Week 1: Where's my adventurer hat?

Date: Sunday, April 7, 2013

Weather: Pouring rain

Temperature: ~40ºF

Time: 9:30-10:30 AM

Location: Union Bay Natural Area, Seattle, WA

I had a sinking feeling. I was about to start an unfamiliar exercise and I had no idea what to expect. And, as I located my arbitrary observation site, I felt myself literally sinking into the mud since the ground was saturated with the previous day’s rain. Alas, a task had to be done and once I got my bearings, curiosity kicked in and my adventures in the Union Bay Natural Area began.

Combined, these two pictures represent a 180 degree view of my observation site.

The Union Bay Natural Area is a secluded area behind the University of Washington’s (UW) Intramural Activities Building (IMA). It is a former landfill that has been slowly restored to its natural beauty.

As I approached my observation site, breeding Tree Swallows (Tachycineta bicolor) were darting around me. The conversations of these social birds were joined by many other whistles and chirps as I reached my destination. Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) couples, like me, were also enjoying a morning walk along the trail. Up in the sky, Canada Geese (Branta Canadensis) flew in flocks. At my site, I observed small, blooming pink and white flowers and English Ivy (Hedera helix) acting as a bully (it truly is an invasive plant to the Pacific Northwest), trying to conquer the landscape.

Beautiful pink flowers that are yet to be identified.

Meanwhile, along the water were many peculiar shoots that still remain a mystery to me. Some of the striped ones reminded me of something you would find in a Dr. Seuss book! I am excited to see these shoots grow throughout the quarter. An American Robin (Turdus migratorius) also found these shoots quite intriguing as it hopped around.

Shoots in my observation site to be identified.

As I looked up from the shoots, among the swaying Broadleaf Cattail (Typha latifolia) stepped out the star of the show, a Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias). It was ready for some breakfast and slowly paced along a floating log. Unaffected by the heavy rain that had begun to fall, it plumped up its feathers, elegantly captured some small fish, smacked its lips, and resumed its hunt. While the heron enjoyed its breakfast, it appeared that some small black birds (to be identified) played hopscotch above as they bounded from one cattail to another.

A Great Blue Heron has identified its breakfast and is posed to strike.

These morning activities were a delight to see and as I was about to exit the area, my eye was drawn to a bright red color. Far out in a pond, two male Red-Winged Blackbirds (Agelaius phoeniceus) were catching up about the previous day’s activities. What a sight to see!

It was a lovely morning outing and after a little more botany background, I hope to be able to discern specific plants from the lush green that populates the Union Bay Natural Area.

After some social time, one red-winged blackbird remains, enjoying the dancing raindrops.