Birds - Barred Owl

Had a close encounter of the best kind with a Barred Owl (Strix varia) on a walk at Vancouver Lake Regional Park. I often wonder how many times I've walked by birds like this without a clue due to their excellent camouflage.

Barred Owls are fairly common in woodlands throughout eastern and northwestern US and Canada. In recent decades Barred Owl have expanded their range in northwestern US where it now competes with endangered Spotted Owl. 

Ridgefield NWR, SW Washington

Took advantage of probably the second sunny day this year and visited Ridgefield NWR (National Wildlife Refuge). The trumpeter swan were gone since our last visit in early March but there still were quite a few canada geese and cackling geese. northern shoveler were very common.

We also saw a fair number of mallard, bufflehead, ring-neck duck, great egret, great blue heron, pied-billed grebe, red-winged blackbird and a few beautiful cinnamon teal.

Western painted turtles were quite numerous along the banks of the sloughs and perched on top of logs. Other than people, the only mammal we saw was a solitary nutria.

Great Egret

Great Blue Heron

Northern Shoveler

Ring-Necked Duck

Bufflehead

Red-Winged Blackbird

Ridgefield NWR, SW Washington

Ridgefield NWR (National Wildlife Refuge) is by far one of my favorite birding spots. The refuge is located in Southwest Washington state and, 

while it's not exactly teaming with birds this time of year, it's still a great place to bring in the new year. The weather was a little chilly with lows around 25 deg. F. which made great fun watching geese and ducks skid across the frozen lakes and puddles.  

Saw a fair number of trumpeter swan, canada geese, cackling geese and miscellaneous ducks including mallard, pintail, bufflehead and northern shoveler.

 Also saw lots of nutria which look alot like Beaver with rat tails.  Nutria were originally introduced to the U.S. for their fur but have become an invasive pest due to their burrowing behavior. 

Normally, there wouldn't be too many people this time of year but there were a  surprising number  considering it was a cold, winter weekday. 

Autumn Leaves - Haiku

Vancouver Lake Park ~

Autumn leaves are beautiful ~

A leaf blowers dream!

Autumn leaves cover path at Vancouver Lake County Park, WA