August-September, 2022
Today is only the second full day that I was camped here. Like yesterday, today was super. I’ll be going home tomorrow. (And I will be coming back here next year!)
I spent most of the day today walking out, all the way out, onto the Nisqually River delta. I was on gravel/dirt roadways at first, but then on more rustic paths, eventually onto sturdy wooden boardwalks out over the delta marsh/ground (more than 4,000 acres of sloppy marshy ground), and then on similar boardwalks out over the fresh water from the Nisqually River, and from McAllister Creek that feeds out into the delta too. The last, outer end of the boardwalk, out where the fresh water in the delta finally meets the saltwater of Puget Sound, way out there, I was walking on a boardwalk right out over all of that water. It was spectacular.
A special thing happened early on. Early on during my walk here, I was wandering along, looking at the ground and at plants and the sky, ignoring people around me because it was a beautiful day and there were lots of people out on this walk. I wasn’t interested in the people; I wanted to see the delta! But at one point, for some reason, I looked up at the people next to me and I saw my neighbors! Neighbors who live in the same community where I live, where they and I live just a few houses apart from each other, and just a few miles from this delta. They had just moved here, I had just met them. And there we all were, smiling and happy and chatting away like we were old friends … which we have become. 🙂 That was fun. (Hi Bev and Van!)
But they were headed back to their car on land, and I was headed outbound over the water, so on we each went on our separate ways. This was a long walk out onto the delta (and beyond). It took hours. You can do the walk in less time than it took me, but if you want to stop, and look, and listen, and breathe, and take photos, then it will take hours! I took my lunch with me, just in case, and it’s a good thing I did. In the future, I will be going back at different times of the year (and different times of day) to see different plants and animals and views. I’m sure looking forward to that. As long as I’ve lived in Washington State and known about this extraordinary place, this was my first walk out past the first few buildings and attractions … today I walked all the way out, way out to the water, as far as out as they let you walk. I took more than 300 photos today. I won’t be sharing all of them with you here. Yikes. 🙂
For this blog post, I will share just a few highlight photos, without much text. I’ll share a photo or two from each area. And then when I come here again, I’ll focus on certain aspects of the area/walk.
Ok, did you bring your lunch? let’s get going. (Click on photos to enlarge them.)
Above … a paved walkway from the parking lot that then led …
Below … out onto the “upper” solid ground of the delta.
Old barns. For some years, the driest ground of the delta was a farm.
Below … further along a gravel path, I could start to see the water in the delta … and further out to Anderson Island.
LOTS of water in this delta.
Below … the well maintained gravel path … and then the boardwalk in the distance.
Below … on the boardwalk. The boardwalk is more than a mile long.
Below … just an old dead tree, right?
But look who was there in those branches …
Below … the tide was part way in so what would have been marshy land was now under water, under brackish salt/fresh water mixed together.
Below … the supporting structure of the boardwalk has collected mud and plants that weren’t here before the boardwalk was built. Unfortunately, the boardwalk inhibits water flow and drainage; it changes the ecosystem. There’s talk of removing the boardwalk and letting the waterway return to its natural state so it can fully support the life that was here before the boardwalk was built.
Below … and then, further along, I could just barely spy some movement on a tiny island over there near the land with trees.
Harbor seals, basking in the late summer sun.
But then, below … off to the right in that very same view … an eagle on its island in the sun.
Here’s a video (below) of that eagle. The bird calls you hear on this video are seagulls.
Below … further along that long boardwalk, off to the right, so close I could almost touch it … a Ring-billed Seagull, just walkin’ along. 🙂
More boardwalk!
Below … a small island, all by itself, maybe six or seven feet long. You’d think it would have been washed away by tide and currents.
Below … a Great Blue Heron at water’s edge.
Below … another Great Blue Heron … do you see it?
Below … the end of the boardwalk. The tide was still part way in (or part way out, I can’t remember which), so there was a bit less land out here had it been low tide … but there was more water here because the tide was part way in.
And then I ate my lunch (remember my lunch that I brought with me?). I was so glad I brought my lunch.
As many people as there were (a LOT) at the beginning of this walk, there was no one out at the far/outer end of the boardwalk when I was there. I sat in that cupola and enjoyed my meal and iced tea and the view and the sounds and smells.
