Black Diamond NOW

Following the Milky Way

What is it about stars and distant planets that command our attention and wonder?  Is it the possibility that other life forms exist out there in some faraway galaxy?  Or is it the incredible beauty they bring to night skies, especially when the Aurora Borealis is acting up?  How can we even imagine the immensity of  the many galaxies we can see at night with the naked eye - like the Milky Way?  Our solar system is but a particle of sand compared to others and part of a small spiral arm of the enormous Milky Way galaxy.

For me, my love of night photography developed as a result of getting out into the mountains and away from cities and towns to where we can see the stars.  We can see the Milky Way in some detail and photograph it aided by today's digital technology and long exposures possible with today's equipment.  We can even see the Milky Way while Old Faithful erupts at Yellowstone as shown in the photo above taken during my visit a couple of years ago.  And we can see it move too!  That's when I fell in love with Time-Lapse photography - capturing the movement of the stars (actually it's the earth that is moving) and not just the Milky Way as a static statute.

We can't see the Milky Way's core each year until nearly the end of March.  With great weather in April and so far into May, this has provided plenty of opportunity to do some Time Lapse Milky Way photography.  Mt. Rainier from the Carbon River road to Mowich offers an excellent vantage point.  Notice how flat the Milky Way is this time of year.  It becomes far more vertical as the night goes on and as the year goes on.

 

This video represents 175 images taken over 80 minutes.  The lighter blue at the end represents the Astro start to sunrise that begins now at about 3:00 am.

About a week later, I explored two lakes in the North Cascades.  Palmer Lake is located just below the Canadian border.  This view shows the Milky Way "on the move".

 

Once again, the lighter blues in the sky at the end signal the beginning of the early Astro sunrise period.  Further south located just below Sun Mountain Lodge near Winthrop is another lake with a southeastern exposure called Patterson Lake.  In this one, I played a little hide and seek.

 

The earth moves a whole lot even over just an hour's period of time.  Time Lapse photography also allows us to see star trails.  In this case, though, we need to be looking north toward the North Star to capture the full circular movement.  Here are 100 images of the stars rotating around the North Star at nearby Deep Lake, Nolte State Park.

The Star Trails at Palmer Lake show a clearer picture given the darkness of the skies.

There's a whole lot to see out there at night.  And just think, you can be up having fun in the wee hours of the morning too!

Watching Eagles Fly

What is it about watching eagles fly that is so much fun?  And even better is having an opportunity to photograph them.  This time of year is not always the best, but we sure got lucky this weekend.  It's been years since Judy and I wandered the beaches of Point Defiance, but decided to visit some of our old haunts so off we went.  In addition to the innumerable seals, gulls and herons, a low tide always exposes some fun to see marine life.  And then, perched on a tree overlooking the entry channel to Gig Harbor, we happened across both an eagle and a whale.  No whale pics but I was dialed in to the eagle as it pondered staying perched on the tree limb or flying away.

Looks to be a little wet after having breakfast no doubt.  And then it was time to fly.

Always so stern and concentrated.  I don't think he liked us.

Is that a wing span or what?

I didn't have my long lens with me, but for some reason he chose to fly low along the water and close to shore, providing us with some great views.

What a treat.  Judy and I are so very fortunate to have the many opportunities we have for experiencing nature at its best - in the northwest.

Great Time for a Trip to Mt. Rainer National Park

Roads all the way to Paradise are clear. The weather outlook is great.  No worries about crowds.  What better to do than to head up to the mountain?  Take your snowshoes if you want to hike on the trails above Paradise but if you just want to stretch your legs and enjoy the sights, you have many options available.  Why not park at Narada Falls and head up the trail/road to Reflection Lakes and beyond.  For the heartier souls, the trail up to Pinnacle Peak is well marked but you will need snowshoes and be in good shape to make it to the saddle above but only boots to get to Reflections Lakes.  Along the way, you also get some of the best views of Mt. Rainier and surrounding peaks that you can find right now.   This view, which is only about 1/2 mile from the parking lot provides some great sunsets.

The good news, after only a couple hundred yards on a snow covered trail on the way to road that leads to Stevens Canyon (not yet open to automobiles), you will find the road clear of snow and easy walking.  There are a couple of spots where some avalanche risk remains before you get to the lakes, but stay to the far right away from the hillside and all should be well.

