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Wildflower Hike

I had to cancel a camping trip because I was somewhat under the weather and needed to schedule a Dr appointment. Feeling disappointed about the camping trip, I took myself and Willow for a hike. It was a mistake for my health but uplifting for my spirit. Now, I am on antibiotics and laying low for a while. That’s hard. And even harder on Willow.

There was a fair amount of wildflowers. It’s very dry already so this may be the peak for them. I wish I could get out and see more. The trees were looking healthy with their fresh green growth. Butterflies were busy trying to find mates and get on with their short lives. Willow loved it all but wished for a lake or a stream so we stopped at a creek on the way home.

Pollinators in the Herbs

These are mostly honeybees but some natives too in catnip and culinary sage flowers.

Loons

I saw Common Loons on four lakes and heard about some with youngsters on another lake. I saw newly hatched babies on Tuesday and saw them again on Thursday when they were noticeably bigger. One pair of loons was off to a late start with just a single egg in the nest. Hopefully they had another and are now keeping them warm and safe til they hatch. On the other two lakes, I saw a single loon, lingering in one general area. I suspect there was a nest nearby on both those lakes but I don’t know the locations. It’s amazing to see the loons swimming underwater.

Water Birds

Lots of ducks, some shorebirds and a Virginia Rail with babies.

A Few Birds from the Okanogan Highlands

Willow and I had a short camping trip to the Highlands last week. We cut it short by a day when the weather got too unsettled and the neighbors too noisy. That’s the problem with campgrounds – you never know what kind of neighbors you might get. We hiked and I paddled my kayak and I went birding while Willow waited, impatiently.

There were also loons and other water birds and I’ll post them soon.