Another day, another decision. Bombay Hook wins out because there’s still not much to see locally. This is a minor deal to me because I’m no fond of the hour and a half drive, largely in the dark, which is getting to be a small problem on some days.
Anyway, it turned out to be a good day weather-wise, if not as good as I’d hoped, bird-wise.
I don’t often hit these places on weekends, but it wasn’t too bad. More people than usual, but not crowded by any means.
Wading birds are still relatively scarce, but I got a good look at some passerines, so that made up for it.
![Bombay Hook 10 Bombay Hook 10](https://i0.wp.com/hughvandervoort.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Bombay-Hook-10.jpg?resize=584%2C390&ssl=1)
Dawn at Bombay Hook.
![Least Sandpiper 2018-10 Least Sandpiper 2018-10](https://i0.wp.com/hughvandervoort.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Least-Sandpiper-2018-10.jpg?resize=584%2C474&ssl=1)
Many Least Sandpipers were feeding on the mud flats.
![Black Necked Stilt 2018-19 Black Necked Stilt 2018-19](https://i0.wp.com/hughvandervoort.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Black-Necked-Stilt-2018-19.jpg?resize=584%2C590&ssl=1)
![Black Necked Stilt 2018-20 Black Necked Stilt 2018-20](https://i0.wp.com/hughvandervoort.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Black-Necked-Stilt-2018-20.jpg?resize=584%2C481&ssl=1)
A single Black-necked Stilt was in Bear Swamp Pool.
![Lesser Yellowlegs 2018-1 Lesser Yellowlegs 2018-1](https://i0.wp.com/hughvandervoort.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Lesser-Yellowlegs-2018-1.jpg?resize=584%2C498&ssl=1)
This might be a Lesser Yellowlegs.
![Great Blue Heron 2018-49 Great Blue Heron 2018-49](https://i0.wp.com/hughvandervoort.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Great-Blue-Heron-2018-49.jpg?resize=584%2C573&ssl=1)
![Great Blue Heron 2018-50 Great Blue Heron 2018-50](https://i0.wp.com/hughvandervoort.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Great-Blue-Heron-2018-50.jpg?resize=584%2C490&ssl=1)
Great Blue Herons are usually very quiet as they fly.
![Goldfinch 2018-13 Goldfinch 2018-13](https://i0.wp.com/hughvandervoort.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Goldfinch-2018-13.jpg?resize=584%2C479&ssl=1)
![Goldfinch 2018-15 Goldfinch 2018-15](https://i0.wp.com/hughvandervoort.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Goldfinch-2018-15.jpg?resize=584%2C555&ssl=1)
Many Goldfinches were feeding along the road side.
![Marsh Wren 2018-3 Marsh Wren 2018-3](https://i0.wp.com/hughvandervoort.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Marsh-Wren-2018-3.jpg?resize=584%2C494&ssl=1)
![Marsh Wren 2018-4 Marsh Wren 2018-4](https://i0.wp.com/hughvandervoort.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Marsh-Wren-2018-4.jpg?resize=584%2C482&ssl=1)
I hear Marsh Wrens frequently, but they can be hard to find.
![Snowy Egret 2018-21 Snowy Egret 2018-21](https://i0.wp.com/hughvandervoort.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Snowy-Egret-2018-21.jpg?resize=584%2C550&ssl=1)
This Great Egret was one of only a few I saw.
![Snowy Egret 2018-20 Snowy Egret 2018-20](https://i0.wp.com/hughvandervoort.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Snowy-Egret-2018-20.jpg?resize=584%2C511&ssl=1)
These Egrets seemed to be snoozing.
![Red Winged Blackbird 2018-35 Red Winged Blackbird 2018-35](https://i0.wp.com/hughvandervoort.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Red-Winged-Blackbird-2018-35.jpg?resize=150%2C118&ssl=1)
![Red Winged Blackbird 2018-36 Red Winged Blackbird 2018-36](https://i0.wp.com/hughvandervoort.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Red-Winged-Blackbird-2018-36.jpg?resize=584%2C500&ssl=1)
Red Winged Blackbirds make good images in the right setting.
![Forster's Tern 2018-98 Forster's Tern 2018-98](https://i0.wp.com/hughvandervoort.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Forsters-Tern-2018-98.jpg?resize=584%2C512&ssl=1)
I saw only a few Forster’s Terns.
![Mockingbird 2018-1 Mockingbird 2018-1](https://i0.wp.com/hughvandervoort.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Mockingbird-2018-1.jpg?resize=584%2C462&ssl=1)
I found this Mockingbird Saturday at Lake Artemesia.
![Northern Flicker 2018-4 Northern Flicker 2018-4](https://i0.wp.com/hughvandervoort.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Northern-Flicker-2018-4.jpg?resize=584%2C570&ssl=1)
This Northern Flicker was also at Artemesia.
![Blue Grosbeak 2018-6 Blue Grosbeak 2018-6](https://i0.wp.com/hughvandervoort.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Blue-Grosbeak-2018-6.jpg?resize=584%2C460&ssl=1)
![Blue Grosbeak 2018-9 Blue Grosbeak 2018-9](https://i0.wp.com/hughvandervoort.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Blue-Grosbeak-2018-9.jpg?resize=584%2C498&ssl=1)
Blue grosbeaks seem to be more visible than usual.