The trail is in great condition with very little in the way of mud, and it wasn't too crowded this morning; a few joggers, several dog walkers, a random biker although mostly along the waterfront to the crew building. I'd planned this trip originally with the 9 a.m. opening time for the Horticulture restrooms in mind, but everyone waited until we finished.

We had an overcast, cool fall morning this morning; 9 of us from the Mountaineers Naturalist program enjoyed 43 bird species including a western meadowlark, green-winged teals, wood ducks, splashing coots, gadwalls, wigeons -- nice to see the waterfowl back. We also saw a pair of bald eagles, 3-4 great blue herons, a flock of cedar waxwings, and a number of warblers and sparrows still in the area.

We met at 7:30 and visited Yesler Swamp first, then continued to the kiosk and birded clockwise around the Fill. The bulletin board hadn't been updated in the past 2 weeks, but I'd seen that someone birding on 10/6 had 60 species in 3 hours, so I was pretty pleased when our group of mixed experience birders spotted or heard 43. 

#HikeTheState

8 of us from the Mountaineers Naturalist group met for a wonderful birding morning from 7-10. The trails are in great shape, the kiosk has a diverse listing of birds, and we heard or saw 38 species including great looks at a pair of Cooper's hawks, a green heron, great blue heron, and most exciting of all, an American bittern. Everyone left super satisfied with the morning's adventure.

We visited the bridge on Wahkiakum Lane -- be aware that it is frequented by all types of bicycle riders and stay to the rails. The restrooms open at 9 a.m. so instead of my original plan to visit Yesler Swamp first, we headed for the gravel pond trails and made a clockwise loop, ending with a short visit to Yesler Swamp for great looks at some wood ducks.

I had my 100-400 lens with me and I'm so glad I did; we all had binoculars and shared bird stories and sightings with a few other birders with big lenses as well. Not too many dogs this morning and only a handful of joggers. All in all, a lovely morning with wonderful birds and great birding companions.

#HiketheState

Walked the Union Bay Natural Area trails early Seafair Sunday before the races.  Parking at the Center for Urban Horticulture is free and while somewhat limited there is additional street parking there as well.  No restroom facilities unless the center is open.  Our route was to hit the UBNA trails then continue down along the water, up Rainier Vista onto the University of Washington campus, then back down the stairs behind the Husky Union Building and back over to complete the messy loop for a total of just about 4 miles.  The main trails remain wide fine crushed gravel with some side routes single track dirt.  No trail issues or blockages currently.

Wildlife today included, one blue heron, one green heron, one bald eagle, one big Osprey plus a bunch of different ducks and small song birds.  It was also kinda neat to see the dozens of yachts hustling through the montlake cut all decked out and ready for the seafair hydros log boom.  The meadows have quite a few late season wildflowers too, plus all the beautiful plantings at the Center for Urban Horticulture.  Plus great views and quite a few blackberries getting ripe to snack on as well.  A super nice little walk if you are in the area.  

This morning's visit to Union Bay was a bit emotional for me. Over the past twenty three years I've ridden my bike through this nature area literally thousands of times. My work commute, over the past quarter century, has been blessed by riding to-and-fro through Union Bay. Three days a week, every month of the year. In pouring rain, under starlit skies, watching the first hews of color as winter recedes, capturing animals going about their business. 

This morning, per usual, I rode to work for the last time. Spring is full blown and the six AM ride was spectacular. Three little goslings, still puffy and yellow in their newborn down were out nipping at greenery with protective parents watching my every move. A wood duck, with it's flashy coloring was out in the open slurping down an enormous worm in the bike path. The first time that I've seen one so brazenly out in the open. A couple of beavers, a few cottontails, several ducks, and small passerines rounded out my morning sightings. 

Over the years I've been fortunate to see coyotes, deer, muskrat, and beavers, so many beavers. I've also had a fly-on-the-wall perspective to watch the growth of the UW's commitment to the area. I've learned the history of what was once a marshland, and then a city dump until 1963, and now very slowly returning to a natural(ish) state. I've been lucky and blessed. 

Tonight, at 7:30, I'll saddle up and ride home one last time. I'll probably take one of the slightly longer loops out along the water. I'll stop and marvel at Mount Rainier, my Merlin Bird App will ID bird calls for me, the rejuvenation of life will recharge my batteries. Thank you Union Bay Nature Preserve for being there.

Quick walk around the Union Bay Natural Area trails with a detour over to the University of Washington quad to see the cherry trees Sunday morning.  The route was an easy messy loop down along the water, up Rainier Vista past Drumheller fountain and to the quad, then back down the big set of stairs and over to the main Union Bay parking area.  Total distance ended up at a shy 4 miles.  All the Union Bay trails were in good condition with no current flooding at all and everything else was typical paved walkway.  The only restrooms on the route are at the Center for Urban Horticulture and then only when open, though the UW had stationed a couple pairs of sanicans near the quad for all the cherry blossom visitors (which were very busy.)

Quite a bit of wildlife out, a bunch of big heron all over, several kinds of ducks, cormorant, sparrow, robin, geese, heard a bald eagle but did not see it, etc.  The area around the quad was very busy plus many, many additional folks coming and going along Rainier Vista, hanging out at Drumheller fountain and really all over campus - probably 10k, maybe more.  It amazes me the number of folks the cherry blossoms have been drawing in recent years.  They are probably a couple days before peak and should look really nice for a week.  Union Bay was also fairly busy with groups of birders, family groups, jogging groups, etc, etc.  A beautiful little walk with the additional bit over to the cherries if you are interested.