Saturday, July 22, 2017

Saturday's Critters #188

Welcome to Saturday's Critters!

If you love critters like I do and also like to blog about them and take critter photos this is where you can share your critter post. Link up your post and share your critters, join in with my critter party ! You can share any kind of critters the real ones, pretend ones, statues and paintings, a new or old post!


For this week's post I am sharing some birds we saw while visiting Sequim and Port Angeles Washington. This was our second trip to this area of Washington state, the last trip was back in 2015. During our visit we went to a few birding spots like the Dungeness National Wildlife Refuge and the Dungeness Spit, Helen Pond at Three Crabs Road and the Ediz Hook in Port Angeles.

The Dungeness Spit located in Sequim at the Dungeness National Wildlife refuge.




At the Dungeness Nat'l Wildlife Refuge we had to wait out a little rain before we hiked the trail down to the Dungeness Spit. Below are photos of the trail thru the woods, a Rough Skinned Newt, a view of the Dungeness Spit on a cloudy day, driftwood, two Black Oystercatchers, a large group of Cormorants and maybe with a few Mergansers. We found another Rough-skinned Newt on the way back up the trail.


There were signs warning hikers about these Rough-skinned Newts that produce a toxin from their skin. The toxin could irritate your eyes or skin if you should happen to pick up or touch one of these Rough-skinned Newts. They could be seen on the trail or crossing the trail as we walked.


I have a lifer from my 2017 Washington trip it is the Western Sandpiper seen below with the Semipalmated Plover.


Semipalmated Plovers and some Western Sandpipers were seen along Three Crabs Road in Sequim.


We spent the night in Port Angeles Washington and we visited the Ediz Hook, another spit of land. Here we saw a big flock of Brant Geese and lots of Rhinoceros Auklets.



Lots of Brant Geese at the Ediz Hook spit in Port Angeles Washington.






I appreciate and thank everyone who links up their post and for all the wonderful comments! I hope you enjoy my post and photos too!



Here is a list of my linky parties;
Also visit:  I'd-Rather-B-BirdinThanks to the gracious host: Anni.

Happy Saturday, enjoy your weekend!

74 comments:

  1. You certaily saw a good number of birdsin thatarea Eileen. Thanks for hosting and have a wonderful weekend.

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  2. I like the view of the 1st photo. You have found some very interesting creatures from your hiking trail. Have a wonderful weekend!

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  3. Thank you for hosting, Eileen. Very enjoyable pictures from your trip. I hope you have an enjoyable Saturday.

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  4. Sometimes I wish I lived at the ocean, then I could see plovers much more often. And this summer too the beast places for them has dried out. so no water :(

    Thanks for sharing.

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  5. So interesting place! Love the photos!

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  6. Hello,

    Beautiful photos!
    I love to watch all the birds.

    I wish you a nice weekend!

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  7. This may come as a bit of a shock - but I recognise that first picture! I was there in the mid 90s! I'll have to dig out some slides when I get home!

    Cheers - Stewart M - Geneva, Switzerland

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  8. Good morning, Eileen! It looks like a lovely place to visit even with the rain. Interesting little newt. Congratulations on your Western Sandpiper!!
    Hope you have a good weekend!

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  9. Lindas fotos e bem mostradas! Desejo ótimo fim de semana! bjs praianos,chica

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  10. Hello Eileen and thanks for hosting and sharing these shots from your trip. I always learn something new about birds when I visit as you find the most interesting birds and critters like the rhinoceros Auklets and that newt with toxic skin! Fascinating!
    Happy weekend!

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  11. Lovely pictures! Happy weekend!

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  12. Great shots!
    Enjoy your weekend
    Crissi

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  13. Birder's lifer, congratulations.

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  14. ...there sure is some beautiful country in the North West, thanks for sharing.

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  15. Hello Eileen,
    The waterfowl are always great to see.
    You made a nice variety of it.
    Have a very nice weekend.
    Greetings, Helma

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  16. What amazing sanctuaries you visit!!!

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  17. So many different birds on the beach there. I didn't know newts were poisonous to handle but I'm not sure I've ever seen one here. Have a wonderful weekend.

