Day 54/183: A walk through the Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge

[nanila]

As we begin Week 2 of lockdown, I find myself more inclined to revisit the times before covid-19 transformed our lives. The photos below were taken on my most recent visit to my parents earlier this month. We always go to the Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge when I see them, as it’s only a short drive on the freeway from their house. This was one of the best trips for bird-watching that we’ve ever had, and that’s even counting the time we saw a nesting bittern.


It were a cold and grey day on the marshes.


Circling hawk.


Stark white tree trunk in the marshes.


Brave little sparrow.



Pintails dabbling for treats in the mud.


The two big barns where migrating swallows nest in late spring. They also nest in the eaves of the Visitor Center.


Pintail gliding over the water.




Face down, ass up, that’s the way I like my ducks.


Views over the marshes.


My parents, walking.




Wigeons dabbling in the marsh grass.


Eagle! I almost missed it. This is the best shot I could get.


Small but fierce song sparrow (I think?).


Canada goose, guardian of the footpath.


Floofy cattail.


Male hooded merganser with his crest up.


Finally, my parents being cute while holding Sockenmonster.

Comments

[kotturinn]

That's a simply stunning set of photos. Love the synchonised up-tail dabbling (also a full-length of Sockenmonster)! Your parents look very hardy given the general look of the weather!

[nanila]

Aw, thank you! My mum is made of particularly tough stuff. There were people offering her coats and hats about every 200 metres. :P

[brainwane]

Lovely pics! Thank you for sharing!

[nanila]

I'm glad you enjoyed them! :)

[worlds_of_smoke]

thank you so much for sharing these. <3

[nanila]

You're welcome. <3

[azurelunatic]

Mergansers! I love their name so much.

[nanila]

Apparently it means "plunging goose"!

[djm4]

Those are lovely photos. Pintails are one of my favourite ducks - I always used to see them on the Ouse Washes when I was a kid, but haven't seen any in *ages*.

[nanila]

Thank you! Pintails are so elegant.

[cmcmck]

I remember open countryside.

Especially as it's only half a mile away.

Sigh :o(

[nanila]

:( I know. I hope you can get out there as soon as it's safe.

[ursajoanna]

These pictures are perfect and I'm going to pretend I'm there for a little bit.

[nanila]

<3333. Yes, please do, it's gorgeous.

[lurkingcat]

Birbs and open countryside - perfect and just what I needed to see today. Thank you for sharing.

[nanila]

I'm glad it was helpful. <3

[silveradept]

It's amended weird for me to see a part of the Evergreen State that's not suffused with trees. Those marshes are lovely, though.

And it's good to see that Sockenmonster enjoyed the trip as well.

[nanila]

Sockenmonster had a grand time! It's a beautiful and, as you say, incongruous landscape with general perception of the western part of the state.

[darkemeralds]

Beautiful pictures of a beautiful wetland area. Thank you for sharing them.

[nanila]

Thank you, I'm glad you enjoyed them. :)

[sfred]

Great pictures!

[nanila]

Yay, thank you!