The views of Pinnacle Peak and other peaks along the ridge above are spectacular.

Reflection Lakes remain snow covered but there is a small area near the outlet that remains uncovered.

On your way back, the view of the mountain is about as expansive as it gets.

You can see the road on the far right with the buildings at Narada Falls directly below.   On your way back, take a quick stop at Christine Falls.

The hardest part about the hike from Narada Falls parking lot to Reflection Lakes and trails beyond is finding the trail up to the road.  I've seen some people try to go up the face of the steep hill just above the falls.  Though I have done this too, in the past, it's not a good idea particularly when snow covered with risk of avalanche as it now is.  As you walk by the "Comfort Station" with restrooms, you will see a sign and small trail immediately to the left.  Follow your way up this and follow previous hikers foot prints to eventually get to the top and the road just as the bridge crosses the stream that is between the trail and the main highway.  Rather than follow the road to Reflection Lakes, you can also hike up another road that veers left after just a little bit and goes all the way up to Paradise - about 2 miles.  Still snow covered but no snowshoes now needed.  Have fun.  The Stevens Canyon road should be open by about May 21, but no need to wait until then.

 

Multnomah Falls

This is a great time of year for visiting and photographing area waterfalls.  Snow melt has begun and the streams that feed the falls are roaring.  If you enjoy photography, waterfalls are also a great place to go when it's cloudy or even raining, while waiting for the mountains to open up and the sun to show its face.  Many falls, like Snoqualmie Falls, are also readily accessible for the handicapped and elderly.  I always thought that Snoqualmie was the king of waterfalls in the northwest.  Not so - Multnomah Falls along the Columbia River Gorge east of Portland is bigger and rates as number 2 in the entire country with a drop of over 620 feet.  Following is a postcard of Multnomah Falls from 1950.  

Photo courtesy Tacoma Public Library, Sirles-44, circa 1950

If you like geology, you'll find evidence on the cliff face of 5 separate flows of Yakima Basalt.  Two years ago, disaster struck Multnomah and many other waterfalls along the gorge.  Wildfires caused by kids throwing lighted fireworks down the hillside from the top led to the burning of acres and acres being charred with public access closed.  Fortunately, repairs have been made and some, though not all, waterfall and trail sites are open once again.  Last week, while exploring the gorge for wildflowers (it's early yet), I stopped by Multnomah Falls.  It was raining cats and dogs and foggy up top, but what's one to do - get wet.  Couldn't pass up the opportunity.

Lots of water flowing now and well worth the trip.

Camping Season is Here!!

Yep, time to get out your tent and backpack essentials.  The trails await.

With clear skies forecast for Tuesday night in the North Cascades, how could I miss the opportunity to do some hiking and a little night photography?  And yes, some campgrounds are already open, including at Diablo Gorge east of Newhalem.  Nice campground too.  The sound of water rushing by as you nod off to sleep is pretty neat.  The next campground a few miles up the road still has snow on the ground so I expect that's why camping here was permitted at this early date.  Ross Lake is a long time favorite area to explore and this is as close as I could get for sleeping over.

You've got to love all the mountain peaks up here.  The above photo was taken from the Diablo Lake overlook, which has some pretty neat views too.  Here's another view of Diablo Lake from below.

Following are a couple of views from the overlook as the sun set.

That's Diablo lake below.

The North Cascade highway is currently closed at the Ross Lake trailhead.  After hiking down to the dam and back (snow free), it was getting dark and time to hike up the snow covered road about a mile to a couple of Ross Lake overlooks that provide views all the way to Canada.  It gets very dark up here - too dark to see much of the river valley.  I call this my "noisy" night shot of Ross Lake because of all the camera noise resulting from the darkness and wind movement of the trees.  Will have to take two separate exposures next time and exclude the trees.

I did find the Milky Way up here.  After about an hour and only very faint northern lights that I had hoped to see, I hiked back down and drove on down to Diablo Lake.  The "dam lights" really show up from the overlook.

Still dark, but some better views of the Milky Way and stars over the lake view plus a meteor.  The lights in the background are from the dam behind the mountains.

And finally, here's a Time Lapse look from this spot spanning about an hour, then finally to bed about 1:30 am, just before the moon rose.  Fun time, though a little cold back at the tent.

 

We have so many wonderful places to see and experience virtually year round and the North Cascades ranks right up there.