Below … the Nisqually Reach Nature Center building on the point of land on the left … Anderson Island in full view in the middle of the photo.
And then I headed back along the boardwalk towards dry land.
Below … a Greater Yellowleg prancing up the waterway.
And below … do you see it? Another eagle.
One more night in my trailer here at Riverbend Campground, and then I’ll hitch up and take the trailer home to storage (about a ten minute drive from here). Although this campground is so close to home, it seemed a whole different world. I’ll be back for sure!
But in the meantime there is laundry to do and other chores to do at home. 🙂
Ah, but wait, I know this is probably the longest blog post I’ve produced, but you have to bear with me here. There are two more items of information that I found interesting about the Nisqually Delta that I’d like to share with you. One is that, indeed, a farmer moved here MANY years ago and diked the waterways so the land would dry out, so he and his family could have a large farm here. But after that family moved on, more recently, it became obvious that those dams/dikes were damaging the ecosystem and damaging the wildlife here. So, over the past several years, those earth dams have been removed (more work to come) and wildlife is again flocking, swimming, flying, and waddling to the area. The measurable results have been spectacularly positive.
The other interesting thing I learned about the Nisqually River from the informational signs here at the delta is that there at least 18 tributaries that feed into the Nisqually River along its journey. The Nisqually River starts WAY up on Mt. Rainier; the river is glacier water; it starts under a glacier. On the Nisqually’s travels down to Puget Sound, it is fed by at least 18 tributaries such that all that water together then feeds the Nisqually delta with plenty of clean, fresh water. Among those tributaries are … Pebble Creek, Goat Creek, Ohop Creek, Muck Creek, Tahoma Creek, Dead Horse Creek, and Paradise River. Sounds like paradise to me. 🙂
This is one TINY portion of Puget Sound. It would take a lifetime to explore it all.
I’ll be heading home with Towhee the Trailer in the morning … more 2022 camping to come!
This was amazing! Thank you! Ok, gotta go read it again. 🙂
🙂 Thanks, Nebraska.
We’ve driven by there dozens of times, never knew what was there so didn’t stop. Next time, we’ll plan to stop there and hike out onto the delta, and we’ll take our lunch! Ha! 🙂
Jim
Me too, Jim, have driven by so many times. Yes, stop and bring your lunch. 🙂
Barns! When were they built? Is there any history about them? I’m glad the waterway is being restored. But I love the history too.
Good question, M&M! The twin barns in the photos I took for this blog were built in 1932. They replaced the original barns that had burned. The history is interesting, and “troubling”, given that the original, indigenous people who maintained and fished this land, this delta (long before any barns were built) had no voice and were moved out without their input and without compensation to them. And yet, these “new” barns in 1932 stored not only hay and such, but hundreds of bird specimens collected by the owners. The two barns here continue to be a spectacular location for collections of birds and other wildlife. Here’s a website that shares lots of information … https://www.thurstontalk.com/2023/07/31/whats-inside-the-twin-barns-at-the-billy-frank-jr-nisqually-national-wildlife-refuge/. In future visits to this delta, I’ll try to find out more about these barns … and get in to see the collections. Questions open doors! Thanks M&M. 🙂
I’ve lived in Washington State almost all my life and never knew about this place, the Nisqually Delta. It’s gorgeous, and fascinating. And it has eagles, but of course Ann finds eagles. 🙂 Way too many seagulls hereabouts around salt water here, but in spite of that I like that seagull photo, really do. Made me look up different varieties of seagulls, there are dozens of them! Fun stuff. Barns, yes some history please. This is about real people. Thanks!
Hi Ben, me too, so many seagulls! But this one was walking/wading by so nicely and perfectly and with it’s ring bill, how I could I resist a photo? Like you, I’m amazed how many different varieties of seagulls there are just here in the Pacific Northwest, in this one tiny corner of the world. Real birds, real people. 🙂 Thanks for being here on the journey.
Love the Yellowleg, hard to get photos of them. Great walk.
I snatched this photo in one shot … not sure why since these birds are so fast! thanks Cindy.
That was a great tour. So much water! So many birds. I sure have mixed feelings about them tearing out that boardwalk. Do you? Love that heron closeup.
I do too, Judy. Mixed feelings. Same as you do. Oh that Heron was handsome! 🙂
Barns and birds and water. All good! Ok, maybe a horse or two would be nice. 🙂 I’ve looked at your maps and online maps of Puget Sound and finally have some idea about all of it, it’s amazing, it really is.
