Union Bay Natural Area — Sunday, May. 19, 2024

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).