I recently learned about the Seattle Coyote Study and the Seattle Urban Carnivore Project in a West Seattle Blog post entitled “Where have all the coyotes gone? If you’ve seen/heard any in West Seattle, researcher needs your help”. The post mentioned that Sam Kreling, a UW Ph.D. student, who is leading the Seattle Coyote Study was asking for input from the community. The following is my response to Sam: Our property is adjacent to the Salmon Creek Ravine. There were … Read More
Took a ride up to the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival for a little “color therapy.” It was spectacular as always. We drove around all the gardens (about 16) viewing them from the car, and then spent a few hours in the fields and gardens at RoozenGaarde. Next year I hope to spend the bulk of my time at Tulip Town and view the International Peace Garden. Tulips were first domesticated in the Ottoman Empire and quickly became a status symbol … Read More
Passersby stop and gaze at the large rock on the beach walk in Lincoln Park, Seattle. Different designs, composed of twigs, shells, beach stones, berries, leaves and lichens appear on it throughout the year. In December it reflects the holiday season with red berries and holly leaves. Who creates this magical art? Could it be an early morning walker or jogger? Or maybe one of the little people who dwell in the forest above the beach? At any rate, the … Read More
While I was drinking my tea this Sunday morning, Chuck came in the house yelling, “You have to see this you have to see this”. I asked him what (because most of the time it’s something like a bird or rodent that’s not there anymore when I get outside.) He yelled “there’s spiderwebs everywhere“. I grabbed my cameras and followed him out. And I was blown away because there REALLY were spiderwebs everywhere. They were all covered with fine little … Read More
Actually the whole west coast is smoky, and it has been smoky for 6 weeks in California. Over 4.6 million acres have burned in the US, mostly on the west coast, and the season is far from over. The screen shot below is from the Purple AiR Real-time Air Quality Monitoring map. It shows realtime air quality. The purple circles on the map below indicate air quality on September 14 and range from very unhealthy to hazardous in WA, OR, … Read More
Unusual cloud formations were present the last few days in the Puget Sound Region. The very unusual noctilucent clouds were visible at dawn and sunset. They form above the ozone layer in the upper atmosphere at 250,000 to 280,000 feet and are composed of ice crystals that form around specks of dust from incoming meteors. They only occur at high latitudes around the solstice. Very beautiful cloud formations could also be seen during the day. A double sun halo was … Read More
I live between Lincoln Park and Seahurst Park and during this strange/surreal time of quarantine, I have been doing a leisurely 3 mile walk in Lincoln Park. First I did the beach walk, but then they closed the parking lot and since it is close to the ferry terminal it’s hard to find street parking in that area. Next I started doing the forest walk because parking is easier to find near that entrance. Unfortunately Lincoln Park was declared totally … Read More
The photo above is the Full Snow Moon (in Leo) taken at 6:30AM on Feb 8 from Burien WA looking west over the Olympic Mountains. The moon was totally full that evening at 11:33 p.m. PST. With it came the first sunny weather in weeks. The rains actually fell in 45 of the last 52 days. January was especially wet, with measurable precipitation occurring on 28 of 31 days—tying the all-time mark for number of rainy days in January (set … Read More
Yesterday, on the fourth of July, we had an unexpected visitor. He greeted us with a loud thud on our upper deck. I looked out, expecting to see an injured bird, or possibly a misguided roman candle but instead was pleasantly surprised to see a VERY recently fledged, VERY young Pileated Woodpecker. He was desperately trying to negotiate a grip on a somewhat smooth, narrow railing. We watched as he slipped and slid and flapped and flopped around. I grabbed … Read More
On January 11, 2019 at 10:00PM the Alaskan Way Viaduct in Seattle closed forever. Many people took a ceremonious last trip to bid farewell or express their regrets. The King County Air Support helicopter with their rather surreal “night vision” film camera was there to document the event which ended up lasting a few more hours than anticipated. While the party was taking place on the upper deck of the viaduct, I was traveling south on the crowded lower level. … Read More