The Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge is located a few miles southwest of Portland, Oregon. It’s one of only a handful of urban wildlife refuges in the National Wildlife Refuge System.

Since 1992 the Federal government and volunteers have been working to turn the Refuge back to a more natural state within the floodplain of the Tualatin River Basin.

On a hot August day we hiked the Refuge’s three-mile perimeter trail. To our disappointment, the pair of bald eagles that nest high in an old oak tree had already departed for the year.

But, there were plenty of Canada geese, great blue herons, ducks, small song birds and a family of nutrias to keep us entertained.

Always a nice place to visit.

Great Blue Heron

Ripe Blackberries

Nutria (a giant rat)

A Yellow Wollybear Caterpillar

Hen Pintails

Queen Anne’s Lace

Great Blue Heron going for the kill

Common Yellowthroat

Mallard Hen

Bald Eagles’ Nest