On a pretty day we drove to the Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge, a few miles southwest of town. It’s one of only a handful of urban wildlife refuges in the National Wildlife Refuge System.

The Refuge is slowly returning to a more natural state within the floodplain of the Tualatin River Basin.

We enjoyed a hike on the Refuge’s three-mile perimeter trail. Sadly, the large bald eagles’ nest high in an old oak tree had succumbed to the heavy storms of last winter.

We spotted an egret, ducks and red-winged blackbirds, but no bald eagles.

In several weeks there will be many baby ducks and wildflowers to see.

Red-winged Blackbird

The Refuge

Camas Lilies

Margined White Butterfly

Lupine