Cats and Trails and Garden Tales
Musings on cats, travel, gardens and life
Bird Bonanza in my Backyard
They came in great numbers suddenly, while I watched from my kitchen window.
They were mostly there for the water though there was plenty to eat, too. Despite Seattle’s reputation, it’s been a long, dry summer, as usual.
The American Robins were most prevalent, with many youngsters, still in their spotted breasts. Mature Robins have a solid red breast.
They were fearless and bold, fighting for their time in the birdbaths.
Chasing away smaller birds who were often there first.
They prevailed over the Female Goldfinch below – or is it a Pine Siskin?
A few Stellar Jays joined the fun.
There was room for the tiniest birds too, who came and went quickly; a Golden-Crowned Kinglet and Red-Breasted Nuthatch below.
The party lasted for almost an hour while I took pictures through the window and Benji begged to go out. Sorry, no.
Just another day for the birds in the Great Northwest as summer comes to a close.
~ Susanne
Rainy Day in Paradise
We’d been in a heat wave for several days and were looking for a place to cool down. We found it in Paradise, on Mt. Rainier.
We didn’t mind the rain as there were fewer people on the trail to Myrtle Falls.
I wore open-toed sandals, so my feet got wet, but I had a windbreaker and hat and was otherwise warm. The deer didn’t seem to mind the rain at all, and they were out feeding on the lush foliage.
After our short hike of half a mile, we reached Edith Creek at 5,600 ft., the source of Myrtle Falls and just as lovely.
I took the few steep steps below and saw Myrtle Falls in all its glory.
Is it hot where you are? Maybe you’ll enjoy the spray in the video.
It was all downhill going back to the Paradise Inn, with views of the Tatoosh Range.
After lunch at the Inn, we took the drive down the mountain and headed for home.
“Paradise is famous for its glorious views and wildflower meadows. When James Longmire’s daughter-in-law, Martha, first saw this site, she exclaimed, “Oh, what a paradise!”
National Park Service website
I couldn’t agree more.
~ Susanne
Which Tree? Why the Douglas-Fir, of course!
It should be Washington State’s Tree, but apparently Oregon has that distinction. (Washington’s is the Western Hemlock.) But the Doug-Fir is the tree I see the most, or perhaps the one I recognize most easily on the trail.
Tall, dark and handsome with thick bark – the tree I mean,
often surrounded by Vine Maples adding beautiful contrasting color.
You’ll find ancient giants in the Grove of the Patriarchs in Mt. Rainier National Park, though you can’t get to them currently. They’re on an island in the Ohanapecosh River, and the only suspension bridge was damaged a few years ago, yet to be repaired. (Not me on the bridge.)
Across the bridge you enter a wonderland of ancient trees, over a thousand years old, some close to 300 feet tall.
Yes me with the twin firs, to show you just how big these trees are.
“The coast Douglas-fir variety is the dominant tree west of the Cascade Mountains in the Pacific Northwest. It grows in the coastal regions from west-central British Columbia south to Central California. In Oregon and Washington its range is continuous from the eastern edge of the Cascades west to the Pacific Coast Ranges and Pacific Ocean.” Wikipedia
I have both Douglas-fir trees and Western Hemlocks in and around my yard, and sometimes can’t tell the difference.
I know the big one below is a Douglas-Fir,
and is a favorite of the birds, including this recent visitor, a Hairy Woodpecker.
A few years ago we had what I thought was a dying Doug-Fir but the arborist told us it was a Western Hemlock. He also strongly encouraged us to leave it as a standing snag for the wildlife which we did. The neighbors weren’t thrilled at first, but the birds loved it.
Sharing my favorite tree with Sunday Stills, #Trees.
~ Susanne
Still Soaring, Nine Years Later
Nine years ago we brought this sweet boy home from Seattle Humane. We’d gone to get a companion for Tiger, a mature cat would be good, I thought.
But Bob and Mom picked Benji out from the others, captured by his sweet disposition. I wasn’t so sure, he was still a kitten. They were so right.
“Benji, we made the right choice. You’re the sweetest boy ever.”
“Aw thanks, Sue. I bet you say that to all your cats.”
“No, really, Benji. You’re something special. So entertaining.”
“Aw thanks, Sue. Just living my best life.”
“And the way you’ve overcome adversity is something to be admired.”