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  18. Oh Eileen, now you have really made my green eyes greener this morning. You see Sequim was a place that I chose many years ago that for me would be the perfect small town place to live...they get rain, but not lots of it, the temperatures are average all year, not much snow if any, they are the Lavender capitol of America and I drench myself inside out with the lovely plant. It is Washington state and one of my favorite places on earth. Your images took me back to our journey when after 43 years of waiting, we took the five day road trip to get there, only to arrive for the Government SHUTDOWN. I never got into the rain forests that I had dreamed of for all of those years. You are truly blessed to be able to travel as you do and my day was just made in seeing this. Have a wonderful weekend~

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  19. Hello, Eileen,
    Thank you for sharing these interesting photos from your trip. That newts looks pretty even though it has toxin. So good there were signs warning hikers!
    Have a good weekend.

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  20. I have so enjoyed my visits to Washington State, and your photos enliven my memories of several life birds seen there. Most of our visits were around September and we did not get rain, but I had a business meeting there in the summer and it rained every day-- no worry because there was no time for birding anyway!

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  21. So much to see in that area. I'm glad the rain let up so you could get out! Would be nice and cool now...I bet! Happy weekend!

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  22. Another wonderful post, Eileen!

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  23. Good morning Eileen, what a wonderful place, and your critters are having a party of joy! I have the weekend off YES! and I'll be bringing my critter post later today! For the moment I'll enjoy everyone else's! Enjoy your day's journey!

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  24. What an amazing variety. That is a pretty cool area, we liked it on our visit. I love sandpipers. Especially when they have babies.

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  25. Good morning, Eileen. How interesting about that rough skinned Newt. We walked that trail and along the spit in July of 2015 and didn't see as many things as you saw. Right now Sequim is having their glorious lavender festival and it's teaming with people. Hope you are having a good weekend.

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  26. I did not know about toxic newts, glad our anoles are not that way. this one is kind of cute/ugly and all new to me.

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  27. What a beautiful place and gorgeous photography of nature ~ ^_^

    thanks for visiting and commenting on my blog ^_^

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  28. What a neat place and great captures, Eileen! Congrats on another lifer!

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  29. What a beautiful place to visit and lots of critters and birds. Perhaps we will get up that way!

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  30. awesome captures!! i have never seen a newt, they look like baby alligators!!

    many thanks for hosting, have a wonderful weekend eileen, try to stay cool!!!

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  31. You found great critters Eileen. I enjoyed seeing them all. Thank you and have a great weekend :)

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  32. This looks like a wonderful place, Eileen. The newt is amazing!
    Thanks for hosting.

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  33. Great post again Eileen, I love the plovers , when I first came accreos them in Florida (Materson hammock) I couldn't believe how tiny the are.
    Take care, Gordon.

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  34. I like thaat first photo Eileen. The long spit is so dramatic, reaching out into the sea like that. I'll bet if I'd walked along that track I would have picked up a newt. until I saw the sign of course. It's just curiosity that we enthusiasts all share I think.

    You saw a nice selection of birds that day.

    Thanks for the link up again Eileen. And have a great week ahead.

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  35. Eileen that looks like a wonderful place to visit, and your photos are beautiful! Love that spit! and what fun seeing those lifers

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  36. Dearest Eileen,
    you're amazing me more and more with your gorgeous shots, I heartily thank you !

    Wishing you a most beautiful Saturday and Sunday ahead,
    I'm sending all my love to you, Lovely Lady

    XOXO Dany

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  37. What a beautiful place - that spit looks like it goes on forever.

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  38. Wonderful shots, Eileen, and a marvelous place to explore!

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  39. WOW - the split is a phenomenal place to visit, it appears. I love it!
    Great collection of critters and photos for this post.
    Thank you for hosting.
    Have a Happy Weekend, Eileen!
    Peace :)

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  40. No newts is good newts (in your hand anyway.... it's very good to get such a great picture! Happy to share your love of the beautiful Washington Coast and it's bird life! Thanks for hosting

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  41. Hello Eileen!:) Wonderful captures of all the birds and newt, and congrats on your lifer, the Western Sandpiper,...a chubby little bird! I love the first view, it makes me want to walk along that long stretch of sand. Thank you for hosting, and have a lovely weekend.

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  42. Such amazing shot, Eileen! Gorgeous view of the trail and incredible aspects of fauna captured, there! Lovely place for those so many small or large birds...
    I would like to have the chance to see such great natural reserve! Many thanks for sharing all of these with us! A lovely weekend to you!

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  43. I love the Newt, it's precious.

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  44. It's a good thing they have warning signs about that newt!

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  45. Better not step on that newt! Could be trouble. Some of the scenery at the ocean reminds me of some I saw when we were in Oregon and northern California this passed May.

