Category: Categories

Pretty as a Peacock

A Male Peafowl (Peacock) in Beacon Hill Park, Victoria, BC

Victoria is fabulous city and Beacon Hill Park, located in the center of the city, is one of its crown jewels.

In this park you will find any number of peafowl. Yes…male peafowl are referred to as peacocks, and female peafowl are referred to as peahens, but aside from that, these beautiful and people-friendly birds frequent the park, and as you might guess, visitors feed them, which undoubtedly brings them in.

The park is also a haven for herons, eagles, songbirds, waterfowl, human adults needing a break from city traffic and noise, and children seeking a petty zoo experience.

In addition to the above, you’ll find beautiful plants, flowers, trees, and fountains all in close proximity to downtown, Parliament and the BC Museum.

But the big draw for me is the birds. And I’m grateful that this particular one posed for me so beautifully. It’s a BC souvenir that brings me joy whenever I see and share it and I hope you enjoy it as well.

Local Antiques

The Knutsen House on Old Olympic Highway

Like most of us, I’ve driven past this farmhouse a number of times and always wondered about its history.

On the Peninsula Passage website in a very interesting an article by Lisa-Ann I found that it is indeed one of the original kit houses offered by Sears and Roebuck, and that it originally belonged to the Knutsen family, followed by a list of others. So if you’ve wondered about it too, I highly encourage you to visit the site and indulge your curiosities as well. Lisa-Ann is to be commended for her intense research, as well as her photos.

But because of the house’s age and uniqueness, I chose to render my version of it as a sketch, not because of a sketchy past…but because I envisioned it the way it must have appeared in the Sears catalog, which now makes me wonder about the original price as well.

Townsend’s Solitaire

A Townsend’s Solitaire Perched on a Lichen Covered Branch

Tucked among the trees along the Levee trail in Sequim, this wide-eyed solitaire caught my attention immediately and rightly so since it was my first encounter with one.

Solitaires nest on the ground and love Juniper bushes as well as their berries, so I was very lucky to have spotted this one on a branch above ground and within range of my camera.

And although the Levee Trail has changed dramatically in the last few years, one thing hasn’t; the birds still find a suitable home there.

Another Pavarotti?

An Eaglet Exercising its Vocal Chords

Shrieking at the top of his lungs, this youngster not only commanded the attention of his nest mate, but that of surrounding birds – and humans.

In this neck of the woods, his shriek is pretty much unmistakable, and certainly not comparable to Pavarotti, but that profile certainly reminded me of the grand master, and I found the look on the face of his sibling to be as equally entertaining.

These two were nest mates on Marine Drive a few years ago and with any luck and given enough food, they stayed in our area to build their own nests and to raise their own families.

But as far as brotherhood is concerned, eaglets, unlike humans, pretty much leave their attachments to siblings far behind and focus on survival – and maybe due to all the noise…

Pretty in Pink

An Anna’s Humming Bird Feeding on Flowers

While photographing hummingbirds and songbirds at a friend’s house here in Sequim, I was told that planting Catmint is one of the best ways to attract these beauties. So if you hope to bring them to your backyard, consider adding this plant to your landscape.

And although I recently added Catmint, and planted any number of other flowering plants in an effort to increase my chances of attracting them, I find they’re more interested in my feeders than anything else.

So given that, I bring in my feeders when the plants are in bloom. That forces the hummers to look elsewhere and it helps increase the likelihood of me getting to photograph them on something other than a feeder.

And if you have a good way to attract them and you’re willing to share, please let us all know by making a comment.

April Showers

A Roadside Farm Field with the Olympics / Hurricane Ridge in the Distance

As residents of this incredible community, we’re blessed to have views that most Washingtonians and many others can only dream about.

And on this particular day, I found this farm field off of Old Olympic Highway to evoke nothing but quintessential Sequim. Although dark clouds may cover the landscapes, we have the “blue hole” to focus on, and May flowers on the horizon as well.

Enjoy!

Olympic National Park and the Salmon Cascades

A Steelhead Trout Swim up the Falls in April

The National Park System website is one of the best place to find information on where and when to see leaping salmon and steelhead trout near us, that is, if you’d rather not see one leaping off your plate…

And while the walk to the falls is relaxing, serene, and beautiful, many locals consider the runs to be not only photo-worthy but fascinating as well as invigorating.

And if you like to fish, you may be tempted to throw in a line, or to take one home if it lands in your lap, but beware, you may have to answer to the authorities. So be sure to check the website first, and BE CAREFUL viewing the fish, those rocks are VERY slippery!