Olympic National Park - Washington

We drove north along the Washington coast to La Push with it's rugged coast, stump lined beaches and wildlife filled river harbor.

Harbor Seal

Brandt's Cormorant is successful at finding lunch

Very young Red-throated Loon

We are drarfed by this huge stump on La Push Beach

We spent Labor Day Weekend at the Hoh Rain Forest in Olympic National Park.  The moss covered virgin trees are absolutely amazing!  We did have rain several days of part-time rain, but what else can you expect in a "Rain Forest".

Black-tailed Deer Fawn

Banana Slug crawls vertically up the tree

Hall of Mosses Trail

Red Belt Fungus

European Black Slug - exotic competition for the Banana Slugs

Sword Fern - sporangia - spores

Darl-eyed (Oregon) Junco blends in

Vine Maple changing colors feels like Autumn

White Pine Butterfly

Douglas Squirrel

A herd of Roosevelt Elk come across the Hoh River near the campground

This bull's high whistle echoed through the forest, 

Kicking up the dirt

Great antler decorations

These bushes are delicious

Hey, this water is a little deep for us little guys

"This is my harem, all others stay away"

The herd heads down the river

"Since, I'm not wanted, I'll just stay here."

Pacific Wren, perfect habitat for many families

Pileated Woodpecker

Fairy Barf Fungus

Canada Jay Immature and Adult

Lettuce Lichen

We left the forest and spent two days at the coast at South Beach.  Today, we drove south back to Silver Cove RV Resort near Mt. Saint Helen's so we can watch the Packer/Bear Game later today. 

Looking forward to birding the Oregon Coast for the next few weeks.

Love & Prayers,
Ty & Ida Baumann

Washington's Central Coast

Next adventure area was Westport just south of Grays Harbor on the central coast of the state of Washington.  In the harbor, many Jellies (formerly called Jellyfish) and Sea Stars (formerly called starfish).  Great time of the year for shorebird migration.

Bottle Beach State Park is the shorebird's favorite feeding area

Western Sandpiper

Least Sandpiper

Black-bellied Plover and Least Sandpiper

Baby Deer Mouse on the path to the beach

Wandering Tattler on the Jetty to Grays Harbor

Female Harlequin Duck

Sand Dollar 

The Lighthouse Jetty at Westport

Heermann's Gull

Ocher Sea Star

Common Murre fishes in the boat harbor

We then drove around Grays harbor and spent a few days at Copalis Beach.  This expansive beach had many shorebirds feeding on the tidalponds and sea birds feeding in the pounding waves.

Whimbrel does a noisy flyby

Who is this swimming in the creek that connects to the ocean?  A River Otter.  This guy was very curious about the nearby photographer. 

Semialmated Plover and a new life bird for us - The Little Stint

Tiger Bettle

Sanderling

Wind drifts in the sand

Black Turnstones

Hundreds of birds feed in the receding tide

Western Gull with big food-begging baby

Semipalmated Plover on the wing

Coyote "flies" over the beach, literally, no feet on the ground

How come those shore birds are ignoring me?

Caspian Tern grabs a fish treat

The trees have piled up over the years

Shorebird lunch

We then drove to South Beach at Olympic National Park where we spent the next nine days and you will find in the next blog that will be done in a few hours.  So don't miss the two parts.

Love & Prayers,
Ty & Ida Baumann