Posted July 3rd, 2009 by loren |
Theler Wetlands |
Before I picked up Tyson and his family at the airport for an extended 4th of July weekend I managed to sneak in a quick trip to Theler Wetlands. Birding was actually rather poor, limited to the usual Red-Winged Blackbirds and Mallards with accompanying ducklings.
However, I did enjoy watching this Kingfisher fishing,
even if it was quite a ways away.
I’d resigned myself to taking pictures of flowers, like this newly emerged Coreopsis,
and this red and yellow lily
when I came around the corner of the garden to find a whole flock of Cedar Waxwings eating berries.
I would probably be enthralled with this picture
if I hadn’t taken an even better picture last year in exactly the same spot.
Luckily, such beauty seems ever new.
Posted June 29th, 2009 by loren |
Uncategorized |
It’s been nearly three weeks since I’ve been at Lake Waughop in Steilacoom, but it turns out everything is just as I left it.
The snapdragons are as beautiful as ever.
Cardinal Meadowhawks patrol the water.
Baby Wood Ducks
are still watched by their mothers,
while Mt. Rainier continues to tower over its realm
knowing everything is just as it’s meant to be, still perfect in its moment.
Posted June 25th, 2009 by loren |
Theler Wetlands, Uncategorized |
One of the best reasons to go to Theler Wetlands when birding is slow is when you get skunked birding you can always find beautiful flowers to photograph.
Wednesday was no exception. I was pleased to see that the Tiger Lilies
were in full bloom.
As were these
though I’ll have to admit that I don’t know exactly what they are.
One of the reasons I headed back, though, was that I wanted to get a picture of these “native” iris that bloom in the wetlands:
It turns out, though, that this Yellow Flag Iris isn’t native at all and is regarded, at least in King County, as a noxious weed
Posted June 24th, 2009 by loren |
Theler Wetlands |
As you’ve obviously noted if you’re a regular visitor, I haven’t had much of an opportunity to get out birding lately, either because the weather hasn’t cooperated or other responsibilities have gotten in the way. So, when it cleared here today, I decided to take a chance, even though the weather report called for rain. For a change, they were right and I spent much of my walk in the rain, though at least it was a warm rain.
Birding wasn’t particularly great either, mostly limited to crows who seemed too wet to notice anyone out walking
and a personal favorite, cedar waxwings
which might have been beautiful if I’d gotten the picture a half hour later when the sun broke through for ten or fifteen minutes. Again, I thought my camera, Aperture, and Photoshop did a great job of making a muddy picture look much better than it really was.
As so often happens on rainy days, though, I got the closest shot I’ve ever managed of this female Belted Kingfisher:
Notice how the camera even captured the rain as it fell. Despite the rain, it seemed like a great day. I walked a little over three miles, got lunch out at a favorite Mexican restaurant and managed to get at least a few good shots.
