UBNA Chronicles

Another visit to the Union Bay Natural Area and grass is starting to grow back in the burned fields. The emerald blades are a stark contrast against the black, charred remains. This time there weren't any birds foraging in the burnt meadows, but there were plenty in the nearby pond. I haven't yet identified the bird above. There were a pair- so cute! They were very tiny. The other one (not pictured) was more white and they swam nervously- reminding me a lot of an irish Moorhen.

Least Sandpiper

Ladybug and Queen Anne's Lace

My token photo of a heron which I rather like

Another urban wildlife outing

It seems like there is always something different to see when we go to the Union Bay Natural Area. Today we saw a gorgeous kingfisher who was not shy at all. It was busy fishing the entire time we were there and I even got a photo of it catching a fish, but unfortunately the lighting was all wrong and isn't very good. Oh! And we also conjured up a frog. (Now, we are hoping we will conjure up the winning lotto numbers.)

Finally, I got some photos of dragonflies- although I do not know what kind they are...If anyone can identify them, please do!

The one that got away

More photos from the Union Bay Natural Area taken almost 2 weeks ago. The trails were quite overgrown with tall grass and we wish we would've brought our machetes. However, I did get to see a female American Goldfinch gathering fluff for its nest and a gorgeous osprey.

Last week I went on the Twin Falls hike near North Bend. We hiked up to the suspension bridge that overlooked the 2nd waterfall and I saw my first male Western Tanager! What a beauty- it had a bright yellow body and black wings with a fiery orange/red head. It flew down in to the clearing and landed on contrasting dark green boughs of douglas fir- which would've made a great photo with the waterfall behind it, but it flew away just after I got a close look at it through my binoculars.

Union Bay Natural Area

Otherwise known as the Montlake Fill is an amazing refuge in the backyard of the UW's campus.

I saw a pair of Harlan's Red-tailed hawks. The other was being pestered by crows in a neighboring tree.

Cinnamon Teal

Killdeer