Another urban walk from my house to UBNA and the Center for Urban Horticulture. I have done this 7-mile walk quite a few times, but this past year and this year my goal was to go in each season consecutively, so this was the summer version and the final one. Left home about 8:45 am and got to the UW around 9:10--eerie to have Red Square and the Quad completely to myself. Got down to Montlake, and the UBNA area was fairly quiet--a few families and a few birders, along with two larger organized birding groups.  It was getting to be a warm warming. Not much seen except osprey when I was walking through Yesler Swamp. Was actually trying to look for snakes for photos, but no luck. Got back home at 11:30. 

Union Bay is my favorite place to go birdwatching in Seattle. It's definitely quieter in the summer but always a good place to check out for the views and birding. The highlight of this trip was a Belted Kingfisher, perching on a branch over Carp Pond.

I started my loop from the Center for Urban Horticulture which has plenty of parking. I checked out the short Yesler Swamp loop before heading over to the main section of Union Bay. There are lots of ripe blackberries along the trail and I saw several folks snacking on them.

The views of Lake Washington aren't a bit obstructed by all the plants along the water but there are a handful of places where you can peek through. The variety of landscapes in this park is what makes it so great for birdwatching.

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I do this walk a fair amount, but last year and this year I am trying to do it in each season consecutively, so this was my spring jaunt to the area. Left my North End house at 8:30 AM. Mostly cloudy and damp--sun came later. U District was busy with U District Street Fair and the Beat the Bridge Run going on. Saw lots of runners on campus and in the Montlake area. Arrived at the UBNA and was amazed by the amount of bird watchers. I don't think I had ever seen that many people here before. Singles, small groups, one large group, all bird watching with binoculars and really big cameras. Followed a couple different trails meandering through the UBNA, watching the bird watchers along with the occasional bird. Crossed over the Center for Urban Horticulture and into Yesler Swamp. I really like this place in the spring--the foliage is so thick it reminds me of Costa Rica--well, minus the warmth and the sloths. Back out through the UBNA, across campus, crossed over the Ave taking in the street fair, and back home for 6.8 miles. Wildlife: some songbirds, waterfowl (though the observations board by the CUH had pretty interesting sightings like western tanagers, green herons, and pileated woodpeckers). 

Quick walk Sunday morning through the Union Bay Natural Area, Foster/Marsh island and Washington Park Arboretum trails Sunday morning.  We did a messy loop starting at the Center for Urban horticulture, down along the shore to the arboretum, across the aqueduct stone bridge then back up and around along Montlake and Rainier Vista to check out the cherry blossoms at the UW quad.  Total distance was a shy 7 miles with very limited vertical.  Parking at the Center for Urban horticulture is free though limited.  There are restrooms at the arboretum and UW had some sanicans out for all the folks coming to see the cherry blossoms.  The Foster/Marsh island trails are getting squishy/flooded again as the lake level starts to rise to its higher “summer” level but is still passable without rubber boots currently.

Lots of wildlife out today - multiple heron, a couple of juvenile bald eagles, all sorts of various ducks, a bunch of red winged black birds, etc.  The cherries in the UW quad are just about peak, but the flowers at the arboretum are just starting, just a few things blooming currently.  A bunch of folks out today, but that’s part of what makes this time of year special - share it with 10,000 of your neighbors.  A super beautiful, albeit busy morning walk.  

Headed back to UBNA on a drizzly morning. Headed out from Wallingford on Burke Gilman over to the UW and stopped at the Biology Greenhouse (love this place!  Makes me feel like I am back in Ecuador for Peace Corps or back on trips to Costa Rica!). Continued on to the stadium area and down into the UBNA.  Was solo for the first 20 minutes or so, then started seeing a few small groups of people. Took a loop through the NA and then over to Yesler Swamp. Saw ducks, cormorants, an eagle, and a heron. Headed back the way I came for a total of 6 miles.