 

Living History

Built in 1908, what historic landmark still stands today, yet remains literally alive with new life every day?  Where else can you go to see the full spectrum of the color chart so vividly on display.   No entry fee here, though a $3 donation is recommended.  Seldom crowded and off the beaten path.  Guaranteed to make you smile and wonder why you haven't been here before or visited here in a very long time.  Do you like hibiscus?

Here's a picture of the building taken in 1920.

Photo courtesy Tacoma Public Library, NWRPC-60, circa 1920

Some of you will recognize the above photo as the Seymour Botanical Conservatory in Wright Park, Tacoma.  It looks pretty much today as it did back then.  After visiting the daffodil fields at Knudson Farms in Sumner last weekend (another landmark of local history), I decided to head to Wright Park and the Conservatory to learn more about photographing flowers - it's not quite so easy without spending big on equipment and lighting.

Following are a few of my favorite "on the cheap" images.

Looking for soft light, colors and texture.

There's something really neat about spending time with flowers like these.  Slows the heart beat and muscles relax.

So much fun and so much to learn.  If you find the time, I recommend that you visit Wright Park soon.  Over 100 years old, the conservatory is currently scheduled for a remodel and expansion by City of Tacoma parks.  Though I love the historic building, it is time for renewal.  Will miss the old, but look forward to seeing the new.

Daffodils Blooming?

It's mid March and time for daffodils to strut their stuff.  Only one farm in the Puyallup Valley that I am aware of continues to grow a few rows of bulbs on just a couple of acres, leaving the Skagit Valley as the go to place to see daffodils, tulips and more.  The latest news from Skagit County points to this coming week (March 18) as the beginning of the season.  Warm weather and sunny skies are expected to bring out the first daffodils popping.  Having worked in the Puyallup Valley bulb fields as a kid, this is a special time of year for me and I hope to make the trek to the Skagit Valley soon.

Have you ever seen a daffodil "in the act" of blooming?  Probably not.  That would take hours or days, even if you could plan your timing.  Impatient, I thought I might see if I could capture what the sequence looks like using time lapse photography.  With plenty of space in our basement, I set up a crude studio, brought in a couple of construction clamp lamps, a space heater and a bath towel (just to add a little classiness to the studio).  Not what I'd call a high-tech set up.  The problem is, there was no telling when flowers I could buy at the grocery store (or Walmart or Johnsons or Home Depot) might bloom.  So, I brought in a tripod, set up my camera to take an exposure every 3 minutes, pointed the lamps where I thought they might provide reasonable lighting and off we went.  On the first try, I was lucky to have a daffodil bloom after about ten hours.  Only problem was that my camera battery went dead before it bloomed while I was asleep.

Second try.  If one camera might not do the trick, add a second camera as backup and hope for the best.  Unfortunately, after 12 hours, the daffodils I bought drank my water but chose not to show themselves - and this after me running up and down the stairs all night to make sure I kept the camera batteries fresh and recharged.  

Third try.  Hoping for some sleep and photographic success, I was able to get an AC adapter for my camera to provide power, used some daffodils that were planted in pots, added water and gave it another try.  This time it worked and at last I got some time lapse photos of daffodils "in the act".  Still pretty crude but a step forward.

 

Having way too much fun!

Australian Hiking Buddies

Hiking the trails in Australia National Parks has been an experience that we won't soon forget - not to be missed if you have the opportunity.  Not only are the beaches and forests unique, but they are among the best maintained and most scenic we have seem.  And the wildlife - so much fun.  Here are a few examples - photos that I haven't posted on facebook or Instagram.

What did we see first day out in the wild?  A Koala hanging out it one of his favorite trees.  So lucky not only to see him, but to be able to photograph him as well in his natural setting.  A rare experience I'm told. 

Emus were not quite so rare.

Stay away from these guys.  They are big and seemingly unafraid.  

Kangaroos seemed to be everywhere, but we also managed to see a family of pademelon, smallest of the kangaroo family.

The Tasmanian Native Hen has some pretty colors.

A few more of our hiking buddies, not so unusual.

Kangaroo

Hooded Plover, currently mating and nesting.

Cockatoos, the noisiest and most obnoxious bird I've seen.  The penultimate gang members.

In part, because of the hot summer weather, most the wildlife we have seen are sparse or out of sight during the day, spending their time napping in the shade during the day and being active at night.  But thankfully, we found our hiking buddy Mr. Koala moving about and were able to observe and take a few pictures.  

