Views of Sequim, the Olympic Peninsula. . .and beyond
What’s not to love Washington? Our ferry dropped us off on Whidbey Island and we found this amazing view about a half mile from the dock.
The colorful sky we had while crossing from Pt. Townsend was beginning to gray, but the frosting of the beach grasses and logs were sparkling. It was a simple landscape that was delightfully picturesque and a beautiful welcome on a bitter cold day.
Be sure to make reservations!
It was cold and wintery day for a trip to anywhere, but the view from one of our ferries can make it all worthwhile. The Cascade Mountains were peeking through the clouds and the early morning sun displayed a range of color from a beautiful blue to a soft and lovely magenta.
Whenever I board the ferry, I’m always hoping for leaping orcas, humpbacks, or dolphins, but there was no whining from me on this trip…and that in itself is remarkable!
Sequim is not without its icons, and this incredible lady is one of them.
While on my daily birding run, I found her (name unknown) leisurely passing by in horse and buggy, with dogs in tow, while willing to chat, and more than willing to pose for my camera.
I can think of nowhere else in the world that one might stumble over this scene, other than in Sequim! To me, she is the epitome of what Sequim represents – rural roots and neighborly charm.
But unfortunately, although I photographed her in April of 2021, I lost track of her, as well as my communication with her. So I’m asking all of you to help me locate her…or to at least provide me with an avenue to contact her.
Another image from my day at Hurricane Ridge (with the dreaded snowshoes)…
Not only were the snowdrifts amazing, the sky was getting darker and more intense by the moment. Soon waves of clouds swirled across the mountains threatening even more snow, wind, and COLD.
After removing the snowshoes, I grabbed my sled, headed off to a section of hard packed snow, quickly landed on my butt and captured this shot shortly thereafter. In my world, success comes at a price!
This time of year brings back memories of a friend who led us on a snowshoeing field trip to Hurricane Ridge. The drive up from Port Angeles gave no indication of the sight we’d see when we arrived at the Visitors’ Center, which sadly, was destroyed in a fire the next year.
The volume of snow was startling with the trees drooping under its weight. Although the sun was shining overhead and creating beautiful shadows on the drifts, it was extremely cold and one wonders how the birds and wildlife survive it.
I brought a sled, a handy way to transport my tripod and camera gear, and trudged my way through the snow for about 20 feet before questioning my sanity…did I really think I could walk with these things? Being unable to convince my “other half” to pull me on the sled, I resorted to sucking it up and pressing on.
Clearly, I have no appreciation for snowshoes whatsoever, but that view was amazing and I was not going to go home without capturing it, which I did here.
WARNING! Bird photography can be addictive but also challenging.
My addiction started while peering out the window eyeballing hummingbirds on a feeder everyday. It then progressed to herons, then eagles…and from there, there was no stopping me.
The www.wildlife informer.com states, ‘The Washington Fish & Wildlife Office estimates that up to 80% of the eagles found in the state during the mid-winter months are migrants with the largest winter concentrations occur in the lower Columbia River, Skagit River, Nooksack River, and Banks Lake.’ But from my observation, Sequim has one the largest numbers in the state (I once photographed 30 of them at the Landing). ‘As for the total population of breeding pairs, the WFWO states there are about 900 current nest sites.’ I’ve personally located over 6 active ones in our area.
So with that said, the Landing is another spot on my typical 25 miles daily drive through Sequim and the surrounding area watching for birds. This particular day, I was blessed with the graces of a baldy transporting a fish to the treetops and was able to capture this image.
So if you too are up for a challenge…consider donning a pair of binoculars, or grabbing a camera. Just beware, you may not be able to escape the addiction!
A neighbor on NextDoor asked if I’d post this image of a cow elk wearing a tracker, and I’m happy to oblige.
Trackers are used to stop traffic on Hwy. 101 and to allow the herd to safely cross. Note that one ear also has a tag. Otherwise, her tracker serves as an attractive conversation starter, if nothing else. I’ve googled for more info but wasn’t able to TRACK down the reason for the tag.
If any of you have witnessed a crossing, please comment!