Inspired by CIA Guy's post about Westbay Drive:

State Capitol Campus Legislative Building Dome with 4th Avenue bridge in foreground

Loaded Log Carrier at Port of Olympia Marine Terminal

Deforestation plays a significant role in global warming (Internet Search).

Silver Lake Alongside Port of Olympia Marine Terminal Pier

See large size (5586x1040) version below the fold.

Sunday 9 June 2013, 180º panorama, from West Bay Rotary Park, including view of State Capitol Temple of Justice and Legislative Building Dome, and Port of Olympia with MV Silver Lake, mostly loaded log carrier ship alongside Marine Terminal pier.

I have wanted to get a shot of the mountain this vantage point for a while, finally got around to it a couple days ago. This is from Henderson, just up the hill where the road curves, past Pioneer Park where it crosses the Deschutes River.

'ti'swaq (name of the Mountain according to Robert Satiacum, Restore Native Names to Sacred Places more information)

The time of the Solstice is upon us, and lingering twilight has been ranging right up near to the Eleven O'Clock hour. These shots are from Percival Landing, at about 10:45pm yesterday eve.

Some photos from around town:

The Heron can be a difficult one to photograph. When I approached this one by the 5th Ave Dam, it waited a little before flying off to the opposite side of the dam, then it flew again further down to the rocks of the rip-rap, and gave itself a good feather ruffling.

wind under the bridge

And now for some flowers!

Yellow Rose

Full Moon Monday the 25th of February, McLane was abuzz, windy with clouds racing, waters flowing through beaver dam pond, and birdsong in the air. The forest took on a majestic glow after the sun had passed below the Western hill, when a large cloud came overhead and reflected sunlight back down into the valley.

Also includes photos from full Moon rise.


Activity on the pond, getting ready for spring. Maybe even some new-borns already?

Evening by the trail on the pond...windy at times, with ducks, red-wing blackbirds, even a Raven and an Owl.

Happy Birthday MLK!

This long holiday MLK weekend it seemed like there was no lack for events to commemorate the life, work, and spirit of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.. Here are some photos from some of the regional events, including the MLK Jr. Lobby Day, South Sound Buddhist Peace Fellowship Peace Walk in the tradition of Thich Nhat Hahn to honor MLK, and a protest and blockade against atomic weapons at Naval Base Kitsap Bangor.

Monday 21 January 2013, Olympia

2013 Polar Bear Plunge photos by Laura Killian

Laura also reported:

People were cold, but said the water was warmer than the air outside... They had more than 600 people jump in.

The Olympian also posted a story, Long Lake jumping off point for polar bear plungers in Lacey

Thank you to Nancy Partlow, for permitting these photos to be posted here. Nancy also helps to keep a blog about natural history, and pollinators, Bees, Birds & Butterflies

Welcome to Percival Landing sign, submerged by high tide. This was one of higher tides of the season, a predicted 16.5, which turned out to be over 17.5. The tide-level was higher due to the presence of an atmospheric low pressure system, as well as heavy rains associated with the low pressure. Photo by Nancy Partlow

Oyster House Parking Lot, nearly inundated Photo by Nancy Partlow

Global warming poses a dual risk for flooding: *1) eventual sea-level rise (so far, scientific estimates of overall sea-level rise due to human caused global warming has only been about one-half to two-thirds of a foot,) and *2) more urgently, the increased intensity of storm systems. As heat/energy builds up in the atmosphere, stronger storms result, translating into lower atmospheric pressures, heavier rainfall, higher winds, etc.

Classic View to the South from the Port Plaza Tower Photo by Nancy Partlow

There were many jellyfish in lower budd bay today:

video:

http://youtu.be/xWGGACK84wk

[update: Jellyfish populations been observed to be rising, connected with warmer water: UBC Study]

Went sailing last Sunday, the same day as the Paddle to Squaxin Island Canoe Landing. Stayed far to the West side of the bay, so as to not interfere, although the Coast Guard had to ask us to move to get out of the way of that giant steel ship, Hosanger, as it cleared out of the Port at the same time the canoes were landing at North Point.

In one area of the bay the water seemed to be reddish-brown. After inquiring with LOTT, I was assured that effluent discharge would not cause the water to change color, and it might be caused by Port water run-off tinted by tannins from logs. According to LOTT, the effluent discharges from some 50 or so odd points along a 1,000 foot long pipe, which starts some couple hundred or so feet Northwest of the extremity of the northern tip of the peninsula.

The Port issued a release about the Canoe Landing here and another about the Hosanger here. Here are some photos:

Canoes

Priest Point