Having way too much fun.

Mountain Ash - Giants

Growing up in the northwest, I have always thought of douglas fir trees and sequoias as the tallest trees on the planet.  Sequoias, for example, can grow to be about 250 feet (76 meters) tall and douglas firs also in the 200 to 300 foot range.  But that's nothing compared to mountain ash or Eucalyptus regnans which at one time were actually measured at 132 meters tall or 433 feet in the forests of southern Victoria and on the island of Tasmania.  Today you can still find mountain ash, which grow to maturity at 350 years and can live twice that long, in the 85 to 100 meter tall range (328 feet) and they bloom too - the tallest blooming plant on the planet.  During our recent hikes in the forests of Victoria, we were fortunate to find ourselves in the middle of several of these giants.  Judy's cell phone photo provides the best perspective.

While she took this shot, I opted for an alternative perspective.

What a treat hiking in these forests has turned out to be.  

Now, off to Tasmania and even bigger and better.

Snow Hike to the Slatted Bridge

Another local hike that you can take in most any weather condition is the trail from Lake Sawyer Park along the west side of Ravensdale Creek to what I call the "slatted bridge".  Measured from the parking lot to the bridge, it's about a 4 mile round trip through second growth forests on easy trail that provide some nicest views of the creek as it meanders it's way to Lake Sawyer.  Cross the bridge to the east side and follow the trails further north all the way to 288th and circle back around to the west side of the creek and you can another mile or two.

These are trails first established and maintained by a community of mountain bikers that provide some of the best mountain biking in King County.  I call it the slatted bridge because of the type of bridge shown above.  It's not the smoothest ride across but it sure is sturdy.  This is also a location where we have seen coho salmon spawning in the past.  The above view is looking east.  On this day, we even found some color.

Berries from weed holly trees stand out in the snow.  Other areas along the creek that can look a bit drab in the winter, really dress up in the snow.

It doesn't take a lot of sun to brighten the day.

What a winter wonderland we have here.

Snow Buddies

One might think that snow and cold weather would bring levels of outdoor activity to a halt.  Nope, it's been quite the opposite.  We've had visitors stop by that we haven't seen in some time knocking on our door.  Regulars take us a bit for granted, like our hummingbird friends who stare at us through the window if we are late in thawing the sugar water in their feeders.  Or the tribe of Dark-eyed Juncos who invited all their friends over.  I must say, they are fun to watch as the snow falls.  They stay so "puffed up" in the snow.

I still haven't been able to figure out which Juncos are females and which are males, though love is certainly now in the air.  They also invited their friends the Towies over for lunch.

The Wigeon family have been the biggest party crashers and made themselves at home in our yard and under our deck.  We haven't seen them all year.

Two females scouting the territory, followed by the boys.

The army of Coots stayed in the water (only about 100 or so of them), which is just fine by me.  Mallards, of course, acted as if they owned the place, waddling along right up on our deck.  We never feed them, but they sure looked like they expected a hand-out.

Mallards are truly the "Rodney Dangerfield" of the duck family but they really are a pretty bird.

And, of course, the squirrel family joined the party, cleaning up after the others.

Quite a menagerie on a snowy day.

Time to go for a hike in the snow.  Enjoy!

A Walk in the Park

What to do on snow days?  Stay close to home and if you live in Black Diamond, take a walk in Lake Sawyer Park.  After the snow falls, we often have clear skies and bright sun, creating a fantasy land, like this sunset at Ravensdale Creek.

Or, you might like it better in the morning.

Fortunately, city staff was quick to clear the park access road and only a few inches of snow fell, making it easy going on the trails.  It's an excellent opportunity to catch some sunbursts as the sun shines through the trees.

See if you can find some hoarfrost close to the lake.  With cold temperatures and high moisture levels in the air from fog rising on the lake, you can often find fields of hoarfrost, some even growing on the snow.

We found it everywhere.  If you have a micro lens for your camera (I don't), you can get some really neat shots of individual snow flakes.  I used my 300 mm long lens to capture this closeup while standing a long ways away.  Always looking for interesting shapes and lighting, like this view of Ravensdale Creek looking upstream.

And downstream.

A tip if you like to take pictures.  You will find Ravensdale Creek to be a great spot for sunset photos over the next couple of months.  Soon the sun will be setting right down the chute.  It's still setting a few degrees south as you saw from the first photo, but it should be even better in a week or so.  Usually, lots of color even now.

