Category: Special Places

A Sunny Fall Day

Despite the fact I’d already attended my 6:30 T’ai Chi class and my 8:00 Pilates class, and taken Skye on his 30 minute walk, when I read that yesterday was predicted to be the only sunny day all week, I headed out to Nisqually, tired knees, sore ankle and all, and I wasn’t in the least disappointed though I doubt I took a single photograph that will last past the next editing session.

I’ll admit I WAS a little disappointed to discover that Taco La Fuentes, my favorite Mexican-restaurant-in-a-bus was closed and that I had to settle for a glass of Porter, barbecued chips, and a Reuben at a nearby bar instead of my usual fare before heading out to take photos. Sometimes roughing it leads to better photos.

Not today, though. Instead, I found myself taking pictures of summer’s leaves floating in a creek that next spring will Spring forth with new life,

Leaves floating in Pond

wondering why we insist on cleaning up leaves when they seem to produce such abundant new life when left to Fall naturally.

And here in the wilds of the Pacific Northwest the dropping of leaves doesn’t mean bare trees because with the sudden increase in light, ferns suddenly burst out in vivid greens from bare branches:

Fern growing from tree branch

But there are no new birds, and most of the day is spent taking more shots of birds that I’ve already taken too many pictures of, in some vain hope of getting a better shot than I already have, forced in the end to settle for the sheer joy of seeing what I’ve seen many times before:

Cedar Waxwing eating fruit

Still, even when you’ve seen it all before, there’s a certain thrill in seeing the first American Bittern of the season, especially after having spent most of the year looking in vain:

American Bittern

And perhaps, even, the slightest bit of pride in being able to share the discovery with visitors who have walked by it but are excited to see the bird for the first time.

The Small Things in Life

When it comes to bird pictures, most people prefer pictures of raptors, particularly Bald Eagles, and I’ll admit I’m always trying to get a better shot of eagles or hawks than I’ve already taken. However, my real fondness is for the small birds most people ignore.

Perhaps it’s because of the challenge of getting a good shot of small birds that use their speed and elusiveness to avoid becoming a meal, while larger predators confidently sit in plain sight on top of the tallest tree around, alone at the top of the food chain.

So, though I was quite happy to get the shot of the eagle that I used yesterday, I was even happier to get this shot of a Bonaparte’s Gull, one of the smallest of the gulls that migrates through our area.

Bonaparte's Gull

I spent much longer trying to get a good shot of this bird than I spent on the eagle picture. Of course, I can always find an eagle or two to take a picture of, but I’ve only seen Bonaparte’s Gulls one other time in the three years I’ve been birding. Even though the four gulls kept a considerable distance between us, they were skittish every time I pointed a lens at them and their white feathers made it difficult to figure out the best exposure.

It’s much easier taking pictures of Song Sparrow, as evidenced by the fellow on my front porch this spring, but I was still pleased by this handsome pose,

Song Sparrow

one that looks even better when it’s blown up full screen size at full resolution rather than resized so that it doesn’t take three days to view on your computer.

I also spent quite awhile trying to get a good shot of these Golden-Crowned Sparrows who were feasting on the same trees where I took pictures of the Cedar Waxwings a week or so ago, except these guys were much shyer and kept the tree between me and themselves, which explains the mysterious, soft-fuzzy touch in the middle of the bird.

Gold-Crowned Sparrow

Of course it helps to get pictures of shy birds if you can find a major food source and simply wait awhile. Birds will stay away at first, but will continue eating if they decide you’re relatively harmless. I’d sure like to plant one of these trees in my yard if I knew what it was because it produces tons of fruit and attracts a wide variety of birds.

Staying Alive

While out walking at the Theyler Wetlands in Belfair today a teacher and a group of students told me that they had seen a coyote in the large field that borders the wetlands. Although it was no longer in sight, I figured that if I just listened for the outpost

Canada Goose on Watch

to start cackling I would soon spot the coyote, and it didn’t take long for my theory to bear fruit. It wasn’t ten minutes and the flock was flying in circles honking loudly.

Sue enough, a rather large coyote came trotting across the field, though he seemed to be more intent on chasing mice than on catching geese.

Coyote

Good thing, too, as the flock of geese was more than ready to tell the world about any potential threat.

I suspect the geese would have been even more nervous if they’d realize that another predator was just down the trail. And this one would come from an entirely different direction:

Bald Eagle Taking Off

Though I’m pretty sure he, too, was looking for an easier meal — migrating salmon — since he was on a tall fir bordering the creek.

The more I observe geese, commonly regarded locally as pests and sometimes poisoned by State agents when residents complain, the more admire their survival skills. They seem to have evolved a highly sophisticated survival system, which includes separating from the flock for breeding and reforming it to better survive the winters. Still, it makes me wonder how the geese decide whose turn it is to be on watch and whose turn it is to catch a snack.

Running Out of Cute Titles

When I left home this morning to head out to Nisqually, I thought the clouds were about to burn off. By the time I got to Nisqually, I wasn’t nearly as optimistic, as it was cold and foggy. To make matters worse, I couldn’t find my gloves, though I realized near the end of the walk that they were actually in the backpack I was carrying, conveniently stored away.

It didn’t take long, though, before I forgot about any physical discomfort, as I spotted this Green Heron on the first pond on the trail. I was watching four mallard ducks and just happened to turn my head and spot the heron. He looked nearly as cold as I was and, unlike previous encounters, didn’t seem in any hurry to leave. In fact, he was in the same pond when I came back nearly an hour later. I must have spent an hour today taking multiple pictures, and probably even more time eliminating duplicates and trying to decide which was the best shot.

Green Heron

I’m not sure any of the shote are any better than the ones I got earlier in the year at Belfair, but I figure anytime you’re lucky enough to see one of these your blessed, though I doubt frogs feel quite the same way.

I was a little surprised to discover that there still aren’t many songbirds at Nisqually. I thought surely the migrants would have been passing through by now, but about the only bird I saw that doesn’t seem to be a year-round resident was (what I think is) a Ruby-Crowed Kinglet:

Ruby-Crowned Kinglet, I Thinkl

There were hundreds of ducks on the McAllister side of the refuge, though. My favorite, because I rarely see it and because I recognized it instantly from its shape was this female Ruddy Duck:

Female Ruddy Duck