My pup and I enjoyed the beautiful weather on a 2.2 mile stroll through the Union Bay Naturalist Area on UW campus starting at Yesler Swamp and working our way clockwise to the boathouse strip and back. 32 species in 75 minutes, including brown creepers, red-winged blackbirds, waterfowl, several belted kingfishers, and marsh wrens.
Plenty of joggers, dog walkers, photographers, birders, and a few bikers (I found them pretty annoying; they raced around making deep grooves in the off-trail areas that took some of the natural beauty out of the trip. I understand multi-purpose use, but why do the bikers I've encountered riding in that particular area always seem like they're the only ones deserving of the trail???? Likewise, the 4-5 people holding private conversations on their phones, LOUDLY, while walking were, frankly, annoying.)
I found ample parking available on the street, since I was unaware of parking policy near the Horticulture Center and didn't want to get a ticket. The main paths are passable; if you want access to any marshes for photography of birds, be prepared for some mud.
The best memorable moment was watching an Anna's hummingbird collecting strands of spider silk and delivering it up to the fork of a tree to pad her nest. Spring is here!
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