Are we all fortunate to live in the northwest or what?

Making Videos With Timelapse Photos

Our son Craig is a wonderful photographer (you can find his work online at Craig Goodwin Photography).  Concerned about what I was going to do with myself in retirement, he and our daughter Hillary ganged up on me and along with Judy encouraged me to take up photography.  Hillary bought me a camera and Craig patiently began showing me the ropes of how to take pictures.  Needless to say, I became hooked and regularly look to Craig for both inspiration and knowledge.  I'm also his occasional "intern" at Art Shows.  So, when Craig begins experimentation with one photographic technique or another, it inspires me to learn more too.  Recently, he began doing some really neat time-lapse photography so I began playing around with sunrises here at Lake Sawyer and see what I could learn.  I did some time-lapse photography with night shots under the stars in the past, but that was really quite a bit easier than doing either sunrise or sunsets because of the dramatic changes in lighting that occur as the sun rises or sets.  For example, as the sun begins to rise, I might have to use a shutter speed as long as 20 seconds or more to capture an early image and then by the time the sun rises, I might have to speed it up to 1/250th of a second or faster and balance all this change with appropriate aperture and ISO settings over about an hour's period of time..  

Choosing where to do time-lapse photography is a critical starting point for success and in this, living here on Lake Sawyer, I am blessed with an ideal location without having to pack up and head out any time I want to give it a go.  This is also the perfect time of year for capturing colorful sunrise images - and foggy ones too.  Gosh, I wonder what it looks like as the fog rises during sunrise.  So, I set out to see what I could learn.  

Far from being a static environment, I learned that a foggy morning had a whole lot going on as the following 350 image time-lapse video will attest.

 

Having fog as the central image theme made it a little easier to photograph since camera setting changes during the transition from a 30 second exposure to 1/400th of a second were muted by the fog, making these changes look more natural.  And I learned what it looks like as the fog lifts.

The next one was a lot tougher.  The sunrise on January 30 was a knock-out.  There was both a lot going on and many lighting and color changes to blend together.  This one is still a work in process as I try to see how I can make it smoother with fewer flashes during setting changes.  But, what a sunrise it was.

Each day is so very different.  Following is a sunrise time-lapse taken on Jan. 26, 2019, my first try here at the lake.

 

The variety of colors and clouds and settings I see each morning make truth to the saying "it's a new day".

One more, this one taken on the 31st.  

 

Lot's of fun and a lot easier for me to set up now.  Much more to learn and having fun.

Hiking the Upper Big Creek Loop Trail - and More

Have I got some fun winter hikes for you!  The area around Lake Cushman, north of Hoodsport and Hood Canal, is rich in low traffic well maintained trails just waiting to be explored. Yesterday, Judy and I headed over to explore Lake Cushman (our first visit there) and hike the trails around Big Creek.  The weather could not have been better.  Sunny but cool - perfect for hiking. 

First impression, Lake Cushman is a pretty cool place for outdoors people and a beauty in it's own right.  I'm sure that it's crowded during the summer with campers and vacationers but certainly not this time of year.

Here are a few scenes from driving around the lake.

You will find Cushman Falls as it makes it's tumble down the hillside.

Though used as a reservoir for hydroelectric power generation by the Mason County PUD, the water level was a few feet lower that in the summer but still beautiful.

Having never hiked here before, how do you choose which hike to go on.  Ah, look for where most of the cars are.  Thus we ended up hiking the Upper Big Creek Loop trail and then extended it further to see the vista from a trail overlook on the way to Mount Ellinore.  I must say, overall this was as well maintained and well built trail that we have been on.  Very few rocks or big roots.  We must have made 7 or more stream crossings and each of the bridges were in perfect condition.  Here's the view from the overlook about 1,700 feet above the trailhead.

We also had great views from here of Mt. Rainier and Mt. Adams.  In all, we logged about 7 miles and had enough elevation gain at 1,700 feet to keep our hearts pumping and bodies warm.  The Big Creek area is home to a U.S. Forest Service Campground, a trailhead for the climb to Mount Ellinore and the Upper Big Creek Loop trail.  For young families, there is also a camp loop trail that is perfect for youngsters.  

