An Amazing Day - Part 1

A sunny weekend - what a chance to get some photos. It has been cold here - well,  cold-ish, compared to what others have been suffering through - but cold enough to make a good heavy frost in the mornings. It melts quickly - so you have to be quick with the camera.

A sunny day calls for a ride in the country.  Here we go.

The frost sparkled in the early morning sunlight

Plain old dried grass became spectacular

Barbed wire was coated in sparkling diamonds

Hillsides with groves of trees covered in frost

In some places, the frost was melting and making twinkling stars in the branches

No more frost - but a view of the Olympic Mountains - out on the Olympic peninsula, seen from Skagit Valley - not something we see every day.  The tallest mountain in the range is Mt. Olympus - at  7,962 ft (2,427 m). With annual rainfall of 140 to 170 inches in the Hoh Rainforest , the area has  the most precipitation of anywhere in the continental United States. Areas to the northeast of the mountains are located in a rain shadow and receive as little as 16 in  of precipitation.

Near where we had the view of the Olympic mountains a heron was hunting for breakfast

And right across the road is Mt. Baker - and a tree with an eagle's nest high up in the bare branches. The eagles have already begun to return from their winter fishing grounds and are beginning to nest - somewhat earlier than other years.

Farther down the road - some Tundra Swans in a plowed field, with frozen water in the ditches - they were the loudest bunch I'd ever heard, and not a very big flock either.  You can see two in this group with their beaks open.

Lots of flapping and honking

This group seemed to be square dancing - I think they are preparing to migrate north for nesting time.

Just ahead was Mt. Baker - again.  I love all the different views you get from the Skagit (sounds like gadget) Valley

As we headed down a hill, off in the distance was small flock of the swans in a green field - with a few Canada Geese

This swan was hungry

But not inclined to get up to eat

That's as far as the neck will go.

And tomorrow - you won't believe your eyes!!!  

Do come back and visit.