This gallery spans the month of October, where I did some birding at the coast, some at higher elevations, and some around town and at home. Highlights include a Barred Owl, a Merlin, a few Canada Jay sightings, a close encounter with a covey of California Quail, and some (distant) Long-billed Curlews.
These photos are © 2026 Phil Thompson, all rights reserved.
My "birds in review" collages can be found here.
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9:34AM Thursday October 01, 2026
Golden-crowned Sparrow
9:37AM Thursday October 01, 2026
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle)
11:41AM Thursday October 01, 2026
Surf Scoter
11:41AM Thursday October 01, 2026
Surf Scoter
11:41AM Thursday October 01, 2026
Surf Scoter
11:41AM Thursday October 01, 2026
Surf Scoter
11:41AM Thursday October 01, 2026
Surf Scoter
11:41AM Thursday October 01, 2026
Surf Scoter
11:41AM Thursday October 01, 2026
Surf Scoter
5:10PM Thursday October 01, 2026
Varied Thrush
5:10PM Thursday October 01, 2026
Varied Thrush
5:11PM Thursday October 01, 2026
Varied Thrush
5:11PM Thursday October 01, 2026
Varied Thrush
5:14PM Thursday October 01, 2026
Steller's Jay (Coastal)
5:14PM Thursday October 01, 2026
Steller's Jay (Coastal)
5:15PM Thursday October 01, 2026
Steller's Jay (Coastal)
5:15PM Thursday October 01, 2026
Steller's Jay (Coastal)
5:15PM Thursday October 01, 2026
Steller's Jay (Coastal)
5:15PM Thursday October 01, 2026
Steller's Jay (Coastal)
5:15PM Thursday October 01, 2026
Steller's Jay (Coastal)
5:16PM Thursday October 01, 2026
Steller's Jay (Coastal)
11:39AM Monday October 05, 2026
American Pipit, American Goldfinch, Savannah SparrowI thought this was a neat group of three species in one tree.
9:03AM Wednesday October 07, 2026
Barred Owl
9:03AM Wednesday October 07, 2026
Barred Owl
9:03AM Wednesday October 07, 2026
Barred Owl
9:03AM Wednesday October 07, 2026
Barred Owl
9:03AM Wednesday October 07, 2026
Barred OwlI was only able to find this owl because it was actively flying around. It stopped for a minute to take a look at me before it flew out of sight.
9:04AM Wednesday October 07, 2026
Barred Owl
8:54AM Thursday October 08, 2026
Band-tailed Pigeon
8:54AM Thursday October 08, 2026
Band-tailed Pigeon
9:32AM Thursday October 08, 2026
Acorn Woodpecker
9:32AM Thursday October 08, 2026
Acorn Woodpecker
9:32AM Thursday October 08, 2026
Acorn Woodpecker
1:14PM Monday October 12, 2026
MerlinThis Merlin flew over the mudflats and scared off some shorebirds. It was soaring around in circles in the air, making it hard to tell how big it was. The small dark stripe on the face, and striped tail, are the distinguishing field marks.
1:14PM Monday October 12, 2026
Merlin
1:14PM Monday October 12, 2026
Merlin
1:14PM Monday October 12, 2026
Merlin
1:14PM Monday October 12, 2026
Merlin
1:30PM Monday October 12, 2026
American PipitThis Pipit was foraging along the lake shore, where I haven't seen any before. I'm not usually close to these birds so I took a bunch of photos even though the light wasn't good.
1:30PM Monday October 12, 2026
American Pipit
1:30PM Monday October 12, 2026
American Pipit
1:30PM Monday October 12, 2026
American Pipit
1:30PM Monday October 12, 2026
American Pipit
1:40PM Monday October 12, 2026
American Pipit
1:40PM Monday October 12, 2026
American Pipit
1:40PM Monday October 12, 2026
American Pipit
1:40PM Monday October 12, 2026
American Pipit
1:40PM Monday October 12, 2026
American Pipit
1:40PM Monday October 12, 2026
American Pipit
1:40PM Monday October 12, 2026
American Pipit
1:41PM Monday October 12, 2026
American Pipit
1:41PM Monday October 12, 2026
American Pipit
1:41PM Monday October 12, 2026
American Pipit
1:42PM Monday October 12, 2026
White-throated Sparrow
9:49AM Wednesday October 14, 2026
Varied Thrush
9:49AM Wednesday October 14, 2026
Varied Thrush
8:54AM Friday October 16, 2026
Sharp-shinned HawkThis was another distant raptor whose size was hard to judge. The big bug-eyed look, and dark hood (rather than dark cap) distinguish this from a Cooper's Hawk.
