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Carty Unit
It was a sunny, almost spring-like day. I drove to the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge for an opportunity to spot migratory waterfowl and a few miles of hiking.
After crossing an arched foot bridge above a set of railroad tracks, I headed west. I could see tundra swans in the distance but was unable to get very close. I did sneak relatively near to a great blue heron.
I walked north to a cedar plankhouse 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.
I was surprised to see a few small yellow stream violets in bloom. I think this is my first year ever spotting wildflowers blooming on both sides of the Cascade Mountains before February. Amazing!
Great Blue Heron
Lake beside the trail
Tundra Swan
Plankhouse
Lots of Oak trees along the trail
Stream Violet that has seen its better days
Foot bridge over the railroad tracks
A Song Sparrow in the shadows
It looks like a beautiful day for it. Lovely photos. 🙂
Thanks for the kind words. It’s a nice place to visit.
Great Blue Herons are the best! Glances of this bird in flight in dim light is my theory for the origin of the Jersey Devil myth.
They are fun to photograph. Their head and neck remind me of a snake at times.
Ha. I set the heron picture as my desktop background. Since I have three connected monitors there is often one with the background showing. Now I have this huge bird with yellow piercing eyes staring at me as if to say, “quit looking at me and get back to work slacker”!
I wonder what it was just eating. Something odd is hanging out of its mouth.
I love the Song Sparrow. Its coloring is beautiful. Great shot!
Thanks. I have a soft spot for sparrows of all kinds.