Journal writings on trips to Green Lake park in Seattle. This urban oasis sits on the north side of Seattle and has a three mile walk around the lake. It is used by hundreds of people every day. The lake and surrounding grounds are great habitat for plants and animals. It is a wonderful place to enjoy nature in the center of Seattle.
Several hundred American Coots winter on Green Lake in Seattle. This species breeds all across North American and south through Central America. Large numbers from Central Canada and the US migrate west and south for winter. The Pacific Northwest is an important wintering area for them. The number of coots at Green Lake has started … Read more
On February 8th, I noticed that male Red-winged Blackbirds had moved into the cattails and begun to set up territories. I watched one male display repeatedly from the top the brown seed-head. It would puff out its wings to show the red epaulets, lean forward, and give its territorial song. This male was in a … Read more
This was the first morning in four days that we did not have thick fog in Seattle. I headed up to Green Lake to see what was happening. A Bufflehead male was actively feeding adjacent to a wonderful reflection of trees. The reflection of the bird and the trees was an interesting contrast. Along the … Read more
The sun had just risen above the horizon at Green Lake and was peaking through some slits in the otherwise solid cloud cover. The light reflected off the rippling surface of the lake and the clouds created a dramatic reflection. The air was crisp, with the temperature just above freezing. The ducks and coots were … Read more