Aug 6 - Gray's Harbor National Wildlife Refuge

Well, it's a make-up something up day since I switched my schedule around because of rain - and yes, it did rain in this morning.

My plans now are to visit the Grays Harbor National Wildlife Refuge in Hoquiam (west coast of WA) and then over to the Billy Frank Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge on the north side of Olympia.

I get a slow start this morning - hey, I get to watch the Women's Speed Climbing Final!

It's around 9:30 before I finally get going. I'm surprised when Google Maps says I won't be in Hoquiam until noon -- I think I planned wrong - oh well!

It's rain on-n-off for about a 1/3 of the drive but nothing exciting along the way. I  make it to the Gray's Harbor Refuge if little problems. (It's located next to a small airport.) There are 2 other cars in the lot as I get started. And it's sunny now with a nice wind.

Looks like the tide is still out as I get started down the paved road walking past several old plane hangars. The walk is about 1/2 mile before I actually reach the start of the boardwalk. 

The trail is pretty shaded as there are trees on both side. Lots of ripening raspberries and thimbleberries.

There are a few decks that I check out but all I see are tidal flats and bunches of tiny white dots on them. I suspect that most of those white dots are Gulls but some of the birds look like Kildeer.

I do see 1 Woodland Skipper in one of the more sunny spots along the boardwalk.

After 3-4 decks, I reach a boardwalk circle. The first spot has a spotting scope. It makes those white dots bigger but I'm sticking with Gulls/Kildeer even though it's still not clear.

I can see and smell the ocean from here - yea! And it looks like the tide is rolling in.

At the farthest point, I spot a Blue Heron with his feet in the water.



I also spot what looks like an Anise Swallowtail flying. Seems late in the year for one of these but this is coastal WA, it's possible.

Back at my car, I punch in the Billy Frank Wildlife location and it's almost a 2 hours drive (traffic). That'll put me there just before 3pm. Hmmm, I start off driving.

I can go but by the time I get out of there - probably close to 4:30 -- add that with probably an
hour drive to the hotel, food, rental car return --- I'm just going straight to the hotel. GoogleMaps says I'll be there at 4pm. Dang, I wish I left earlier or simply went to the Bill Frank location, would have saved me a LOT of driving today.

Oh well, still a good day! And a great trip!

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