Greenlake - A December Afternoon Walk

At Greenlake in Seattle, people can enjoy a vigorous walk, run, stroll, bike or skate. According to some stats, it is possibly the most widely used park in the state. 

Walking south towards the bathouse. Winter sunshine is
a joy!

On a near winter's sunny day, it is just a beautiful place to enjoy. People of all ages and many kinds of birds are out, even on a cold Monday afternoon.

Bright and almost blinding sunshine make it a
happy habitat for some Hooded Merganzers.

Historically, Greenlake was created in the early part of the 19th century. It was also the site of an Inter-Urban Trolley stop.

Vintage, hand colored postcard labeled Greenlake. 
photographer unknown

The boat rental/fishing dock at Greenlake make a lovely destination even on a winter day.

Famous fishing dock at NE side of Greenlake

Fishing Dock is a familiar desitnation

On a beautiful day, the just over 3 mi walk is envigorating and satisfying on so many levels. It is a popular exersize  destination for thousands of users weekly.

Hooded Merganser makes her way across the cold waters, as
seen from the East side near pool

Last sunny rays creep over the hillside near West parking area.

A guaranteed way to lift your spirits and get some moderate excersize is a brisk walk around Greenlake.

Recommend another local blog called My Greenlake for more news, history and images about that neighborhood.

More Wildlife Activity at Thornton Creek Park #6

Racoons and Woodducks swimming in Thornton Creek Park #6 Wetland
photo credit-Don MacCall

Thornton Creek Park #6 is a "Hub" for urban wildlife encounters, just as Northgate itself is a hub nowadays for people.

It's almost like other wildlife say to the beavers "if you build it we will come".  I stopped by for a look today and noticed how the light has changed around this pond, because the beavers have taken down many trees in their "building" activities.  They have transformed this site into a wildlife haven.

A Northwest Indian legend from the Haida people once said...."beavers taught the salmon how to jump". Maybe they also taught some other critters how to use their habitat.

This site is Martinez Beavers.org. It is a blog advocating for protecting beaver dams and habitat  for the benefit of fish and other wildlife.

Below is an update on the creature count at Park #6 from Ruth Williams and Don MacCall of TCA.

Young Beaver swimming at Park #6 Beaver Pond

"Ragged Dragonfly"-photo credit Don MacCall

Here are the latest photographs and sightings from Park Six.

Beavers:  They are building a new dam a little downstream of the existing

one.  Half-grown beavers are becoming a common sight.  They are nibbling on

trees, including the big cottonwood, in the SW corner of the pond that will

take down overhead wires whenever a tree finally falls.

Wood Ducks:  They are finally back after their stark summer-long absence,

and in considerable abundance.  They are now in their non-breeding plumage.

The picture that shows raccoons and Wood Ducks has a juvenile Wood Duck to

the right.

At the July work party one volunteer noted several species of dragonflies

over the pond, I spotted a muskrat, in about 1.5 hours we saw 3 adult and 7

baby raccoons.

Ruth

New beaver dam at Thornton Creek Park # 6
photo credit-Don MacCall

Thirteen Lucky Ducks-Thornton Creek Park Six home to Urban Wood Duck Colony

On Valentine's Day,
long time Thornton Creek Park Stewards, Ruth Williams and Don MacCall sighted 13 Wood Ducks today (2/14/10). Ruth is Vice President of Thornton Creek Alliance. Seeing as how it's Valentine's Day, it's fun to notice how the ducks are in pairs in the large photo (Click on it to see if you can count 13 ducks!).

Thornton Creek Park Six is located just 3 blocks from Northgate and is a wild place and lovely wetland refuge. It was preserved back in the 1960's with Funds from the "Forward Thrust" Bond Measure. It was neglected though until activists from Thornton Creek Alliance and the neighborhood began restoration efforts in the 1990's. Since then, the area has evolved through these efforts and further "engineering" by Beavers.

The area at 8th NE and NE 105th has become quite the active wildlife habitat since the Beavers built some small dam structures there.

The site is just downstream from the amazing Thornton Place Development and Thornton Creek Water Quality Channel, restored by Seattle Public Utility, Lorig and the efforts of activists, including the Thornton Creek Legal Defense Fund. Soon, we will feature some stories on that project which took ten years to be fully realized.

This urban wildlife habitat is very valuable for people and the creatures who inhabit it. Just a few blocks downstream, chinook salmon were sighted a few years ago. Thornton Creek Park Six is an amazing little refuge. Restoration efforts are continuing and more new projects will be upcoming soon.

Photo Credit- Don MacCall and Marie Read - Cornell Ornithology