) cross the trestle to the point where there are large rocks/small boulders on the left (south) side of the trail, just on the other side of the fence. You'll be at a gap in the trees and brush from which you can see the river, and possible the very light-colored cobbles on the near shore if the the water level is low enough. (If you leave the wooden board walk, you've gone too far.) I spotted the robin in this area, at times foraging on the cobbles, where she was nearly invisible - very well camouflaged and only readily visible when she was moving. I observed her with a mouthful of salmon berries, and she flew up into a medium sized tree (toothed leaves, elm or cherry?) on the left edge of the gap, and then shortly flew out of the tree and resumed foraging. I presume a nest with young is in the tree.


She was very active at 0930 this morning (6/7), under overcast skies at about 60 degrees F.


Dave Grenier
Tumwater, WA
trek_rider at live dot com