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  46. Hi Eileen. Congrats on the lifer. Interestingly we also have a reserve called Dungeness (in UK) but a totally different and almost barren coastal location.

    Have a great week.

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  47. Another truly special place to visit! Interesting about the Rough-skinned Newts - I wouldn't have to worry about any skin irritations, there's no way I'd ever touch them, take a picture, but I'm too squeamish to want to play with any reptile! :-)

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  48. Hello Eileen, I really like the look of the Dungeness National Wildlife refuge. It'd be a lovely place to visit. Heh heh, got to say... from the photo of the Rough-skinned Newts, I wouldn't wish to pick it up, but that's an eye-opener about its toxicity.
    Beautiful photos of the Sandpipers. Your post is very enjoyable. Cheers now :D)

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  49. Gorgeous series, Eileen! The newt is so cute! Thank you so much for sharing, and I hope you are having a great weekend. :)

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  50. Wonderful pictures. Thank you for the fascination.

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  51. Great photos as always. Interesting about the newt.

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  52. I bet this was an interesting place to be....

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  53. Now that sounds like it would be a really neat trip!

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  54. Nice images! Good job on the collages.

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  55. Hi Eileen...I would sure like to walk and bird this area with you....beautiful.

    Thanks so much for joining us birders at I'd Rather B Birdin'.

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  56. Such amazing photos !!
    Happy Sunday !!

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  57. Happy good Sunday morning to you Eileen! I promised you a critter post, and in going through your post again this morning I still am pleasantly lost in your first photo. That one photo puts me in the state of poetry, it has such depth of soul, (well to me anyway) although not to give credit to your outstanding critters too! You always please the spirit every time we stop by! Enjoy your day.

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  58. Another beautiful post. Loved all pics.
    Greetings.

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  59. Hello Eileen – Another excellent Saturday’s Critters post here! I especially enjoyed seeing your photography of this nature area up here in my part of the world! :-) I can’t believe I haven’t visited the Dungeness National Wildlife Refuge but thanks to your post I’m putting it on my “must see” list today! Seattle’s famous seafood restaurants love to offer Dungeness Crab as a delicacy so it is not surprising that the name is so well known here but I’ll bet most locals haven’t visited the Dungeness Spit. Your pictures are excellent. I will have to keep an eye out for the Rough-skinned Newts! Great lifer photo of the Western Sandpiper! Thanks for sharing! Wishing you a happy day today and all the week ahead!

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  60. Beautiful shots Eilleen. I wonder how many people have been caught out by the toxin from the newt! Have a great week :)

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  61. Hello Eileen, interesting about the Rough-skinned newts giving off a toxin. Congratulations on your Western Sandpiper lifer. Thanks for hosting this meme. I'm a day late but have linked up. Have a great day. Jo

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  62. Belas imagens , a natureza é sempre inspiradora e através de seu olhar uma riqueza de detalhes.
    Desejo-lhe uma linda semana.
    beijos
    Joelma

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  63. I especially love the scenic first shot. I live not so terribly far from there as things go. Lots of beautiful scenes on the coast line. Your photos as always are beautiful. Enjoy the week ahead. xx

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  64. Great photos and beautiful nature, Eileen!!!

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  65. A trip to the Washington coast is not complete without a little rain! :) Great pics of the birds and newt.

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  66. Beautiful! I love an occasional overcast day... Perfect when exploring nature.

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  67. Very interesting post on the birds and trail through the unique reptile area… loved the spit into the sea. Wish I could take such trails into woods and forest to encounter wild species alike the Newt!

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  68. Your first photo of the Dungeness Spit is beautiful! And, what unique names for these areas...Ediz Hook and Three Crabs Road! The Rough-Skinned Newt looks a bit slimy, I'll keep a distance if I ever come across one. All your photos are great, so many birds, looking happy to be there. Have a great week!

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  69. I don't think I would want to pick up one of those Newts..Maybe kids would..Lots of birds there..

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  70. Dearest Eileen; So sorry for my recent belated commenting, even thought writing my own <(v_v)>
    I always LOVE your varieties of critters (birds), which I cannot see here. I this your post I only know Sandpipers p:-)
    Have a WONDERFUL rest of the week♡♡♡
    Sending Lots of Love and Hugs from Japan to my Dear friend, xoxo Miyako*

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  71. I learn things from you . . .
    Today . . . about a Newt . .
    Three Crabs Road . . . a different name.
    "A spit of land" . . .
    Always a treat to read and enjoy Critter visit with you!

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Have a happy day, Eileen

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