Maybe I should call this post "East meets West". I saw many things in Washington that were familiar and some that weren't and some that I wasn't sure about......they were sort of like home, but not quite.
A Chickadee is cute no matter what side of the country you are on! I think this is the same we have in the east.....a Black-Capped Chickadee.....but somehow he seemed a bit different. I felt the same way about the House Sparrows.
He was one of the few birds I managed to get to come to some seeds I put out. It is difficult in strange places to know where to find birds. I could find no nature centers listed, but my sister found a list of some local sites on the Rainier Audubon web site. However, after trying to visit 2 of them, we didn't have a lot of luck. My gut observation is that unless you get away into the mountains or the countryside.....and know where to go....that the parks and such are more geared to recreation than bird watching. Lots of biking/hiking trails, but not into the woods or areas that are wild. It may have been the wrong time of year for some of the places.
I liked the way this silhouette looked. Whatever this fir tree is, the chickadee liked it.
I saw lots of trees that I didn't know....and still don't know them because I don't have a tree book for the northwest. This is in my sister's yard and has these "shaggy" cones.
She said this one is a Douglas Fir....she has a couple of those.
This odd tree is at the Tacoma Zoo, but I saw the same kind at that log cabin we visited. No idea what it is, but the stark look of the branches stood out to me.
I believe this is an Oregon Junco......again, I could tell it was a Junco, but different then the ones that I see at home!
I'm not used to the wet atmosphere that allows moss and lichens to grow all over the trees. What a variety here on one branch!
Another shot of the mixture
Crow.....I think I got that one right! They walk around in the front yard of my sister's house looking for food. This one found something and took it to the roof.
Very willing to pose.
Many plants that I didn't know or don't see at home. Saw lots of these flowers and have no idea what they are. (NOTE: Ruth says they are Tansy...thanks, Ruth!)
Bushes/trees with white berries? (NOTE: Jenny says they are Snowberry...thanks, Jenny!)
....and orange berries? (NOTE: Katney says Mountain Ash.....thanks, Katney!)
And these???
Waxwing! I know that one!
This maple has the largest leaves I have ever seen and still has the "helicopter" seeds attached.......mine all lose them in the spring.
Another maple? Similar seeds.
Tree frog that came visiting one night :-)
A Chickadee is cute no matter what side of the country you are on! I think this is the same we have in the east.....a Black-Capped Chickadee.....but somehow he seemed a bit different. I felt the same way about the House Sparrows.
He was one of the few birds I managed to get to come to some seeds I put out. It is difficult in strange places to know where to find birds. I could find no nature centers listed, but my sister found a list of some local sites on the Rainier Audubon web site. However, after trying to visit 2 of them, we didn't have a lot of luck. My gut observation is that unless you get away into the mountains or the countryside.....and know where to go....that the parks and such are more geared to recreation than bird watching. Lots of biking/hiking trails, but not into the woods or areas that are wild. It may have been the wrong time of year for some of the places.
I liked the way this silhouette looked. Whatever this fir tree is, the chickadee liked it.
I saw lots of trees that I didn't know....and still don't know them because I don't have a tree book for the northwest. This is in my sister's yard and has these "shaggy" cones.
She said this one is a Douglas Fir....she has a couple of those.
This odd tree is at the Tacoma Zoo, but I saw the same kind at that log cabin we visited. No idea what it is, but the stark look of the branches stood out to me.
I believe this is an Oregon Junco......again, I could tell it was a Junco, but different then the ones that I see at home!
I'm not used to the wet atmosphere that allows moss and lichens to grow all over the trees. What a variety here on one branch!
Another shot of the mixture
Crow.....I think I got that one right! They walk around in the front yard of my sister's house looking for food. This one found something and took it to the roof.
Very willing to pose.
Many plants that I didn't know or don't see at home. Saw lots of these flowers and have no idea what they are. (NOTE: Ruth says they are Tansy...thanks, Ruth!)
Bushes/trees with white berries? (NOTE: Jenny says they are Snowberry...thanks, Jenny!)
....and orange berries? (NOTE: Katney says Mountain Ash.....thanks, Katney!)
And these???
Waxwing! I know that one!
This maple has the largest leaves I have ever seen and still has the "helicopter" seeds attached.......mine all lose them in the spring.
Another maple? Similar seeds.
Tree frog that came visiting one night :-)OK.....obviously I need to get some reference books for the Seattle area before the next time we go back!
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16 comments:
How confusing this can be Mary, I have to agree!! Does this mean we should not go on leave? LOL!!
So interesting to see the similarities but different species of plants and animals. This was a very interesting post. :-)
All these trip posts are so great Mary! Lots of good stuff in here!
Waw , great site,
just wish I was into photography when I lived in wales. I only started on retirement in Luxor Egypt.
All those plants/trees are very interesting. That one from the zoo looks almost like a fake. I would love to know what it is....I don't even know my Eastern trees though. Let alone the ones from the west.
You have a very nice collection of pictures here, Mary! I know you enjoyed your trip.
It's fun to look for slight differences, like the flicker you saw being red shafted instead of your yellow one. I can't help much with the IDs, but the prickly looking things on that plant are some type of gall, created by an insect of some kind I think. Oh and the white berries thing is something we call snowberry, but I'm not sure its the same plant as ours or not,oh and the orange berried one below might be some type of Rowan (sorbus species)....maybe......I'm not much help really! (-:
This is a very interesting series.Maybe I can help identify at least one plant.The yellow button like flowers are called Tansy.I like them in the wild,but they take over a garden if allowed.The Junco is an Oregon race.Thanks for sharing these.
Blessings,Ruth
The red berries are Mountain Ash. Other than that, I can't help much. Opposite sides of the mountain can be jsut as different as across the country.
Mary I loved your pictures of the Chickadees...I love those little birds. I feed them in my backyard. Lovely post :)
More super stuff Mary.I'm always am amazed at the difference from one section of the country to the other.
B.
What great photo memories! That chickadee isn't as white as ours - but maybe it's the time of year.
I've only been to the northwest once. So different from the northeast and midwest - and I so hope to get there again!
Thank you everyone! Traveling around is always so interesting. I was hoping to see a few more western birds, but enjoyed everytyhing that I did see, even without knowing what I was looking at. Thanks to those who filled in some names for me.
Great pictures, Mary. We have crows here but luckily (so far) they don't come near to the house nor the feeders.
Love that junco.. VERY different.
Hugs,
Betsy
Msry: Neat trip and some great photos. I loved the country out there when I visited.
Betsy: Seeing them prance around in the yard was a new experience. I rarely see one here, but I guess that is because they prefer corn fields and such to my yard.
Tom: It is a wonderful area.
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