Late Winter Sunshine on Ridgefield NWR


On the last weekend of winter I journeyed to the Carty Unit of the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge. And, to my pleasant surprise, I was greeted with some sunshine too.

After crossing over a newly-constructed arched foot bridge above a set of railroad tracks, I walked north to a cedar plankhouse. It was built in 2005 as a representative of the 14 plankhouses observed by Lewis & Clark in a nearby Indian village.

This was the beginning of the Oaks to Wetlands Trail, a well-marked path passing several lakes.

Eventually the Trail emerged on a butte overlooking much of the area.

As I walked back to the trailhead, the thickets appeared to be alive with small birds. The ponds were overseen by egrets and great blue herons.

Truly a bird lovers delight.

Egret on the hunt

Egret on the hunt

A moth enjoying a Toothwort flower

Brown Moth enjoying a Toothwort flower

Kayakers

Kayakers

Song Sparrow peeking at me

Song Sparrow peeking at me

Trout Lily about read to bloom

Trout Lily about read to bloom

New footbridge

New footbridge

Fillaree

Fillaree

Spotted Towhee

Spotted Towhee

Great Blue Heron

Great Blue Heron

 

 

 

Categories: Portland Area HikesTags: , , , , , ,

Leave a Reply

%d bloggers like this: