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???
If you’re like me, you love being by saltwater, and the site of a lighthouse is a clear indication that you’ll find what you like.
Fortunately, we have Dungeness Light right here in Sequim, and Pt. Wilson close by in Pt. Townsend. Since I haven’t built up the gumption to walk the 10-mile trail to ours as of yet, I drive to Pt. Townsend to visit Pt. Wilson Light instead – and it’s always worth the trip.
If you haven’t visited as of yet, I highly recommend it, and if at all possible, volunteer. You are sure to meet others who share your love of lighthouses, the community, and sharing its history with other visitors.
The Pt. Wilson website at www.pointwilsonlighthouse.org states that, ‘Volunteers are needed in many areas. Lighthouse Tours on weekends are run from May through September. Volunteer docents are needed to help interpret and lead visitors through the lighthouse. Share your enthusiasm with interested guests from around the world. Training provided. Fundraising and Public Outreach are a vital part of this project. If this is something you enjoy, we look forward to having your help. Future Plans include education programs, and exhibit design.
If you go to visit, you may want to stay for the sunset (and the stunning views). You can make plans to sleep in one of their vacation rentals, open year round, or just do a day trip.
Whatever you decide, be sure to dip your toes in the saltwater – and to snap a few photos of this wonderfully picturesque lighthouse, or bring along your watercolors or your digital paintbox!
While scanning for Northern Harriers and Red-Tailed hawks on Towne Road, I was surprised to spot two handsome and apparently healthy coyotes passing by. Both seemed very healthy with thick winter coats that blended beautifully in with their environment. And while I was anxious to get a shot, they were not about to accommodate me.
So, I credit my husband Jim for helping me to get this one. His quick thinking when he gave off a shrill whistle stopped one coyote in its tracks, while its mate quickly took off into the trees.
Afterwards, I learned that as a young boy, Jim whistled at deer to get their attention while hunting and never forgot the technique…who knew?!
And by the way, like me, he now “hunts” with a camera.
Although you may recognize this as 3 Crabs Beach, it certainly didn’t appear like it back on December 30th of 2022.
We had a high tide of 9.13 feet that day, and although I’m not aware that it broke a record, it certainly appeared like it. I understood it to be a ‘King Tide’, but was curious as to whether the description was accurate.
While NOAA states that, ‘A King Tide is a non-scientific term people often use to describe exceptionally high tides’ whatever term you care to use, is fine with me. I found it incredibly inviting, and I was tempted to grab my kayak and paddle out, but as the sign indicates, the land and tide plains are protected; so I resisted, although of sinking the sign did come to mind…
A friend and fellow photographer and I took a lengthly drive on Blue Mountain Road a few years ago on a wintery day like today.
Like many other nature photographers, we sought to find inspiration to create unique images from what we found. And if you’ve driven Blue Mountain Road, you’ve may have found some photographic opportunities yourself (beyond the transfer station), e.g., the church, the rusted farm equipment, the Sears house, etc., just as we did.
But this particular day we were feeling creative, and therefore, experimented a bit with in camera movement (ICM) – a technique in which one zooms the lens forward and/or back to convey a sense of depth, and in this case, a bit a mystery as to how it was accomplished.
I hope you enjoy the end result, but if not, feel confident; the church, the rust, the house…they’re coming soon.
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.