Overwintering Swans

We love the overwintering Trumpeter and Tundra Swans that come back every winter.

Their poses are amazing.

With added views of Mt. Baker

What birds overwinter in your area?

The Olympic Mountain Range

The Olympic Peninsula is quite a ways from where we live and only infrequently do we get to see the Olympic Mountains very clearly.  But recently we had two days in a row when we could see them - such excitement.

The mountains are in the Olympic National Park - we live in Bellingham (top middle-ish) and we were a little north of LaConner, on Fir Island (which isn't marked on the map - but LaConner is) when I took the photos.

The Olympics are stunning with their clouds

There was a flock of Snow Geese in the fields on the way to Stanwood - with the Olympics in the background - what a lucky day it was for us.

And the next day there were no clouds - and the glorious mountains again were clear enough to see.  We spent our vacation last summer on the Olympic Peninsula - such beauty to explore - so much to see - glorious scenery.  Plus we got to visit with another blogger - Kay - who has the best blog about the Olympic Peninsula and her town of Sequim (pronounced Squim).  We talked for hours with Kay and her husband Roger., - had ice cream treats and decided we wanted to talk more and went to dinner together.  

Click HERE - or Kay's name above and see her post about seeing our mountains - probably on the same day was we saw theirs.

 The view was stunning - we often see the Olympics as a fuzzy blur on the horizon - but these two days were exceptional.

Mt. Olympus is the highest peak in the range, at 7,980 feet.  The mountains are protected in the Olympic National Park and the west side of the mountains  receive 140 to 170 inches of rain a year - the wettest area in the United States - while the area Northeast of the mountains is in a rain shadow and receives as little at 16 inches of rain a year, and that is where Sequim is located, so we had fabulous weather for our vacation and our visit with Kay and Roger.

No Birds?

We came across this field with some very friendly horses a few weeks ago.  They seemed to be as interested in us as we were in them.

This one seemed to be the friendliest of all.

I've never seen a horse with its tongue sticking out - silly horse.

One of them was often hiding behind the others.

Take my picture - I'm cute - and friendly.

These horses will be great for next year's horse calendar that I make for a friend.

Several Days With Mt. Baker

This winter has been so rainy and cloudy, so we haven't seen much of Mt. Baker, but then as a surprise there is a sunny or partly clear day, and we get spectacular views.

 Overwintering Snow Geese, a barn and Mt. Baker - just about perfection!

  

 Reflection of a barn in a slough with Mt. Baker in the background.

 And a rare reflection of Mt. Baker in a seasonal pond on a farm.  We've rarely come across a seasonal pond with still water and Mt. Baker reflected.  You can see clumps of soil from later autumn plowing of the field.

 And what a chance - a Bald Eagle in a tree - right in front of Mt. Baker.

 Snow Geese again - in front of Mt. Baker

Winter Ducks

Ducks in ponds and ducks on a lake.

 Ring Necked ducks - diving and making bubbles on the surface of the pond.

 These all popped up at once.  It is sometimes difficult to catch a diving duck on the surface.

 And a flock swimming - at quite an amazing speed on a lake.

 I had to aim ahead of them so I could get them in the photo.