Posted in Crows at the Beach

Crow Brothers at Arms versus the Eagle

Posted on by batgurrl

I am not sure which of these species is the star of this little photo shoot. Is it the brave crow brothers telling the eagle he is not wanted here? Or is it the story of a juvenile bald eagle just finding his way in the world?

I am torn since both birds are widely loved and admired and disliked.  Taking sides is like betting on your favorite sport team.  I will leave it to you to decide.

The picture above of the eagle shows this youngster hanging out in the winter wind. He is perched in a snag tree that adult eagles favor.  Perhaps his parents are the ones I spotted there last fall. He might be returning to his only home or a roaming teenager looking for a place to call his own.

It is not likely he will win the battle for this piece of the Puget Sound coastline. It has long been staked out by older eagles. They will not think kindly of this one or two year old child interloping on their territories.

The reason I call him a youngster is his lack of white head and tail. The process to adult plumage in bald eagles takes about 5 years.

Young Eagle hanging out on a windy but sunny day on Puget Sound

Add to his challenges of growing up is a crow murder that lives here at Lincoln Park. He is lucky only the brothers have found him. If it was later in the year during nesting season, not only would he be harassed by his own kind, but also a crow mob of larger proportions.

Brothers Crow break up Mr Eagle’s peaceful perch

For me I had a grand time this sunny Sunday winter day.  Many like me had come out to enjoy a reprieve from rain and dark skies. Since I was walking around with binoculars and camera in hand many asked me what I was seeing.  Then they too saw this interlude that they might have otherwise missed.

My favorite thing to do is to hand them my binoculars and watch their face as they see a bit of wildlife up close. Their gratitude for talking to them and showing them is very fulfilling.

I share with you now a video of the air show our brothers crow performed.

Posted in Crows of the Hood

Caramel Crow Video – Round Two

Posted on by batgurrl

I have been on the hunt for the caramel crow this week since seeing her on Friday.  Here is the link to that sighting.  Caramel Crow – Round One 

As I walked the streets and trails around the area and where I saw crows flocking I talked to quite a few folks. Many said they had seen her & a few said there are two.  I am not 100% sure the one I saw today is the same.  It could be because when you look at these photos you can see how white or cream colored her back is.  The first encounter when she flew off I could see all that white.

She seems to be more like a Siamese cat than brown all over. That is a black/dark brown head with a white body.  See what you think in this photo.

Caramel/Siamese Crow

One last thing before you watch my short video. This crow is very shy and both times flew away as soon as I got a step closer.  I have to assume many people and children have tried to see her or even catch her.  Will have to use a few peanuts to win her respect.

Posted in Birds and other fun topics

There is a Waterfall in My City

Posted on by batgurrl

Whenever you search for waterfalls in Seattle you get a list hikes that are up in the foothills and mountains.  No one mentions that at times there are a few smaller versions when we get a downpour.  This waterfall chaser found just such a little gem this weekend.

It is on a normal day a blah drainage ditch type stream that flows across Lincoln Park in West Seattle. She comes to a bluff that overlooks the Puget Sound and drains down a rock strewn slope. I suspect this was man built by the 1930’s W.P.A. (Works Projects Administration) in an effort to protect their other work.

They built quite a bit of Lincoln Park’s features from the rock wall along the beach to the covered picnic areas.  This includes the covered spot with a fireplace right below my waterfall. A grand sidewalk winds down the bluff – it has two sides; one heads north and the other south. Below the twin cement paths is a restroom and the fireplace shelter. Hence their desire to control run-off.

The north side is where our waterfall exists.  So, enough said.  Here are the photos and video you crave of a city waterfall.

Starting at the top of the bluff here is a cell photo of the water flooding over the muddy path and roaring down the chute. This is a bit of a hidden area above the developed area I describe above.

Lincoln Park stream gushing over path & heading to the beach

Next is a video I took from my cell phone from the top looking downward to the beach and posted on my Instagram account.

View this post on Instagram

Lincoln Park has a Waterfall – Surprise!!! Surprise!!!

A post shared by Robin Adams (@robin_da_batgirl) on

I then walked over to the north cement path.  As soon as I got around the curve this is what I saw – water gushing over the walkway here too.

Overflow from waterfall after heavy downpour

Love this view since the path has a little archway built into the foliage.  A window onto the beach. I got closer and here is a series of photos on our gusher.

Waterfall skipping drain in walkway

Shortly after I got to this area a park employee came by. He pried open the grate where the water hits the curb on the left and dug into it.

Follow the water down a staircase.  
Off to the Puget Sound this rush of water heads

The roof you see is that covered shelter with the WPA built fireplace.  Look close and you can see the ripples of water on the stairs center photo.

Turning back to the rock strewn water’s path & here is what you can see – A full bloom waterfall.

Waterfall in Seattle proper!!

And since we all love to see and hear water flowing over rocks creating that soothing sound, here is a video.  ENJOY!!

Note: you will hear me talking at the end of the video.  I am responding to the Lincoln Park Guy working on the drainage grate.  The waterfall is so loud you don’t hear him talking to me.

Posted in Birds and other fun topics

The Breath of Rain

Posted on by batgurrl

Rain is a being that breaths, pounces and is alive with sound and motion. This little moment at Lincoln Park (Seattle) shows how a small puddle is the cosmos of Rain’s being.

Hard rain breeds bubbles of life’s breath
Leaping splashes of rain’s joy in a small puddle

Nothing shows the life in rain but a short video.