It was time to check out the Nisqually Delta Wildlife Preserve
to hopefully meet this year's new baby owls.
The trips of the previous 2 years have paid off in that I got great views of twins, and then triplets (can be seen on my blog for February 2013 and 2014).
It was a perfect day; refreshingly cool air and overhead sun,
and I could be alone as I hiked.
Wrinkly new wild rose petals:
Flag of the new season, a backlit willow leaf:
This old snaggly trunk gets slimmed down after each winter's storm:
And my pilgrimage paid off! Well, sorta'. This was the best view
I could get. The owlet twins have actually fledged early and no longer keep together.
Previous years show them closer because they were at the nest.
One can hardly tell this is an owl!
I hiked longer this year because it was low tide, and I
wanted to go out over the tide flats.
Whereas the owlet-sighting was practically nil, I got up close
and personal with 3 different Blue Heron. I love the heron! If there are heron,
it seems that all is right with the woods and wetlands.
It seems that I am much too close to the bird, but I was actually keeping in one place and trying to be quite still. He came right up near me!
Then I realized that I hadn't bothered him at all. He didn't even notice me.
He was focused on his lunch!
Looks like it is Mole ala Parchment Reeds:
Straight-up sun at noontime is usually the least desirable
photo-shooting time because the light is bright and flat.
However, what struck me as completely beautiful was that the standing
tide-flat water appeared blue:
So blue!
And other-worldly:
I liked the complementary colors of the boardwalk supports:
I "collected" a new variety of waterfowl, the
Northern Shoveler:
As always, I hope for a barn portrait:
