Category Archives: Year 12

In Search of Cooks!

Year 12

Did you know Bert and Betty, the Barred Owls have been waiting for me to pen an owl children’s book about their family? I have one problem … I have not been able to find the happy couple’s home. I have looked far and wide in the Duluth area for Bert and Betty without success. Now I may have a candidate couple at my cabin. Through my cabin’s new bird song listening device, BirdNET-Pi, I have learned there are Barred Owls at Northstar Lake. Last night they were recorded 45 times asking who was my cook! This would be too cool if I am able to find this happy couple. (my cabin’s listening station)

Just in case I don’t find this loving couple’s home, I would welcome help in the Duluth area. Barred Owls tend to nest in tree cavities. I would need access to your property from this time of year (courting / defining territory) through next June (Owlets fledging).

Marymoor Park Gardens

Year 12

This is the time of year to visit your local community garden. Flowers are now “going to seed” and vegetables are ready for harvest, which means FOOD FOR BIRDS! Earlier in the summer these gardens don’t have lots of birds as the food factory has not yet started up, but in early Fall … Uff Dah!

I love to visit the community garden at Marymoor Park. The number of birds at this Seattle area park is amazing, and the colors of late blossoming vegetables and flowers is beautiful. Fall migration can make for phenomenal numbers of birds at these green oases. Find your owl local community garden. I also find that the few garden plot owners out tending their plants always enjoy brief conversations, and have a love of birds. Photo Ops of even common birds become dramatic!

Marymoor Park Gardens

Coopers Hawk … amazed that the 50+ crows around left this raptor alone. The hawk was hunting songbirds and rodents.

American Crow and Sunflowers

Annas Hummingbird (the light was not good for flight shots … thus I slowed down the exposure which allows for neat exposures)

Black-Capped Chickadee

Dark-Eyed Junco (Oregon Plumage)

House Finch (female)

Song Sparrow

Spotted Towhee (last image is a juvenile)

White-Crowned Sparrow

Lime Kiln Point Lighthouse Black Oystercatchers

Year 12

I just spent a great weekend on San Juan Island in the Puget Sound (State of Washington) with my youngest son and his family. Along with my 8th and youngest grandchild, we rented a VRBO (beautiful rental with amazing gardens and a private pond) and enjoyed the serenity of the San Juans. On the final afternoon before our ferry ride back to the mainland we stopped at Lime Kiln Lighthouse State Park.

While the park was not overly birdy, the actual lighthouse point provided a cool sighting of Black Oystercatchers … the second time ever in my life (and first time since 2017). These funky shorebirds hang out between the high and low tide marks devouring oysters, thus their name), off the rocks. Given I rarely hang out on rocky coasts of northern Pacific Islands, their preferred habitat, it’s not surprising this was a rare treat for me.

Black Oystercatchers at Lime Kiln Lighthouse (video link for email subscribers)

First … the lighthouse!

Now the funky birds … the color of their beaks is real!

The Movie!