Anna’s Hummingbird, Cooper’s Hawk, hiking, Iverson Spit, photography, Port Susan

Iverson Spit 01/31/2015

Sephi

March 24, 2015

The second half of the day with the Sierra Club was brought onto my little island where I discovered another trail that I didn’t know about, Iverson Spit. The interesting thing is that my grandparents were Iversons. I may have to look into that further at some point.Coming around the bend in the road, there were some Canadian geese in the field. There were a couple of bald eagles just before that and I was stopping to get some shots of them, but the guy behind me started honking his horn and they were veering off. Not sure if it was because they didn’t want to hang around the jerk who couldn’t appreciate their majesty or some other reason. But, I guess it did prove that Sierra Club and appreciation for nature did not always go hand in hand or it did so selectively depending on how great what the sheep’s need to follow.

The herons are wonderful to see regardless of where they are found. Though I must admit that I prefer those rare occasions where they are found fishing.

It seems I am slowly starting to learn to identify even the little birds. This is and Anna’s hummingbird. I was told that they are quite stunning to catch in the sunlight (of which we had pretty much none of that day). This one was quite content to just hang around this one tree.

A little bit of proof that they are not always moving.

I do like the driftwood beaches that line my island. I believe I was told its because they funnel through the bay and they come in but don’t go out. But, it does make for some interesting fancy footwork along them to get to the water’s edge. And they can get very slick.

Kinda looks like a seed pod, doesn’t it? Its probably for one of those giant trees on the other side of the world that you can wrap 50 pairs of arms around and the itty bitty tops on them.

Red holly??? Does that mean the mistletoe will be purple? That would be cool!

Just cuz it look ethereal!

I have always know these as Manzanitas, however, it seems no one up here knows that name. I think they use Madrone. Or something like it. Difference is, up here, they are HUGE!!!

Blackbird singing in the dead of night!

They’re our redwing blackbirds. My understanding is the male has multiple mates and the stay in family units. The female is much drearier looking as is with most of the bird species save the raptors.

And here the Patriarch is catcalling, uhm, birdcalling the single females flitting about.

Just some pretty lichens that look like big snowflakes on the branches.

See???? Snowflake!!!

Particle snowflake!

Oh, I forget what they said this little brown one was.

Its a doorway to another realm. I peeked inside. They were having lunch, so I will go back later.

Isn’t that a cute little bridge?

It looked really cool sticking up from the grasses.

Thought it made an interesting formation and has some nice lights and shadows in it.

The miniature world around here is just as lovely as the big world. But, I have often noticed that many people will walk right by such things without even seeing them.

They’re just sooo cute!! And they can generally be found most of the time. Unlike a lot of the mushrooms that are generally only seen in the fall.

Little did the unsuspecting travelers know, but they had entered the darkness forest and the trees were reaching out to claim more victims for their evening meal. It was proving to promise quite the feast.

And the long spindly hand reached out from the bowels of the earth toward their cowering forms.

Now bow to your partner on the left, then bow to your partner on the right!

Though it does look cooler in grayscale!

We were pretty sure it was a Cooper’s hawk.

Yup, that’s what it seems to be.

And the darkness opened before them, daring them to enter.

Pretty colors, aren’t they?

No one else seemed to find this as stunning as I did. I still find it stunning. The reflection was just perfect.

Irresistible, one would think. Alas, it will have to wait for another day. The ground was so we that my boot got sucked in to the ankle on the firs step. Its been a wet year! But, I will be back for this one.