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December 2021
Are You Ready for Winter?
With all things considered, we felt that winter was not far away when we crossed the North Cascades after a birthday weekend in Winthrop. The eastbound trip over the mountains and the first day in the Methow Valley held promise … Continue reading
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Oct/Nov 2021
October Miscellany
Silver Lake Revisited It seems that Silver Lake Park has become an August tradition for us over the last few years. Actually, the appeal of this nearby retreat started 29 years ago in the dead of winter. We spent our … Continue reading
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Oct/Nov 2021
Book Review: What It’s Like To Be a Bird
From Flying to Nesting, Eating to Singing — What Birds Are Doing, and Why by David Allen Sibley Alfred A. Knopf, 2020 203 pages; hardcover; $35.00 We’re all familiar with David Sibley’s excellent field guides, but, in my estimation, his latest … Continue reading
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September 2021
Birding as a Coping Mechanism
In the midst of downtime due to the expected dog days of birding in August, there was ample time to reflect on and deal with a multitude of other details. It’s not surprising when you consider the current chaos of … Continue reading
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August 2021
A Keystone Fourth
Before we get too far along, I should say that summer is my least favorite season and the Fourth of July/Independence Day is my least favorite holiday. If I felt that everyone was thinking about the significance of the holiday … Continue reading
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July 2021
Pearrygin Lake 2021
Washington Pass on State Highway 20 was opened for cross-state travel in mid-May, triggering our traditional itch to spend a few days on the drier and typically warmer side of the Cascades. On a nice west side Sunday morning, … Continue reading
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June 2021
Coastal Sojourn
It seems that every year when the calendar flips from mid- to late-April, I start thinking about shorebirds. It’s not mere coincidence, however, since it’s the prime time of year for the northbound migration of millions of birds along the … Continue reading
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May 2021
Caspian Terns in Bellingham
In 2009, Caspian terns starting nesting on the former Georgia-Pacific property now called the Waterfront District. Approximately 250 birds produced about 100 chicks. The next year, between 2,500 and 3,000 birds produced over 1,000 young terns. The Port of Bellingham … Continue reading
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May 2021
Spring Into Summer
As we transitioned from winter into spring, the seasons and the birds around us changed accordingly. Cherry blossoms greeted us in just about every part of town, along with scattered greenery here and there. Rain was still with us in … Continue reading
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April 2021
Fidalgo Island
While it’s a noticeably different part of Skagit County and separated from the mainland by the Swinomish Channel on the east and Deception Pass on the south, this unique island offers a wealth of recreational opportunities; and the bird … Continue reading
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