It's The Journey...: 01/02/22

Hello Friends. It is year end and Winter is upon us. But we are closer to Spring than we were in September. This posting comes at the 7 month mark of my move back to the Pacific Northwest. And I want to share some more places I have found and scenes I have photographed while getting settled. The months that have passed since I last posted have included family birthday parties, kids sports activities including soccer, gymnastics and basketball, as well as Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas. What I will share with you is mostly time spent outdoors finding new places to walk, explore and take in the sights and sounds.

But let us start indoors at the Museum of Northwest Art in La Conner.

The artist is Dan Friday and the medium is glass.

This school or shoal of fish, moving along together as a synchronized group was especially delightful, represented in blown glass as they are. Traveling in schools or shoaling is a social activity the fish engage in to protect the group from predators...more eyes to see danger approaching.

October 10

Gordon's Pumpkin Patch

What says Autumn more than a trip to select the Halloween pumpkins?

It was a blustery day with a serious nip in the air. Summer was in the rear view and Fall was here.

Livingston Bay, Camano Island.

October 11th

Barnum Point Preserve

Camano Island

This spot has a variety of walking trails and has become a favorite go-to for me.

There is a trail to the beach, trails in the woods, vistas of the Saratoga Passage and a pond area pictured here.

Mt. Baker from Fir Island on November 8th.

I just had to pull off on the side of the road and snap this picture.

Mt. Baker again from Iverson Spit Preserve on Camano Island.

November 18th

Another morning walk at Iverson Spit Preserve on the day after Thanksgiving.

And my companions on the walk.

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Snow Geese and Trumpeter Swans

During this time of year thousands of Snow Geese make their way to the fields, estuaries and tide flats of the Skagit and Stillaguamish Rivers. In September they leave their summer home in the Artic tundra of Wrangle Island in Russia, entering the Pacific Flyway to make a 3000 mile journey to the Pacific Northwest. Some stay until April but others continue on their way to the central valley of California.

Trumpeter Swans arrive from their summer home in the tundra of Alaska and Northern Canada in November and stay until mid-March. Trumpeter Swans are the largest native North American waterfowl with a wingspan of 6 feet and weighing in at 25-30 pounds.

They are a sight to behold whether in flight or feeding on farmland residue crops or salt marsh plants.

November 10th.

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Atmospheric Rivers and Skagit River Flooding

November 17th

A term I was not familiar with (but I am now) is Atmospheric River. A series of this phenomenon brought serious flooding, landslides, power outages and havoc into the lives of many in Northwest Washington in November.

An Atmospheric River is simply a narrow corridor or stream of highly concentrated moisture that travels through the sky. It is not uncommon but when the strength and duration are what we saw in November, a state of emergency is the result. I've included a couple of pictures I took of the Skagit River at flood stage in downtown Mt. Vernon.