Not far from Big Creek is the Mount Rose trailhead and the much larger Staircase area with 10 more trails.  Lots more exploring yet to do this winter and spring.

Whitewater Kayaking and Rafting Down the Green River Gorge - Update

Last week I noted how high water flows were in the Green River Gorge.  3,200 cfs is prime for whitewater kayaking and rafting (see complete article below). Apparently such a large release of water from the dam was done in coordination between the corps of engineers and recreational kayaking groups and only for a short period.  As of Feb. 1, water flows are now back down to only 1,000 cfs which is normal for this time of year. 

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With water now flowing at 3,200 CFS, it's prime time for advanced kayakers and river rafters to enjoy the thrill of shooting the rapids down the Green River Gorge.  What an incomparable experience this is.  

I spent yesterday hiking several trails in the gorge and ran into some kayakers at Kanaskat-Palmer State Park preparing to head down the river.  I also was surprised to see the high water flows being released by the dam.  

The word must have gotten out because at these flow rates, this is prime time for those capable of navigating level III and level IV rapids.  High flows limited my access to the river and photograph opportunities but it sure is a thrill just to see it.  The 5 miles from Kanaskat to the takeout at the Franklin bridge have some pretty amazing rapids.  So, I headed down to the Franklin bridge hoping to see the kayakers as they made their way down.  Sure enough, in not too long, along they came.  The photo you see above was taken from one of the take out points - after the major rapids.  By this time, it was pretty easy play time for these kayakers.

The take out point is immediately below and to your right.  A lot of water flowing.  Several years ago, Judy and I were fortunate to raft down through the gorge, guided by experts, and what a memorable experience it was.  It was not just the thrill of the rapids, but the unique beauty of the gorge seldom seem by many.  Since that day, my appreciation for the gorge and the need to protect such a unique asset for future generations has grown enormously and if I want to get away for a hike close to home, this is my get-a-way.

Such unique geology.  Somehow, I don't think I need the sign to tell me not to dive, even at high water.

 

Bald Eagles

Why do we get so much pleasure from observing and trying to photograph bald eagles?  For me, it's a long list:

• It gets me out into nature
• Provides both physical exercise and mental therapy
• Though eagles are no longer endangered, they are still somewhat rare
• They are so beautiful, regal and strong
• Fun to watch
• Always satisfying to capture a good photo, which is not always easy to do
• I learn a lot about nature and our environment

As I have had more opportunity and some success with photographing eagles while they were perched on a tree limb or maybe doing a fly-by off in the distance, capturing an image while they are engaged with other eagles or perhaps doing something out of the ordinary has become my greater focus.  And its fun.  Following are a few of the more unusual and action sights from my couple of trips to the Nooksack this winter.

Landing on a tree branch isn't always quite so easy.

Weighing on average about 4 lbs, finding a sturdy branch to land on makes things a whole lot easier.

Making room on a branch or stump for both Mr. & Mrs. can also be a challenge.

1st or 2nd year juveniles can look pretty fierce.

Adults, though, seem to have a real grace about them despite their ferocity.

Being on a hill above eagles as they dive down to dine on salmon carcasses provides some interesting perspectives and close ups, and sometimes can put you at nearly eye level.

Two more photos out a several hundred.  The stare down of this eagle is down right intimidating.

And my favorite - in the spotlight.

None of these are the perfect shots either technically or artistically, but it sure is fun.

Hiking to Greenlake, Mt. Rainier National Park

Great weather, great time to hike up to Green Lake from the Carbon River entrance to Mt. Rainier National Park.  Although it's January, Judy and I found the trails to be snow free except at the very top.  And sunshine too.

Even though the lake was frozen, there is always something special about being up here.  And you get some great views of Ranger Falls along the way.

Green Lake is at about 3,400 feet elevation and this is a good indicator of where the snow level is in the cascades right now.  For those not familiar with this popular hike, park at the park entrance where the road dead ends along the Carbon River.  Follow the old road for 3 miles and you find a sign on your right for the Green Lake trailhead.  In one mile, you reach Ranger Falls and another 0.8 miles to the lake.  9.6 miles round trip and 1,150' of elevation gain.  Always fun.

