A weekend in nature

The weather does dictate what sort of activities to plan here in Seattle and the fall is certainly variable but this weekend was a pleasure to be out in nature.

We started by watching the chum salmon run along Piper's Creek. They come down from Alaskan waters into the Puget Sound and some make their way along the narrow waters of this creek. It's remarkable to be able to experience the salmon moving up into their imprinted breeding ground and it's the determination of the Carkeek Watershed Community Action Project that makes it possible.

The stream trail passes by huge beaver dams, called lodges I believe- no glimpse of a beaver though- and we walked out onto the gravel beach along the Puget Sound. It is the Sound that defines the geography of Seattle and also its beauty. The scenery is magnificent and at one point the clouds cleared and we had views of the snow-capped Olympic Mountains which are a mountain range on the Olympic Peninsula here in the Pacific Northwest.

Family on the Puget Sound

Chum Salmon along Pipers Creek.

Fred did metaphorically roll his eyes when I suggested an early Sunday morning bird outing to the Washington Park Arboretum. To his credit though he got warmly dressed and picked up his camera. It's a decade since we were last in the USA when we spent 3 months visiting all the National and State Parks along the West Coast. So its exciting to get to reconnect with the birds here in Seattle - Fred has ordered me a book on the birds of Seattle and the Puget Sound, there is nothing I love more than listing!

And, a Fox Sparrow was added my global life list!  

Handsome male Hooded Merganser on Duck Bay

Birding with the Bird Connect Seattle group at the Washington Park Arboretum
American Wigeon, male Junco and a pair of Green-winged Teals

The Gadwall with its crossed feathers, black rump and frantic paddling action - wonderful to watch

The male Gadwall, with its subtle colouring, our new duck for our USA bird checklist

 

Halloween in Seattle

 

This is me at the end of Halloween! So many pumpkins and skeletons. 

Kids ready for 'trick or treat'.  
Early in the week joined the family for a Halloween event at the school. On the day the neighbourhood closed off a few roads and it was mayhem as kids ran around in the cold and damp early evening. Braziers were lit, smoke pumped out of houses, and ghoulish sounds were the norm. We ambled up and down the street, lost the kids in a creepy tunnel and headed home for tea!

Some houses were subtle, a pumpkin or two and others - well....

The most remarkable collections of pumpkins seen on one of our walks around the neighbourhood.