Category: Photos by Kay

Wet

Oregon grape

It’s still wet. Timing walks between showers can be a challenge. We made it home Saturday just as it came down in buckets. Yesterday we stayed inside with projects, which was a good thing. If we’d succumbed to temptation at our usual time we’d have been caught in a deluge about a mile away from home.

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Message to City Daily Photo bloggers: The photo challenge for February 1st is If you had to leave forever the city from which you usually post, what would you miss most?
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Bird food

Woodpecker work

I found this tree a few years ago at Old Fort Townsend State Park. It looks to me like a popular site for woodpeckers.

I know there are some tough ways to make a living in the natural world. And metaphorically speaking, this reminds me of one or two jobs I’ve had. But for sheer dumb effort to survive, woodpeckers have to rank pretty high on the list, don’t you think?

Dungeness National Wildlife Refuge

Dungeness Spit

Here’s a partial view of the Dungeness Spit, part of the Dungeness National Wildlife Refuge. At 5.5 miles long, the Spit is the longest natural sand spit in the United States and encloses Dungeness Bay. The New Dungness Lighthouse, opened in 1857, is out of view at its tip.

The Dungeness National Wildlife Refuge was created by Executive Order on January 20, 1915 by President Woodrow Wilson. It was created “as a refuge, preserve and breeding ground for native birds” and is a prime resting spot for migrating shorebirds and wintering waterfowl. The Spit is walking distance from a parking lot at the end of Voice of America Road. A National Park entry fee is required at the trail head and dogs are not allowed. If you hope to log any distance on the spit, time your trek at low tide for easier walking.

Locals: Celebrations of the 100 year anniversary of the Refuge will be kicked off today at the Red Cedar Hall of the Jamestown S’Klallam tribe, 1033 Old Blyn Highway. A free party from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. includes an illustrated presentation on the refuge’s history, displays, cake, and punch. No RSVP is necessary. Click here for a schedule of other events planned this year.

A view without a room

Ruby Beach 1

There is a whole style of travel adventure I’ve never indulged in: winter storm watching. A number of coastal resorts offer packages where guests can cozy up in a hotel room faced toward ocean waters and watch the beach (and, presumably, their window) take a pounding. I’m sure it provides a lot of drama, particularly for people who don’t often have view of big water. Getting caught in the rain on a beach is about as close as I’ve come.

Ruby Beach 2

These are views of Ruby Beach, located on the northwest coast of Washington. If you spend any time on the Olympic Peninsula you’ll know that this is a classic location for photographers. It lends itself to gorgeous, dramatic shots that find their way onto greeting cards, calendars, and photographic prints. I took these shots some time ago with a camera that has since bitten the dust. You could watch winter storms here but warm and cozy would not be part of the experience.