Snow Geese

Every winter thousands and thousands of Snow Geese overwinter in our area.  Some of the farmers are paid to plant crops that will feed the Snow Geese.  The Snow Geese move around the area and it is an adventure to find some in huge flocks.  Two weeks ago we hit the jackpot - a single flock that was estimated (by someone who knows how to estimate the flocks) that there could be up to 75,000 in the flock we saw.

They fly in and land in the fields - sometimes it takes half an hour for all the flocks to congregate - sometimes they fly in faster - landing on the fields and never landing on top of each other.

Turn on sound and click full screen- it is amazing!

The flocks may stay for hours, feeding on the ground, or they may unexpectedly fly up and swirl about, landing nearby, or they may leave for another area - it is always exciting when it happens.  I am willing to sit for most of a day waiting for a flock to fly up.  

And they settle back on the ground - eating and resting and chattering.

They fly in from their nesting grounds in the Arctic Tundra. 

One end of the flock.

 The juveniles have beautifully colored feathers, the adults are all white, with black wing tips.

Two Books for Christmas Gifts

So, you are looking for the perfect gift - a book for the sports fan in you life.  Look no more - it is here!

My husband is an excellent writer, and his new book was published this summer and is available at Amazon   Click to order - free two day shipping for Amazon Prime Members.

 You will enjoy the player ratings  in this book, and also the lengthy details of the twenty best pitchers, twenty best regular players, 20 greatest games, as well as the twenty greatest baseball books of all time. If you are a baseball nut, this book is for you and the baseball fans in your life.

And now a book for the whole family - 

This is advertised at the top of my blog page - it is my story of the early years of growing up in Southeast Alaska in the 50s, when my family moved there from California.  It is also available on Amazon  in paperback or kindle.

It is family friendly, a great story for anyone from kids to adults.  Full of adventures and history of a time before Alaska became a state.

We hope you and your family enjoy the books and have a wonderful holiday season, from Don and JoAnn Bayne

Special Red-Tailed Hawk

This is one of our favorite Red-Tailed Hawks - we have seen it for about 5 years now, from time to time.  When we go to this area  we don't always see it - and it usually is too far away for good photos.  These are by far the best photos I've gotten so far.  Sometimes we see the hawk but it is much farther away and my camera won't capture it well.

It is a partially leucistic Red-Tailed Hawk - meaning that is lacks pigments in many areas, but is not a true albino as that would mean it lacks all pigment and would even have pink eyes and beak.

The head and tail retain more of the usual coloring of a Red-Tailed Hawk

One day I hope to get a view from the front.  It is the most patient hawk I've ever photographed - it often sits for 10 to 20 minutes before flying off.

I can't tell you where we see this hawk, as there are those who like to claim rare birds as trophies and I want to keep this one safe, as much as possible.  

It is one of the most wonderful birds we've ever seen.

What rare or unusual birds have you seen?

Mud Hens

Mud Hens (American Coot) on a log in Lake Terrill.  The lily pads have already lost their leaves and flowers.

The Mud Hen is a distant relative of ducks and they don't have webbed feet.  Their feet are shaped like chicken feet, but they can swim well.

I'd never seen them gathering on a log before - usually they are swimming about.

A few swam - the rest were taking their leisure on the log.

Farms

A  ride in the country gives us stunning views of valleys, farms and the foothills.

How many farms can you count in this photo?

This is s closer shot of the red barn on the very right side of the first photo, with another farm to the right side.

Alaska Ferry and Sunset

One of our favorite Friday night adventures is to go to the bay and watch the Alaska Ferry depart.  We take a car picnic to enjoy while waiting for the last vehicles to be loaded - the whistle to blow and the ferry to start its journey back to Southeast Alaska.  The sun was beginning to set and held promise of some pretty colors.

And we didn't have to wait long for the color to appear.

A sliver of moon was captured as we stopped at a traffic light - great capture.

One of the best days of the end of summer.

Beginning of Autumn Color

Leaves are just beginning to turn this year

 Evergreens are the dominant tree in our forests

 Some colorful cottonwoods and Maples among the tall tree remaining after selective logging some years ago and the newly replanted evergreens for sustainable logging.

  Hillsides are beginning to show some color, mostly maples right now.

Another view of Mt. Baker with evergreen trees and a yellowing Maple.

Autumn is a season followed immediately by looking forward to spring  . . . Doug Larson

Mountains

The Sisters and the tip top of Mt. Baker on a fine Autumn day.

North Sister. Until recently we haven't seen The Sisters with almost no snow at all, nearly all the small glaciers have completely melted, leaving bare rock in the summer.

 Except for one tiny patch in the shadow of a tiny peak

 Mt. Baker rises beside and behind The Sisters - with fresh snow.  Mt. Baker is 10,781 feet, the Sisters only reach about 6,900 feet at their tallest point, so their snow comes later in the season.

Mt. Baker from another viewpoint.  The main round dome is Grant Peak,  the tallest peak to the right is Lincoln Peak and the one in the center is Colfax Peak.  Do you see the face in the mountain?

Do You See Them?

Mushrooms abound in the cool Autumn weather

 Look closely - you may see the fairies dancing

Country Ride - Country Horses

Autumn is here - the last of the green is fleeting.

A ride in the country refreshes the soul.