Whale watchinging plus Sky Watch

What a beautiful day to be on the Ferry boat going to my Mother's at Langley on Whidbey Island. Now is the time the Humpbacked Whales are moving up Saratoga Passage feeding on Ghost Shrimp. Sometimes you can see the whales from the ferry. Lat year I saw them at Langley by my Mother's.
But the day was beautiful, the water was blue as was the sky and the clouds were marvelous.

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time for Deer

Lots of Deer around this time of year. No babies out and about yet. Maybe not born yet but very soon.

Farming in Stanwood

Today Stanwood is a farming community. Logging and fishing are almost 'used to bes'. Stanwood's largest employer is Twin City Foods (www,twincityfoods.com)and one of the largest frozen food processing plants in the nation--maybe the world. Their web site is very interesting and the video on the 'about us' page is good.
The farmers are busy right now and soon the sprouts will be coming up and before you know it -it will be harvest time. June for peas.
In one of the photos the white on the ground is lime--it sweetens the soil and is used when planting beets and spinach to name a couple.

Sunset over.......

Skagit Bay at Stanwood, Washington--April 27th--8:09PM.
A beautiful ending to a beautiful day. MB

A few birds I met today.....

The Eagles were gathered in the horse pasture just down the road from my home. There were 4 of them and they were arguing about something. They were jumping around but I could never capture them in the air.
The Heron I shot at Tennent Lake near Bellingham later in the day. His feathers were ruffled by the wind. Doesn't he look like he is standing on an alligator? Maybe he is. MB

Blue Jay

Actually this is a Steller's Jay (Cyanocitta stelleri). A native to Western North America. They are fairly common out here even wintering in my trees and neighboring forest. They will rob your bird feeders and are noisy and also one of the most intelligent birds. They mimic many different sounds. Sounds of other birds, even hawks. They sit in my sycamore trees and meow like cats. A very pretty bird with brilliant blue tail feathers and a head crest. Where this one is sitting I guess I's better mow the lawn.

And Baby Makes Three........

Or rather there are 3 babies. The Canada Geese came back to the pond the other day bringing their new goslings. Every year we have babies at the pond. They come raise the little ones and off they go. I think it is the same pair that have come back for several years now. It is fun to watch them. They are very wary and careful. MB

Barn going down with the sun

I had another photo to post tonight but I had to run into town this evening and the big ole sun was going dow. The roof of this old barn caved in during all the snow we had and there was the sun playing peek-a-boo with the barn as it was going down.

If you would like to see beautiful skies from around the world or would like to participate go to www.skyley.blogspot.com

Here's more........

.....Tulips!!! And then I will move on to something else. I've got a zillion different pictures. The day was so beautiful as were the flowers, I just kept clicking away. As soon as the flowers reach peak the workers will lop their heads off and then let the greens die back and harvest the bulbs. Bulbs from the Skagit Valley are sold worldwide.

Yes, they are here!

We have had sunny weather the past 3 days and it really popped the tulips out. The Skagit Valley is full of beautiful color. I spent a few hours today taking pictures and these are only a few. There are so many colors and varieties.

twirlingtulips

I figured out how to do this. You can too.

Mountain in the morning

This is Mount Rainier this morning at 6:00AM with Lenticular clouds forming. The sliver of moon was beautiful too.
Taken from my deck.

It has begun.....

Farming is beginning. the farmers have been out the last few weeks preparing the soil for the crops. the weater is drier (somewhat) now . This field is right behind downtown Stanwood.
The soil is being limned and readied for beets.
there is a large seed production in both the Skagit Valley and the Stillaguamish Valley. Seeds for Beets Cabbage Kale and Spinach are the most common. Seed harvest is very interesting to watch.

Almost................

.....but not quite.
We have had a long wet and cool spring, which delays the opening of the Tulips in the Valley. The Tulip Festival started April 1st, but the tulips didn't.
The Daffodils have been quite beautiful and now the tulips are finally opening and when they are done the purple small iris will be blooming. Always great color.

Lunch ----Sky Watch

Mother and I had lunch at the Holmes Harbor Golf Club's Beach fire grill. It was a beautiful day but still to chilly to eat on the terrace. MB

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Whidbey Osprey

I went to Whidbey Island yesterday to visit my Mother and take her shopping etc. Remember the picture of the eagle sitting in the Osprey nest I posted before---the nest atop the power pole? Well the Osprey have returned and were quite busy yesterday. The one in the nest was whistling and chirruping and soon another arrived and swooped and landed and then flew off and circled for awhile. Quite thrilling to watch.