Happy Monday!

 Happy Monday!!

I wish everyone a happy day and a great new week!

Bainbridge to Seattle Washington ferry. 

Comments off, enjoy your day!  

Happy Monday!

Happy Monday everyone!

It are in baby watch mode, any day now our grandson can arrive.  We will be grand-dog sitting while waiting.  

 

Comments off!  Have a great day and a happy new week!

Saturday's Critters #357

Welcome to Saturday's Critters!

Hello and happy Saturday!




If you love all God's creatures 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!

I wanted to finish my little series on the National Wildlife Refuges, my last two post show  wildlife refuges from around the country.  When the wildlife refuges were started they were a place for the migratory birds to rest and some to nest. Our current administration has opened more federal land for hunting. I can only assume once a species is gone, they will look for something else to hunt?  I am not against hunting completely, only that there should be limits. 

 

1.  Hubby and I traveled from Salt Lake City to the Tetons NP during two separate trips. One trip we stopped and visited the Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge.  Below are some of the birds we saw: Black-necked Stilt, Tree Swallow, Mountain Bluebird, White-faced Ibis, Yellow-headed Blackbird and the  Meadowlark. The Bear River flows into the Great Salt Lake.

 

 

Click on images for larger viewing..

 

 2. In Virginia we have visited three of the National Wildlife Refuges. The first one is Back Bay NWR near Virginia Beach Virginia. Original post is here Back Bay NWR. 

Below a Cardinal, Redwing Blackbird, Yellow Rump Warbler, Eastern Phoebe, Horned Grebe, Gull, Northern Gannet, Brown Pelican, DC Cormorants.

 

 

 

 

 

3. Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge, one of my favorite refuges to visit. Original post seen here: Chincoteague NWR

Lighthouse, Little Blue Heron, Peregrine Falcon, ponies, Cattle Egret, Bald Eagle, Great Egret, Brown Pelican, Black Skimmers, Snowy Egrets, Tree Swallows, Northern Shoveler and American Oystercatcher.
 

4.  Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge. Original post seen here Great Dismal Swamp NWR. 

Turtles, Swallowtail Butterfly, Brown-Headed Cowbird, American Coot, Grackle, Killdeer, Belted Kingfisher and another  turtle.

 

 

 

 

5. We have been to three of the National Wildlife Refuges in the state of Washington, my favorite was Billy Frank Nisqually NWR near Olympia Washington. Original post seen here Nisqually NWR.

 

 Seen below, the boardwalk, Hooded Merganser, Gadwall, GB Heron with gulls, Song Sparrow, Cormorants, Barn Swallow Tree Swallow, Seal, Canada Geese and the twin barns.

 

6.  Dungeness NWR  in Sequim Washington.  We have been to this refuge a few times. It is another one of my favorite places. Original post seen here Dungeness NWR.

 

Seen below, the trail at Dungeness NWR, Rough Skinned Newt, the Dungeness Spit, Driftwood, Black Oystercatchers, Cormorants and Mergansers.

7. Grays Harbor NWR in or near Hoquiam Washington . Original post seen here Grays Harbor NWR. 

Seen below, views of the wetlands, trail, sparrow and ducks.

 

 

 

 

8. National Elk Refuge in Wyoming not far from Jackson Hole. 

 

 Seen below are the Elk,  various swallows on fence , Violet Green Swallow, Cinnamon Teal, boardwalk trail, Yellow-headed Blackbird, Northern Shoveler and Canada Geese.

 

 

 

President Theodore Roosevelt designated the first national wildlife refuge, it was the Pelican Island NWR in Florida. The NWR is a system of public land set aside to conserve fish, wildlife and plants. Land set aside for the benefit of present and future generations of Americans. Enable the public enjoyment of these conservation lands. 


Thanks to all my visitors and for all the wonderful comments. Stop back to see any replies to your comments. I appreciate everyone who loves critters and has linked up their critter post.


Here is my linky:

 

 

 

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

 

Also visit:  I'd-Rather-B-Birdin. Thanks to the host Anni.

Saturday's Critters #201

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!

These are some birds and critters I have not shown,  seen during our Washington Trip in May. We stayed overnight in Ocean Shores and walked on a few of the local beaches. We saw some shorebirds like the Semipalmated Plover, Dunlins, lots of gulls and a hummer and possibly other shorebirds mixed in.

I believe these are the Semipalmated Plovers

A flock of Dunlin, see their black bellies.

Is this a Crow or Raven? My field guide says Raven's have thick bills. Do you think this bird's bill is thick?

Semipalmated Plover.

American Pipit seen on the coast, walking along side the sandy road to the beach.

Rufous or Allen's Hummingbird.  I am not an expert on any hummer except for my local Ruby-throated Hummingbird. This bird was seen flying around the nearby flowers and like to perch on this pine tree.

Sorry, for the picture quality, the bird was a distance away and it was a cloudy day.

Neighborhood deer, near the beach. I think this is a Black-tailed Deer.

There are way too many gull species for me to id, my guess a  Western Gull.

I am not sure if this is a big flock of Dunlins or mixed group of shorebirds. What is upsetting is seeing the cars driving on the beach where these birds were resting.

