Sat - Aug 15
Randle, Wa.
Weather - overcast/low clouds



We were up early and excited as we as we traveled for a second time to the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge. We were looking forward to a full day of photographing the animals, plants and scenery.



Along the way, just north of Chehalis we passed a stretch of river lined with old pilings topped with osprey nests. We must have sighted over a dozen osprey and we could actually look down on the birds as we drove by. We pulled off and tried to get a couple of shots, but the birds were a long ways off and it turned out to be more of a wish than a success.



As we pulled off I-5 into Ridgefield, in the first field we saw, there was a female coyote and one of the kits from this year’s litter. Again, kind of far off, but we did get some reasonable shots this time.



The auto drive around the NWR is five miles plus and we completed three trips around the refuge. I (Carl) went on a 1.5 mile hike on one of the designated foot paths and shot a green tree frog, a blue heron at 200 yards, and jumped two feet in the air when a six inch garter snake slithered off the path in front of me…but I got a shot of the snake as it slipped away, disappearing into a hole. During all this, Racine finished the loop around the refuge and pulled back into the parking lot just as I completed my hike.



The area was full of opportunities to see wildlife and each time we circled the loop we saw something new to photograph. After finishing the third trip we stopped at the entry point to the NWR and talked with another photographer, Melissa. I had met her on the hike, she was searching for the green frogs that come out after the rainy days. I asked her if she had gotten any frogs and she had, and she had also seen a Great Horned Owl by the rest rooms and observation blind at station number eight! Knowing the owls don’t travel far during the day, we said a quick ‘thank you’, and headed for the area and the trees where she’d the owl. We made a quick trip of it (not stopping for other shots this time) and I looked and looked and saw nothing until, at the ramp to the observation blind, two thirds of the way up, high in the out-side trees, I saw the owl. Not wanting to miss a shot I took several photos from a distance, moved up the ramp and BAM, got some light on the owl and was successful in getting some good shots (thanks Melissa!). Time of day, almost dark thirty (close to dusk).



What a bonus day…we photographed wood ducks, a kingfisher, a snake, herons, bitterns, a red-tailed hawk, and lots of Nutrias along with plants and scenery. You don’t want to know how many images we took between the two of us…let’s just say this will be a long and extended sorting job.



It was close to dark, raining and a little later than we expected to leave…but the Great Horned Owl was worth it! We headed home feeling fortunate for the opportunity to visit such a special place and thankful that it has been preserved and made so accessible to the public. The adventure continues…



To see more of 'The Great Adventure 2009' images click HERE



To see more of our raptor images click HERE