Monday, January 21, 2013

Camano Island

Last weekend we went for a drive to explore Camano Island, just west of Stanwood, Wa. We haven't gone there more than a couple times and decided to drive the perimeter roads of the Island. Here's a link to some of the parks on the Island - http://www.whidbey.net/camparks/coparks.html I wasn't going to blog about our drive, but then we began to see some interesting art?and some great parks.
You could even pull the engine cord
reminds me a bit of E.T.
  The above art? pieces were in Hutchinson county park, there was a nice short loop trail through the ferns and forest. After our walk we got in the car and saw this awesome driveway entrance gate. I don't know what the little building is, but I'd like to think it's for the kids to wait in for their school bus in bad weather.


 Somebody apparently likes bottles and driftwood "together" -


We explored Camano Island state park as well and I'd really like to camp there sometime, it has some really nice private sites.


There is a beach, picnic, boat launch area in the state park -


Then just down the road was Cama Beach state park, it's now a state park that used to be a fishing resort. They have some nice beach cabins to stay in.


It's been foggy here the last few days and I thought this scene looked interesting.


More interesting art? - 


We had driven almost completely around the island and then we saw these -


We were wondering where on earth you could get chickens that big and then we turned a corner a few miles down the road and saw a novelty shop that sells these -



All the chickens a person could want! 
Such a fun and interesting area to drive around.




Tuesday, January 8, 2013

Short eared Owls

Skagit Flats is teeming with Short eared Owls.
Little did we know, we have been birders for years and never knew this. We either never saw them or they are more common now than in the past. We have seen them several times this year. They aren't nocturnal like other owls, and can be seen flying around most of the fields along the dikes & irrigation ditches in Skagit county.
Such cuties!



and of course Mt. Baker in the distance