More Ruston Way

Since I couldn’t remember anything special about our last Dunes Walk, I thought I would jump ahead to our recent trip to Port Townsend.  When I actually looked at what I had downloaded, though, I decided that I liked a few of the pictures too much to just ignore.

For instance, this shot of a Harbor Seal resting on an underwater rock fascinated me.  At first, we all thought it was a piece of drifting kelp; it wasn’t until it raised its head that it was clear it was a seal.

I had a hard time locating the Turnstones that I’d seen nearby, but I’ve learned to always check spots where I’ve seen birds recently.  It must have been their nap time, too.

I had a hard time locating the Turnstones that I’d seen nearby, but I’ve learned to always check spots where I’ve seen birds recently.  It must have been their nap time, too.

But my favorite shot of the day was this male Belted Kingfisher who stayed put until I walked onto the pier.  

It’s always a good day when I can manage a shot of a Belted Kingfisher.

Goldeneye Watching

Although I see a lot of Goldeneye on our walks through Pt. Defiance Park, I never manage to get as close as I do at the Port Orchard Marina.  Usually I get the best close-ups when they are inside the marina, but on our last visit I had to chase them down along the sidewalk because there were so many boats in the marina.

Usually, they’re content to just float along, like this pair, 

but occasionally I get lucky and one will show off their uniques wing pattern like this

or take off from a running start

and land a few feet away for no apparent reason

other than to give me a chance to practice my photographic skills.

Port Orchard Marina

Whenever we bird the east side of Puget Sound we begin by walking Theler Wetlands and end by walking the Port Orchard marina. I suspect I walk them in this order because I discovered Theler long before I discovered Port Orchard — and because it is a habit.  If I were only interested in wildlife photos, I probably wouldn’t bother to walk Theler this time of year and would spend all of my time at Port Orchard because I can get a lot closer to the birds in Port Orchard and because they are so accustomed to people that they don’t immediately dive when you try to take a shot, not to mention that I am more apt to see favorites like this Horned Grebe, 

Pelagic Cormorant, 

Double-Crested Cormorant,

and Hooded Mergansers.

More of Theler

We’ve been so busy making cookies and decorating the house that I haven’t had a chance to complain that it has been over a week since I was able to get outside and take photos.  We’ve finished enough cookies that I feel comfortable taking a few minutes to edit the photos I took a week ago at Theler on a remarkably clear morning, as revealed by yet another shot of the moon.

There were actually quite a few ducks, like these beautiful Northern Pintails, but they were far, far away — probably best because our morning walk was punctuated by the sound of shotgun blasts as hunting season continues.  

We got a lot closer to these Ring-Billed Gulls, who looked quite striking in the early-morning sunshine.

My favorite shot of the day, though, was this shot of a common House Finch surrounded by red berries and highlighted by the early morning light.