On the Road is a weekday feature spotlighting reader photo submissions.
From the exotic to the familiar, whether you’re traveling or in your own backyard, we would love to see the world through your eyes.
Mike in Oly
I enjoyed my first trip of the year out to the Billy Frank Jr.-Nisqually NWR I decided to head back out, as we were expecting a lovely sunny day, above freezing temps and the perfect tide. My better half, Skookum, headed out early that morning to hike the 12 miles across the city out to the refuge, and I drove at at noon to meet him. It was the perfect day for a walk. Tuesday, so fewer visitors than weekends, and the light was beautiful.
Shortly after arriving I was happy to see the courting eagle pair hanging out in the cottonwoods near the twin barns. Skookum told me they had been flying over the fields scaring the geese just before I got there. I wondered if these two were also the pair that built the nest in that same tree several years ago and raised a few chicks in it in the years since.
One of my favorite little birds was bopping about in the sunshine at the base of this big leaf maple tree looking for bugs. Bewick’s wrens usually prefer to hide in the underbrush but this one was right out int he open and ignored me busily snapping photos of it.
As we headed out toward the boardwalk over the mudflats the Olympic Mountains were showing off in the sunshine. Always a fun sight to see and I can’t resist snapping yet another shot of them.
The sun was shining so pretty on the ice in the marsh.
We stopped to watch a pair of buffleheads diving and then after a bit they stopped to preen. Such striking little birds, especially those bright orange legs and feet.
Billy Frank Jr.-Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge
Harbor seals were lazing about on the grassy knolls as the tide retreated. Something spooked them shortly after and they all slipped off into the water.
A handsome northern pintail feeding in the mud.
Heading back out we saw this group of greater white-fronted geese. It amazes me just how many different species of geese end up here over the years.
As we headed back to the parking lot a couple of deer crossed our path. This one was very young for this time of year. Looked very cute in his fuzzy winter coat.
AM in NC
What a lovely way to greet the day – thank you!
J.
Nice!
Betty
Wrens are one of the cutest birds.
Winter Wren
Great collection of photos! Really gives a sense of the place. Will definitely have to check it out when we can make it back to that area.
BenInNM
Nice pictures – thanks!
Jeffg166
@Betty:
The Carolina wren in my garden scolds me when I am out them. I get a get off my lawn vibe from it.
Linda Bates
as a volunteer at the Nisqually Complex, great article. The visitor center is open Wed through Sunday, stop in the volunteers there have a wealth of information and we totally enjoy sharing sightings and other interesting facts, foe example NNWR was a selfcontained farm, Browns farm.
WaterGirl
@Linda Bates: Welcome!
jame
Thanks for identifying the bufflehead ducks! There’s a lone bufflehead on the pond behind my son’s house in Durham, and it’s id has long baffled me.
WaterGirl
I am officially adding bufflehead to my vocabulary as a term of endearment for when I need to shake my head and might have otherwise called someone a goofball or an idiot (with a smile).
cope
I am also a sucker for distant, snowy, jagged peaks sticking up well above the horizon so thank you.
Very calming way for me to start my day.
Thanks again.
MCat
What a marvelous place! I will go there in my mind when I need to restore my sanity. Thanks so much.
Dan B
The refuge looks great. It’s a huge improvement over the farm. The wildlife seems to have increased tenfold. I love the view of Rainier from the hill to the west.