Union Bay Natural Area, April 12, 2012

Location is the gravel road at approximately 47.653747,-122.298506, leading to the Union Bay Natural Area from University of Washington main campus.

While walking to the Union Bay Natural Area, I was looking over the bay, not looking at anything in particular when I found myself observing waterfowl. It took me a few seconds to realize what I was looking at, but it was a male cinnamon teal in full breeding plumage, it was simply floating along, drifting with the water surface, if it weren’t for the outstanding crimson color I’d have mistaken it for driftwood.

Despite the teal’s impressive plumage, he was not the most outstanding fowl I was able to observe; When I was standing observing the teal, directly in front of me was a stand of cattails, out of which came a great blue heron, neck crooked in the distinct “S” shape usually held when in flight, it slowly and methodically moved into position above a clearing in the grass to stalk a small area of shallow open water, not 10 feet away from me. I waited and watched, after about 5 minutes of complete stillness the Heron quickly darted its beak under the water and immediately withdrew a small fish, about 3-4 inches long, which it quickly gulped down, and directly after that, it dove in its beak again to withdraw a similarly sized fish, and ate that as quickly as the first.

While this was not the most diverse observation, It did help me discover that seeing nature in action can definitely instill a passion for knowledge, to discover more exciting natural phenomenon, even if they appear to some to be normal, daily occurances.

Posted on June 5, 2012 06:11 PM by jjensen