“We do what we can, Sue. You’d do the same.”
“I hope so, Benji. Anyway, you’ve been inspirational. After all these years, down a limb or not, I’m so happy you’re still soaring.”
“Happy Gotcha Day, Benji.”
~ Susanne
Reflections on the Green River
While walking through the park I saw a chase in the sky – dog chasing dog – more likely ducks.
I entered the wooded trail to the river, and came upon an animal tree, he offered his back for a place to rest but I continued on.
I saw the river through the trees, and signs of life on the shore.
We watched from a distance, the last few days of summer.
We wouldn’t go back if we could
though maybe we would.
~ Susanne
A Visiting Woodpecker – Downy or Hairy?
I heard the loud pounding in the trees above and assumed it was a woodpecker.
It took a while to spot him – he wasn’t that big and he’s not a regular in my yard. He moved up and down the trunk of the Douglas Fir tree, hopping from limb to limb, backwards and forwards, sometimes upside down, pecking furiously.
He persisted for almost an hour, giving me time to run for my camera, then sit and watch him.
At first, I thought he was a Downy but after doing more research, I think he’s a Hairy; both are black and white speckled woodpeckers common in Washington.
According to Audobon.org the main difference between the two is in overall size and bill shape.
“The Downy’s bill is dainty and about one-third the length of the bird’s head. The Hairy’s bill is a railroad spike in comparison, and almost as long as its head.
The Downy is a little over six inches tall, while the Hairy is almost 50 percent taller.”
Judging by size, I’m going with Hairy Woodpecker. It may have been the first time we had such a visitation; I hope it’s not the last.
Sharing with Sunday Stills #WingsandFeathers and #BirdsoftheWeek.
~ Susanne
Little Cats on the Home Front
Yesterday I shared photos of the wildlife my brother encountered on safari in Africa, where the only kind of shooting that occurred was with a camera.
I loved the big cats, majestic and content, knowing they are free to safely roam.
On the home front, I also have two cats, perhaps just as beautiful, also free to safely roam, though I do stay alert for the occasional raccoon.
They are more pampered than their larger cousins on the other side of the world, but also still wild at heart.
Here they are in their best, ‘I’m also mysterious – you don’t really know me,’ pose.
Happy Caturday from Tiger and Benji!
~ Susanne
P.S. To see more of John’s incredible wildlife photos, here’s the link to his post if you missed it.
Lions and Leopards and Cheetahs, O My!
I don’t think I’ll make it to Africa, where wild animals can still find places to roam and live their best lives in natural habitat. But my brother did, on safaris to wildlife preserves and his pictures are incredible. I especially enjoyed seeing the big cats behaving like cats! The lions, both majestic and playful, leopards and cheetahs, gorgeous and mysterious in their spotted coats.
And yes, there were elephants, giraffes, zebras and more!
I love animals and am happy to see them thrive. Visit the story at the link below for more pictures and clips of them all. It may be as close as you (or I) will get to them.
~ Susanne
P.S. For additional information, take a look at the comments, where John describes in more detail the nature of the ‘preserves’ he visited, where animals are safe from hunting and free to roam.
A Walk in the Park, Thanks to Those who went Before
We visit Nolte State Park many times a year to hike through the woods around the lake; it never gets old.
This beautiful property was in private hands until bequeathed to the state of Washington by Minnie Nolte, after her death in 1971. It had been in the Nolte family since 1889, and used as a resort for many years.
Go back further and you’ll find a more complicated history.
“Nolte State Park lies within the traditional territories of Coast Salish Indigenous people whose present-day descendants include members of the Muckleshoot Indian Tribe, Snoqualmie Indian Tribe, and Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation.
For thousands of years the lands around today’s Nolte State Park have provided habitat for a diverse community of life that forms the basis of their cultures, especially around the harvest, preservation and stewardship of salmon in the Green River.
Local tribes ceded ownership of the area to the US federal government under duress in the Treaty of Point Elliot in 1855, keeping rights to harvest natural resources in their usual and accustomed places including the area of today’s Nolte State Park.” https://parks.wa.gov/about/news-center/field-guide-blog/nolte-state-park-history
In fact, most of the treaties native tribes entered into were later broken by the United States government and its representatives, a sad part of our history. At any rate, I’m thankful this gorgeous property is still available for all to enjoy.
~ Susanne
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