After an early morning appointment today, I decided on the spur of the moment to take a detour to the Ballard Locks, near Shilshole Bay. I didn't want to waste these gorgeous days we're having!

Whaddya know - it turned into a little birdwatching lesson for me, and I spent an hour or two walking around in the sunshine with a smile on my face.

Here are some of the birds I saw, those who sat still long enough for me to click.

Belted Kingfisher

Barrow's Goldeneye

Common Merganser

Red-breasted Merganser

Bufflehead

Cormorant

Rockin' Robin
I'd been hoping to see a large number of herons here today, but their "Perching Tree" appeared to have been the subject of a takeover, by an eagle. Needless to say, apart from an occasional scouting mission by the herons, the tree remained under the command of General Eagle.

Great Blue Heron

Immature Eagle
There are beautiful gardens at the Locks as well. First to bloom are the bushes - camellias and rhododendrons. Daffodils and crocuses made splashes of color in the green as well.

Camellia

Camellia

Camellia

Camellia

Rhododendrons

And even a Palm Tree? :D

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