Washington – Page 4

Marsh wren (Cistothorus palustris), at Grays Harbor National Wildlife Refuge, Hoquiam, Washington.

Song sparrow stare down.

Melospiza melodia at Grays Harbor National Wildlife Refuge, Hoquiam, Washington.

Gray on gray on gray.

A great blue looking out over the water, at Grays Harbor National Wildlife Refuge, Hoquiam, Washington.

Getting chummy.

Barn swallows (Hirundo rustica) gather on a hangar roof at the Hoquiam, Washington airport. I love watching them assemble and make friends before their migration begins.

See the forest. See the trees.

Longmire in Mount Rainier National Park, Pierce County, Washington.

Fireweed and pollinator.

Chamaenerion angustifolium blooming at Mount Rainier National Park.

South face: view of Mount Rainier from the (slightly choppy) Reflection Lakes.

Douglas squirrel (Tamiasciurus douglasii) in the Grove of the Patriarchs, Mount Rainier National Park.

Grove of the Patriarchs, Mount Rainier National Park.

I went walking among giants.

View of old growth trees on the Grove of the Patriarchs trail at Mount Rainier National Forest. The highlight of this easy walk is a stand of ancient Douglas fir, western red cedar, and western hemlock trees. The oldest trees here are about 1000 years old, and some have reached staggering dimensions. The crownless trees in this composite photo were still about 150 feet tall (45 m), and about 7 feet (2 m) in diameter. Many of the trees here are much larger.