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Author Archives: Teri J Pieper

Birding Okanogan County

Four of us made a big birding loop down the Methow, up the Columbia, across the Okanogan and then up into the rocky, potholed highlands of the Colville Reservation. From there we dropped down to the Columbia River Road and then passed by Omak Lake and back down to highway 97 and then over the Loup to return to the Methow.

It was a good day of birding. We saw nearly sixty species including a pair of Long-billed Curlews shown here. They are one of my old favorite species and always a delight to see and hear and can be a challenge to find in this county.

 

This Chukar was in the middle of the road and we wondered if it was sitting on eggs or injured or something else. As we began to drive around it to the right, the bird popped up and joined another that was in the weedy grass on the left side of us. It looked like some sort of courting effort for the pair.

We saw many species of waterfowl, several types of raptors and few small birds. It seems that with the cold spring, the migration is slow to start. Besides the curlews, we saw only two other shorebirds species – Killdeer and Greater Yellowlegs. We heard a Ruffed Grouse. There were numerous Common Loons on the lower Methow. Two Osprey were calling to each other at the mouth of Methow, so loudly we could hear them with all the windows closed in the car.

All in all, a fun day of birding.

A late arrival at the Open Merc

Open Merc is an open mic session at the Merc Playhouse in Twisp. The music varies all over the spectrum and is always entertaining. It’s free to the performers and the audience and happens about once a month. Ken had a work meeting so was late getting there. He got to play last and had great backup with out of town musicians and local harmonica favorite – Egon Steinebach.

Compost – Brown Gold for Gardeners

The weather still feels like March around here – blustery with a constant threat of snow squalls or rain. Still, it’s time to work on the garden and pretend that Spring will be here before summer. It could be one of those years where the temperatures just get hot and stay there without a Spring reprieve from the extremes of heat and cold.

So despite the weather we we did a garden survey and decided that the raspberries we planted last year will need more room and soon, that is if we want to get lots of raspberries and of course, we do! So, where to put them? They are in the new upper garden next to the house, the one we created out of a barren lawn two years ago. The most logical place to expand seems to be the old lower garden on the hillside below the house. The plan is to sheet mulch the area to be added to the fenced garden this summer, put in the fence posts in the fall and add the fencing next spring, just in time to start the big raspberry move.

But first, there were two big compost bins that I had made out of pallets and baling twine the summer before last and they were in the way. So to begin with, I took out the ‘finished’ compost and spread it on the garden beds. What a lovely sight for a gardener – fresh compost – it just doesn’t get any better than that.

And then, I had to dismantle the bins and move the older compost to wait and continue to rot til next Spring.

 

The compost for next year looks really good on top of the pile but down inside there is still lots of work for the worms and other composting agents of the soil.

And I’ve already started on the pile for 2013!

The garlic got a good layer of compost and chicken manure and then I pulled last fall’s mulch back over it to help keep it warm for now and also to supress the weeds.

And it looks like we might soon have daffodils in bloom.

Spring in the Methow

Yesterday, for part of the day, it really, really did feel like Spring. Lots of birds were singing and announcing their territorial decisions. Red-tailed Hawks circled as I got too close to a nest. Chipmunks tormented the dogs. Much of the snow has gone and the hillsides are starting to dry out. Tiny wildflowers are emerging from the moist duff. Anthills are a frenzy of activity. Currant leaves unfurled in the sun and serviceberry reached for the sky.

Later in the afternoon, a cold wind blew off of the snow-capped mountains.

Pike Place Market after dark

Seattle’s Pike Place Market takes on a new air after the vendors leave and darkness takes over the evening. Bright lights and shiny surfaces don’t show the commerce and hustle and bustle that crowds the market each day. Neon lights still point the way, but to gated off stairs and closed walkways. The wet floor no longer tells tales of spilled coffee and smashed fruit that accidentally hit the floor. It’s all waiting for another day.

 

Pike Place Market after dark

Pike Place Market after dark

Pike Place Market after dark

Pike Place Market after dark

Pike Place Market after dark

Pike Place Market after dark

Pike Place Market after dark