Columbus Day

Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary, Belize

Celebrating the explorer in all of us.

 

Photo credit:  Athena Alexander

Fishing with Hippos

Luangwa Valley; Zambia, Africa

Photo credit:  Athena Alexander

African Skimmer

African Skimmer, Botswana

I always feel lucky when I spot a skimmer.  Whatever else is happening on the beach, I stop what I’m doing and watch the skimmers.  You will always seem them around water, for their main prey are fish.  Often cavorting in mixed flocks with gulls and terns, they are easily recognized for their color pattern and size (bigger than gulls, about 15″ long).

 

The fun part is watching them feed.  They are called Skimmers for their ability to skim the water in search of prey.  As you can see from this photo, the lower jaw, or mandible, is much longer than the upper.  Flying close to the water’s surface, they open their lower mandible and skim the water, snapping up fish.  A gregarious species, they congregate in flocks, so you can often see at least one skillfully catching a fish.

 

There are several species in the world. In the U.S. we have the Black Skimmer, and it can be found on the east and Gulf coasts, and parts of the California coast.  They are fairly abundant in their range.  The African Skimmer, found in sub-Saharan Africa, unfortunately has a dwindling population.

 

We spotted this African skimmer in a flock on the Okavanga Delta in Botswana.  That particular day they were vocal (“kip kip”), colorful, and successful.  Add to that a refreshing breeze, and I interpreted it as happy-to-be-alive.

 

Photo credit:  Athena Alexander

 

 

Victoria, Canada

Victoria: Inner Harbour and B.C. Parliament Bldgs

The most notable feature of the city of Victoria is its sparkling waterfront and very active harbor.  A popular tourist destination for people from all over the world, Victoria is a fun dash of British spirit for North Americans, an international city to Americans, a proud capital for Canadians, and a mild weather haven for retirees of all nationalities.

 

Just off the western coast of the North American mainland, Vancouver Island is part of British Columbia, Canada.  Victoria is the capital city of British Columbia, and is located at the very southern tip of the Island.  It is a bustling, but intimate city with a population of 80,000.

 

Arrival by Sea Plane

We arrived in Victoria by sea plane, having left Seattle’s Lake Union 45 minutes earlier.  Sea planes are cool.  We didn’t fly high because it was a short flight, so there were grand views of the San Juan Islands; and landing on water was exciting.

 

Victoria is a walking city.  With a strong pair of legs you can venture throughout this city feeling safe, getting a good workout and beautiful views as you ascend and descend the hills.  We were there for four days without ever driving; discovering beautiful vistas, historical tidbits, elegant architecture, and plenty of tea, tea treats, and many shops.  Cuban cigar shops were also noticeable here, something that is not legal or present in the U.S.

 

Chinatown

For more information about Victoria, click here.

 

Our return to Seattle was on the Victoria Clipper.  A fast and sleek catamaran, we spent three hours on this vessel watching the summer sun languidly set over the Pacific.  Our Seattle arrival to Elliott Bay was in the dark, greeted by the purple neon lights of Seattle’s Great Wheel.

 

The Empress Hotel, opened in 1908

All cities have history to share, stories to tell, the future to plan.  But Victoria has more.  It has the breeze of the sea, the majesty of the Olympic Mountains, gentle people, and the steady flow of moving boats–all good reminders of celebrating life.

 

 

Inside the Empress Hotel

 

 

 

 

 

High Tea Service at the Empress

Written by Jet Eliot.

Photos by Athena Alexander.

 

Saddle-billed Stork

Saddle-billed Stork, Zambia, Africa

A familiar wading bird in sub-Saharan Africa, the Saddle-billed Stork has a splashy bill, long legs, and a gloriously expansive wingspan of eight feet.

 

Ephippiorhynchus senegalensis gets its name from the yellow shield, or saddle, on its upper bill.  For more information on this impressive bird, click here.

 

Photo credit:  Athena Alexander

A Spark of Life

Bluet Damselfly, NV

Photo credit:  Athena Alexander

 

Hidden Canyon Bliss

Hidden Canyon, Baker, Nevada

We were guests at a B&B on 375 acres of cliffs and desert, in a deep isolated canyon of the Mount Wheeler range, just outside of Nevada’s Great Basin National Park.  One day we hiked all over Hidden Canyon.

 

Surrounded by rocky cliffs on both sides of a mile-wide valley, we watched a golden eagle; followed a river that emptied into a lake with frolicking warblers and swallows dipping into the water’s surface.  Wildflowers and desert sagebrush surrounded us, wild turkeys ate apples fallen from an abandoned orchard, and the melodious heavenly song of a canyon wren filled the air.

 

Mountain Lion Track

Enjoy these photos from our hike that day.

Hidden Canyon Ranch, Baker, NV

Photo credit:  Athena Alexander

 

 

 

 

Serenading Canyon Wren

Lizard

 

Ground Squirrel

Startled Jackrabbit