A horse, I didn’t include a horse! Ok, next time, Joe. 🙂
Yes, mixed feelings among us humans (me too) about removing that boardwalk, but what do we want for the future of our planet? A place where we can just catch a glimpse of what used to be, what once was, a healthy environment? I sure want that boardwalk removed, but I also want to see more of your future walks out on that boardwalk! Thanks for sharing this, Ann. Hi to those neighbors of you that you saw. 🙂
Yep, mixed feelings. If the boardwalk remains, I’ll be out there again. And if the boardwalk is removed, I’ll be happy with that.
I have the same questions, Sesapa … remove the boardwalk to help the environment or leave the boardwalk to make more people aware and appreciate the environment. I’d vote to remove it.
But I love the photos from your walk out there, Ann. And I look forward to more, but that means there will still be a boardwalk. I’m torn. What do we do?
The eagles are amazing. The Yellowleg was great. The herons are super. The neighbors you ran into are wonderful. This really was a great blog post. I’d bet lots of your boating friends have been down around here. I haven’t been in south sound much, but now I wish I had. You really do need to tell us more about your boating adventures. Please. 🙂
I really like your thoughtful comments, Rob. We boaters love this environment, want it to survive, but how best to make it survive? That’s the question. Sigh. Wish you had been able to enjoy boating in south sound, it’s gorgeous. If you still can, then get down here! You have my email address … let me know and I’ll tell you where to go … ha! 🙂
And, yes, ok, I’ve started researching a website where I can post my boating adventures. In fact, I’ll keep you posted and ask your input … might be a website where all of us boating friends can post photos.
Here’s to a great day on the water … and a calm, peaceful, secure night at a dock or on the hook.
Brackish … I never knew what that meant. I thought it meant soiled, sort of dirty. But no it means part salt water and part fresh water, perfectly normal. Love your blogs, your photos, your info. Here’s to the eagles who follow you everywhere you go.
Thanks, Paul. 🙂 Here’s to those eagles. And to you.
MY daughter, Gini, and I did a spur of the moment trip to the Delta in July when she came home to take me to the AllStar game. We didn’t see a whole of birds, possibly because it was a hot afternoon. Or maybe that was why there weren’t hordes of people, Anyway, as we were walking down the path ( pic #9) a fellow heading back stopped and told that there was a seal with a brand new pup. We met more people who were just as excited, including a couple of women who had seen it born. Everyone one shared directions on where to go, so we made our way out the boardwalk, passing several islands with seals. Finally we spotted a small hummock ( pic #23? The one just above the heron), with just a single seal on it. And a baby!
Mama seemed pretty tired, she wasn’t moving around very much. But junior flopped around quite a bit. We noticed that junior had worked his way to the edge and his backend was was hanging over. We must’ve watched for at least an hour as he tried to pull himself up, but only slipped farther down. Mama didn’t seem at all perturbed. It seemed quite a fall to me, especially since the tide was out and there was a bit of a rocky beach.
We decided that we had to go because it was getting late. And so we left him hanging there, 😟 and started the long walk back, taking a few photos as we went.
End of the story: Just as we reached the end of the boardwalk, someone who had stayed longer than we had overtook us. He said the baby had finally fallen, apparently unhurt, and it and mama had swam away. 😃
Yes! Great story Fritzi. Wow, you have so many! Yes, it may well be that same small island where your seal pup was. How cool is that. 🙂 The tide was most of the way in when I took that photo of that small island for this blog post. So I don’t know what the surrounding area would be like when the tide was out, possibly sandy or rocky, just like you say.
Ah, sigh, finally the goofy seal kid fell in the water and momma dove in too to take the kid somewhere safe.
I’ll keep watch on that little island when I’m out there in the future. Will report! 🙂
Great seal story! thanks Fritzi. And thanks Ann for a great photo tour and explanations. We wouldn’t be able to see this stuff without that boardwalk, but still maybe it should come out so other “people” here can have their homes back. Loved the seagull picture. 🙂
I have mixed feelings too, Mary, about that boardwalk. Seems it should be gone so that the environment can become as healthy as it once was. But I sure like walking out there. In the end, my vote would be to remove the boardwalk. Let’s help our planet sustain all life!