Views of Sequim, the Olympic Peninsula. . .and beyond
Sharing my photo of two love birds, aka trumpeter swans, swimming in the glow of autumn reflections at Kirner Pond.
I’ll be spending today paying more attention to my loved one, so I’ll make this short, but it comes with a wish for all of you to have a wonderful day spending it with yours.
Cheers!
On yet another sunny Sequim day, I found this local GBH (Great Blue Heron) ready to blast off into the wild blue yonder after fishing for breakfast on Jamestown Beach.
Their massive wings never cease to impress, and when you’re fortunate enough to encounter one, it’s difficult not to come home with a photo to capture the moment.
There are some really cool facts about them is on the www.allaboutbirds.com website, and this is one: ‘Great Blue Herons have specialized feathers on their chest that continually grow and fray. The herons comb this “powder down” with a fringed claw on their middle toes, using the down like a washcloth to remove fish slime and other oils from their feathers as they preen. Applying the powder to their underparts protects their feathers against the slime and oils of swamps.
Who knew???
I’m not a fan of holly trees (other than their colorful berries) but this one served as a nice support for our hummingbirds over the past 6 years, and as a great spot for them to nest, regardless of their prickly leaves. Although the tree is in my neighbor’s backyard, I can reach it with my longest lens and get a nice portrait, as long as the bird cooperates.
But to my surprise, when I went to refresh my feeder the other day – the tree was gone – as if it had disappeared into thin air – and the bird, who dive-bombs me every time I fill the feeder was nowhere in sight.
As I found out later, my neighbor had the holly removed while we were out of town, without knowing its value from the hummer’s standpoint, and apparently not aware of it’s impact on my photography.
But the good news is, the hummer returned, I’m attempting to grow a new holly (in a pot that’s closer to my house), and I’m now getting to know the neighbor better – and he’s welcomed me to photograph his flowers.
I love Sequim sunsets, especially when they’re silhouetted by an eagle’s nest as this one was.
Located on Towne Road, it’s set back a substantial distance, which makes it tough to get a good photo, even with a long lens. But therein lies the challenge not only for me, but for many other Sequim photographers.
From previous observation, our eagles begin mating in January, and since this nest was occupied last year, I’m suspecting that it will be again this year. So I’ve been watching daily for any nest building activity by the parents which in itself is entertaining, and if there’s a sunset to go with it, that’s even better.
Stopping by JWM is another way to spend a foggy day, of which we seem to be having again.
And after being a boat owner for over 20 years, seeing sailboats anchored in the bay makes me nostalgic, although my husband and I owned a powerboats exclusively.
There’s something about being on or near the water that calls to my soul, but since then, I’ve only answered it from a kayak.
In the meantime, I take joy in seeing the boats, the reflections, and of course, the birds…my current passion.
And for those of you who are curious about the marina’s name, their website at https://portofpa.com/marine/john-wayne-marina/ states: ‘John Wayne Marina was constructed in 1985 on 22 acres of land donated by the John Wayne family. John Wayne frequented Sequim Bay waters aboard the family yacht (the “Wild Goose”) and envisioned a marina in the scenic bay prior to his death. Eventually, this vision became reality under the ownership and auspices of the Port of Port Angeles.’
I found these two snuggling up on a snag not long ago, and although a bit far from Sequim (at Semiahmoo), they have plenty of siblings, and/or cousins, in our area. And seeing that we have such clear blue skies as I write this, I couldn’t resist sharing them with you.
Although nothing is ever “perfect” with any couple, I think this pair comes quite close.
Although not my best image, this photo gives a good indication of the difference between the female and the male Harrier and shows her owl-like facial features.
On their website at https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Northern_Harrier/ So All About Birds states the following:
‘Northern Harriers are the most owl-like of hawks (though they’re not related to owls). They rely on hearing as well as vision to capture prey. The disk-shaped face looks and functions much like an owl’s, with stiff facial feathers helping to direct sound to the ears’.
Note the white strip across the top of the tail as well, it’s a clear indication of an Northern Harrier, both male and female.