Salmon Fishing - Eagle Style

Having the opportunity to observe bald eagles feasting on salmon each December along the North Fork of the Nooksack River is one of those experiences not to be missed.  You'll find plenty of these beautiful birds hanging out in the trees along the river in no apparent hurry to go "fishing".  Given that salmon often outweigh eagles, finding a carcass floating downstream along the shore after the fish have spawned is the typical method of choice for landing an eagle's breakfast and dinner.  Occasionally, however, we do find an eagle diving out into the water to drag one to shore.  A couple of weeks ago, I was fortunate to be able to capture the sequence of one eagle eyeing it's dinner in the river and then diving down to "land" it.  

Following are a few of the highlights:

On the glide path.

Concentrate!

Splash down!

This was the easiest part so far.  Now you have to get really wet and drag your dinner to shore.

After a few minutes of really hard wet work, you can finally rest and savor your meal.

The only problem, however, is that once ashore, all the eagles who have been watching this spectacle would love nothing more than a free lunch.  Here they come.

One hates to eat and run, but that's the life of an eagle.  Fortunately, there's lots of food in the river this time of year.
 

Prime Time for Sunrises at Lake Sawyer

With the sun at it's lowest angle of the year and plenty of high clouds for color, early January is often the best time for us to see amazing sunrises at Lake Sawyer.  Not that we haven't had some nice ones already, but colder weather also brings a few less low clouds that tend to give us the grey days of December.  That said, here are a few sunrise pics from the last couple of weeks.

The above photo is a 5 image panorama stitched together taken on Dec. 22.  

Totally clear skies aren't what we look for either.  Even just a few high clouds can add so much color, amplified by lake reflections.

Too many clouds for a lot of color in the above photo but for some reason, we often get just a small "slit" of clear sky on the horizon directly across the lake from us as the sun rises to the southeast. This same view that we see above looked very different only about 10 minutes earlier.

What's so much fun is that you never know what you will see and it changes so much in a 15 to 30 minute period of time.  

The above photo (a single exposure using a 20mm wide angle lens) was taken just 4 minutes after the first one I showed.  Clouds drift so much in a short period of time and colors change from pinkish to more orange and yellows in a matter of minutes.  One more.

Good news too about sunrise in December and January.  WE GET TO SLEEP IN and not miss a thing.  Get up at 7 am on weekends and you're good to go.  Somehow I feel like I'm cheating when I don't have to get up at 4:30 am.

How Do Hummingbirds Make It Through Winter?

The short answer to this question is that most of them migrate to warmer climates in Mexico and the Caribbean in winter and even to South America.  That's a long way for such a small bird.  But, according to National Geographic, more hummingbirds are staying north these days as a result of both warmer winter weather and human activity.  Winters in the Puget Sound region are by no means severe and we have lots of people activity, so we find lots of hummingbirds here year round.  How many of us have hummingbird feeders that we dutifully keep full of nice sugary water?  Many of us I'm sure.  Watching them fly and feed is so much fun!  So is trying to photograph them while in flight.  This one was taken Christmas eve morning.

To capture this image, I took the photo through our kitchen window and had to use a shutter speed of 1/2000th of a second.  What do hummingbirds feed on?  Of course, we all know that they love sugared water.  A concentration of 25% sugar is very similar to the high sugar content of flower and plant nectar that we typically see them feeding on in our gardens.  But hummingbirds are actually carnivores and feed on insects as their main food staple.  For some reason, the more people there are, the more insects and the better the habitat for hummingbirds.  Hmmm, some "food" for thought.  Sugar from plant nectar and people hummingbird feeders provide the fuel needed for them to catch their real nutritious food.

Look at those tiny little feet!  Hummingbirds need lots of sugar to survive and consume up to 1/2 their body weight in sugar each day.  A hummingbird's metabolism is the highest of any endothermic animal on earth and thus the need for lots of fuel.  To conserve energy during extreme cold weather, a hummingbird's heart rate can plummet from 1,260 beats per minute down to fewer than 50 beats - entering a state of torpor.  Even then, however, they can still lose 10% of their body weight over night.  They need food and lots of sugary fuel to find it.

Following is our latest addition of hummingbird feeders, this one made of blown glass by an artisan at a farmers market.  Pretty fun and holds plenty of sugar water.

Some people caution about making hummingbirds too dependent on people during the winter.  Fair enough.  Probably the best thing we can do is grow more plants that bloom in colder seasons - like hellebores.   And a couple of feeders properly attended will do just fine.

Now, if only I could find a way to increase my metabolism while eating all of that sweet holiday food, instead of going into torpor.