Water Water, WA

The plan was simple: we would head up to Portland for the day and kick around Multnomah County for a while. Even though we're up there practically every other weekend (and I work up there), our county list is pitiful and we were finally going to do something about it.

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

We decided on Smith and Bybee Wetlands, where we were sure to pick up waterfowl, and where the trails around the lakes make for a pleasant stroll. Though the water level was higher than during our previous visit, and there wasn't quite as much activity as we'd hoped, we were greeted by a pair of Varied Thrushes just as soon as we got started. Later, we chanced upon four immature Bald Eagles -- one of whom had nabbed a fish out of the lake, only to be pursued over the treeline by three less enterprising siblings. But for us the highlight of the morning wasn't a bird at all.

Bald Eagles

Bewick's Wren

Maureen and I had had salamanders on the mind, as the previous weekend we'd attended a field trip to McDonald Forest with high hopes of finding assorted salamanders and newts. We'd braved the rain and cold thinking we might glimpse some new amphibians and were sorry when none had turned up. Today, though, luck was on our side. Maureen turned over a couple of logs, and under the second was the most cooperative Long-toed Salamander one could ask for. We gawked and admired for several minutes, and wrangled passers-by to share in our find. The salamander took it all in stride, finally disappearing into the loose soil only after everyone had had a chance to appreciate him.

Long-toed Salamander

In deciding where to go next, Maureen noticed a big green patch on Google Maps: "Oh, but it's in Washington." In our 9 months of living here, through all of our exploring, we've somehow never ventured across the border to our northern neighbor, literally on the other side of the river from Portland. Today we decided that Ridgefield NWR was worth the trip (bonus: every bird's a new state bird!). The refuge consists of a 4.2 mile driving trail through some pretty awesome wetlands. Unlike other driving trails we've been on, people are positively forbidden to leave their cars, except at a single photo blind mid-way through.

Red-winged Blackbird

Great Blue Heron

Northern Harrier

Ducks and swans were everywhere. There were also more nutria per acre than anyplace I've seen. Much of the action took place right beside the road, which was fortunate, since there was nowhere else to go. Fortunate for us, that is, though not for one frog, who was set to make a meal fit for an egret. This fairly robust and wily frog didn't make it easy for the Great Egret to put it down: the egret tossed it a little, maneuvered it, dunked it back in the water, and started the whole process over again. The dunking seemed like the cruelest part of all, like he just wanted to give the frog a false hope of escape. It took a couple of minutes before the frog was positioned just right, and that was the last anyone will see of it.

Tundra Swans

Nutria

Great Egret hanging a most unfortunate frog out to dry

In a happier context, you might think the frog was just hitching a ride from his buddy

At the photo blind pit stop, a young Red-tailed Hawk perched over the parking lot was the star attraction for the half-a-dozen or so other photographers stretching their legs. The hawk was great, but to be honest I was more excited for us to find a much smaller subject, since I was itching to use the macro attachment for my iPhone. We didn't know what we were looking at at the time, but the insects we found were a diurnal type of firefly. Unlike it's beloved cousins, members of this particular group aren't bioluminescent at all, using chemical signaling to communicate instead.

Red-tailed Hawk

Firefly, probably Ellychnia hatchi

We've been paying more attention to lichens lately (Xanthoria sp.?)

And let's not forget the fungi...

The benefit of having everyone stay in their cars in a wetland is, of course, that the waterfowl don't flush nearly as easily as they would from pedestrians. This gave us an opportunity for some great looks at birds we're accustomed to seeing from farther away. This was especially true of a few individuals who preferred the channels alongside the road, rather than out in the open water: a sharp-looking Hooded Merganser, a pair of Gadwall, and a couple of Northern Shovelers dancing their feeding tango. I always love watching Shovelers feed, swimming around and around each other, stirring up prey in the vortex.

Hooded Merganser

Gadwall -- the most worried-looking of the ducks

Female Gadwall

Northern Shoveler

As we drove along one of the channels checking for waterfowl, Maureen spotted an American Bittern. Sort of. It wasn't the bird that caught her eye at first, but its reflection. The bittern was so perfectly camouflaged that it took her a few moments to find it among the reeds. Even though must have been staring right at it, I don't think I saw it until it started to move. It was a nice surprise encounter to end an impromptu trip to a new state. Certainly Washington state must have a lot more surprises in store for us, provided we remember to cross the border from time to time.

What did you see first: the bird or the reflection?

American Bittern

Googly eyes