Baby Otters

Baby Otters

I was walking the loop trail at the Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge when I spotted these baby otters on a small island in the middle of a pond … and I had left my camera at home, just carrying binoculars. I wanted a photo … so hurried my pace, drove home, grabbed my camera and telephoto lens and returned to the Wildlife Refuge. I hiked the mile or so back to the pond, expecting the otter pups to have relocated, but they were still there! And they were curious at my presence.

(The loop trail has since been broken to return the interior of the refuge to a salt water marsh and the refuge has been renamed the Billy Frank Jr. – Nisqually Wildlife Refuge.)

Lenticular Clouds

Lenticular Clouds

I saw these lenticular clouds over Mt Rainier from Olympia. The mountain wasn’t visible, but I was familiar with where it was and knew that these clouds typically form just as a frontal system is coming in … being rainy weather. And the next day it was raining. The lower clouds have a rounded form that is quite interesting in itself. And lenticular clouds are fairly common over Mt Rainier, but usually only a single lens. This was unusual.

Stormy Weather

Stormy Weather: Prineville, Oregon

I like stormy weather (as long as there’s no damage and as long as I’m inside … or at least dry). These two images are of frontal systems coming in and both brought high winds … and both blew over and there wasn’t any damage. And both provided a good photo op.

Stormy Weather: Olympia, Washington

Budd Bay and State Capitol Building

Budd Bay and the State Capitol Building

Budd Bay runs down from the southern end of Puget Sound into downtown Olympia. This photo was taken from while I was out kayaking. Budd Bay is an excellent kayak location when you want a quiet paddle with little excitement: it’s a very sheltered area and there is minimal power boat traffic (and they mostly obey the “no wake” law.

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