When we returned home on 6-17 after having been gone for 12 days visiting family and friends in Ohio and Indianapolis and attending our granddaughter's wedding, we discovered mold everywhere in our basement caused by a water leak in an old hot water line to the dishwasher. Since then we have been home bound dealing with the problem. Today we took advantage of a free day with no workers and went on an outing to Union Bay. It was our first time in the area and we hope to return.

We began our walk along the Yesler Swamp Loop where we saw many flowers, 2 herons, 3 species of dragon flies, turtles, and several duck families with their babies. This area is mostly on a boardwalk and shaded which was nice on this sunny day. After walking the loop we walked the trails in the Union Bay Natural Area. White water lilies were blooming in the ponds and other flowers were blooming in the wetlands areas. In this area we saw a few shorebirds, turtles, osprey flying above us, a female wood duck, teal, pied-billed grebe family, a female red-winged blackbird feeding her babies and a green heron which was a highlight for the day!

I lost an Olympus lens cap here on May 3rd, if anyone comes across it. Please let me know. Appreciate it 

Noisy urban hike.  Gravel loop trail is in good shape, although trail markers are limited (you can figure it out from the buildings, which are marked).  Symphony of birdsong throughout!  Spotted one blue heron in the bay.

Quick walk Sunday morning south through the Union Bay natural area, across Montlake Cut and then out along the new 520 trail and back and along the Foster and Marsh Islands loop.  Total mileage ended up at just over 7 miles and virtually no gross vertical.  The previous trip report on Foster Island is exactly spot on - not too muddy and the walk ways could use a little work but are passable if you are careful not to dunk your foot in the water.  The work that had been ongoing at the Union Bay natural area is now complete so all the construction signage is gone, (which makes for a nicer experience.)  No other trail issues. 

Lots of wildlife out - Heron, duck, redwinged blackbirds, at least one bald eagle but the coolest sight is that there is now an Osprey pair nesting in one of the nest boxes in the Union Bay natural area.  It's close so be careful not to annoy them too much.  A beautiful morning and a nice place to spend some time when trying to avoid freeway Armageddon this weekend. 

This was a nice respite after visiting Children's Hospital.  There's a lot of ongoing restoration along the Loop Trail but the shoreline is nice and the view across the bay outstanding.  We saw a pair of eagles, red-winged blackbirds, Blue Heron, and Canadian Geese.  There's benches along the way to sit and watch.