On Golden Crown
Golden-crowned sparrows aren't the only sparrow of North America with gold coloring on their heads, but they are the only one with it atop their crown, thus the name. Little flocks of golden-crowns line the auto tour every year at Ridgefield, with an occasional sparrow of another species thrown into the mix.
Blackberry Addicts
Himalayan blackberries are aggressively invasive here in the Northwest and have colonized large sections of my favorite refuge. While it is depressing to see how quickly they take over, they do at least provide food and shelter for a variety of wildlife. The blackberry thickets along the auto tour at Ridgefield are a good place to see flocks of golden-crowns during the winter.