8:54AM Friday October 16, 2026
Sharp-shinned Hawk
8:55AM Friday October 16, 2026
Sharp-shinned Hawk
8:55AM Friday October 16, 2026
Sharp-shinned Hawk
8:55AM Friday October 16, 2026
Sharp-shinned Hawk
9:07AM Friday October 16, 2026
Canada Jay
9:08AM Friday October 16, 2026
Canada Jay
9:13AM Friday October 16, 2026
Canada Jay
8:40AM Monday October 19, 2026
Lesser Goldfinch
8:40AM Monday October 19, 2026
Lesser Goldfinch
8:41AM Monday October 19, 2026
Lesser Goldfinch
8:41AM Monday October 19, 2026
Lesser Goldfinch
8:41AM Monday October 19, 2026
Lesser Goldfinch
9:01AM Monday October 19, 2026
Purple Finch
8:41AM Wednesday October 21, 2026
Canada Jay
8:41AM Wednesday October 21, 2026
Canada Jay
8:47AM Wednesday October 21, 2026
Canada Jay
8:47AM Wednesday October 21, 2026
Canada Jay
9:07AM Friday October 23, 2026
Acorn Woodpecker
9:07AM Friday October 23, 2026
Acorn Woodpecker
9:07AM Friday October 23, 2026
Acorn Woodpecker
9:07AM Friday October 23, 2026
Acorn Woodpecker
12:34PM Tuesday October 27, 2026
California Quail
12:34PM Tuesday October 27, 2026
California Quail
12:34PM Tuesday October 27, 2026
California Quail
12:34PM Tuesday October 27, 2026
California Quail
12:34PM Tuesday October 27, 2026
California QuailI stood still as this group of quail scampered across the path in front of me, emerging from the vegetation one by one. A couple of them paused for a few seconds to have their photos taken.
12:34PM Tuesday October 27, 2026
California Quail
12:34PM Tuesday October 27, 2026
California Quail
12:35PM Tuesday October 27, 2026
California Quail
12:35PM Tuesday October 27, 2026
California Quail
12:40PM Tuesday October 27, 2026
12:40PM Tuesday October 27, 2026
12:40PM Tuesday October 27, 2026
9:54AM Friday October 30, 2026
North American River OtterI only got a quick view, but it wasn't a beaver, mink, or nutria. The tail isn't right for muskrat or fisher: it's wide at the base, and narrows to a point.
9:54AM Friday October 30, 2026
North American River Otter
9:54AM Friday October 30, 2026
North American River Otter
10:05AM Friday October 30, 2026
Golden-crowned KingletThese guys are often way overhead and hard to see, let alone photograph. This one almost came out perfect, except for the shadow of the branch falling across the bird's face!
10:05AM Friday October 30, 2026
Golden-crowned Kinglet
10:05AM Friday October 30, 2026
Golden-crowned Kinglet
10:06AM Friday October 30, 2026
Golden-crowned Kinglet
10:06AM Friday October 30, 2026
Golden-crowned Kinglet
10:06AM Friday October 30, 2026
Golden-crowned Kinglet
12:33PM Friday October 30, 2026
Long-billed Curlew
12:35PM Friday October 30, 2026
Long-billed Curlew
12:35PM Friday October 30, 2026
Long-billed Curlew
12:35PM Friday October 30, 2026
Long-billed Curlew
12:35PM Friday October 30, 2026
Long-billed CurlewI made at least four trips out to the mudflats to look for these birds. They were a long way off, but I picked them out while panning with the scope. It was easier to see the bird's long dark bill in the scope than in these photos. The cinnamon underwing color is clearly visible here though.
12:35PM Friday October 30, 2026
Long-billed Curlew
10:59AM Saturday October 31, 2026
Song Sparrow
11:00AM Saturday October 31, 2026
Song SparrowWe haven't had a Song Sparrow in the yard for a few years. These are otherwise so common in the area... it doesn't make any sense.
11:00AM Saturday October 31, 2026
Song Sparrow
11:00AM Saturday October 31, 2026
Anna's Hummingbird
11:00AM Saturday October 31, 2026
Anna's Hummingbird
11:00AM Saturday October 31, 2026
Anna's Hummingbird
11:00AM Saturday October 31, 2026
Anna's Hummingbird
11:00AM Saturday October 31, 2026
Anna's Hummingbird
11:00AM Saturday October 31, 2026
Anna's Hummingbird
11:00AM Saturday October 31, 2026
Anna's Hummingbird
11:00AM Saturday October 31, 2026
Anna's HummingbirdThese photos are a bit noisy. I wish there was more light!