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-Birdin. Thanks to the gracious host: Anni.

Happy Saturday, enjoy your weekend!

Ruby Beach, Olympic National Park

Hello and happy Thursday, 

Ruby Beach located on the Pacific Ocean and is part of the Olympic National Park. Hubby and I love the Pacific Northwest, the coastline in Washington state was one of our favorite places to visit. 

The view of Ruby Beach from the trail. 

A Chestnut-backed Chickadee seen off the trail.

A view of the beach, a lovely place for a walk during the low tides.

An arch in the sea stack.

A Wilson's Warbler was one of the common Warblers seen during our walks.

Not sure if this is a female Wilson's warbler or a Yellow Warbler, my field guide says the female Wilson's has the black cap but not as noticeable?

The Bald Eagle was another common bird seen along the Washington coast.

More coastline and sea stacks.

A look back at the ocean while walking back up the trail.

My thankful list for today:
How could I not be thankful for these beautiful blue skies and lovely views of the ocean. 

I am always thankful for your visits and your comments.

"I am awake, it is a beautiful day and I am thankful."

Thank you Michelle for hosting. Thankful Thursday

Thank you to the hosts of   Skywatch Friday

Thanks so much for visiting and for your nice comments. Have a happy day!

Coupeville Washington

Hello, happy Thursday everyone!


I am sharing some more of my Washington State photos. On this day we stopped at the Fort Casey State Park to see the Admiralty Lighthouse. The lighthouse was cute, it seemed almost like a miniature home to me. It is also where I saw my lifer the California Quail. We also saw a few Golden-crowned Sparrows and a Spotted Towhee, lots of bunnies and a few deer.

The California Quail were camera shy so I had to stay a good distance so I would not spook them. Sorry for the photo quality.

You can just make out the Golden Crown on this Sparrows head.

The Spotted Towhee  looks like a colorful bird.

A pair of Golden-crowned Sparrows.

Some deer were walking around the park.

The bunnies were everywhere we walked in the park.

A view of the coastline from the top of the cliff.

After this park visit we headed to the Coupeville-Port Angeles ferry. I will post more on that part of the trip another time. The weather was not the greatest for our ferry ride on this day but the rain held off.

My thankful list for today:
I am thankful for the rain it is necessary, but I am also thankful for clear sunny days.
I am thankful for all the beautiful places to visit in the great USA.
I thank you for visiting and your comments.


I hope you enjoyed my post and photos.  Thanks so much for visiting and for your nice comments. Have a happy day!

Thank you Michelle for hosting. Thankful Thursday

Thank you to the hosts of   Skywatch Friday

Deception Pass State Park

Hello and happy Thursday!

I am sharing our visit to the Deception Pass State Park, The park is located on two islands, Fidalgo and Whidbey Island.  The Deception Pass Bridge connects the two islands. We bought the Discover Pass to cover all our visits to Washington State Parks. We visited the park twice during our stay in Anacortes Washington.

I am sharing various scenes from our hikes at the park, some fabulous views of the bridge from the beach below. Of course I have some birds seen along the way.

This pair of Bald of Eagles was seen from the parking lot at the trailhead.

A view of the bridge and sky from the beach.

A couple of Common Loons.

A couple of Pigeon Guillemots.

A juvenile Bald Eagle chasing an Osprey.

Pretty shiny colors on this Cormorant.

Hubby and I celebrated our 27th anniversary while we were in Washington State

Some driftwood and another look at the Deception Pass bridge.

A few Western Grebes.

This pretty Anna's Hummingbird was seen in Anacortes.

"Be thankful for every new day."

For my list of thankful things this week:
I am thankful for my hubby and all the wonderful and fun times we have had together.
I am thankful for all my experiences while traveling.
I am always thankful for my blog visitors and the wonderful comments.

I hope you enjoyed my post and photos.  Thanks so much for visiting and for your nice comments. Have a happy day!

Thank you Michelle for hosting. Thankful Thursday

Thank you to the hosts of   Skywatch Friday

Saturday's Critters # 183

Welcome to Saturday's Critters!

Happy Father's Day to all the Dads!

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!

Another common bird we saw in Washington State is the Stellar's Jay. I think they are beautiful. These images were on a day we transferred from the Mt Rainier Park area to Anacortes, Washington.

This shop called Recycled Spirits of Iron off on Rt 706 in Ashford Washington. The iron sculptures are huge, there were  horses, a giraffe, rooster and eagle. The sculptures were all very cool. I took these photos from the road and our car. 

A larger image of the iron sculpted giraffe.

On our drive to Anacortes we stopped at the park below called Bay View State Park on the Padilla Bay. I was amazed at how many Great Blue Herons were seen hanging out in the bay. The tide must have been low at this time.  The photo below looks better after you click for a larger image. 

I believe these are Western Grebe's below, if I am wrong please let me know.

For Tom's party ...a barn across the bay.
Tom's The Barn Collective  Thanks to Tom for hosting.

My Linky
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-Birdin. Thanks to the gracious host: Anni.

Tom's The Barn Collective  Thanks to Tom for hosting.


Happy Saturday, enjoy your weekend!