Last February Sunrise of 2015

After a day of rain, an awesome sunrise, also about 20 minutes earlier.

I was at one of my favorite sunrise spots on Barrington on the west side of Oak Harbor. I enjoy watching the sun appear to move north through the North Cascades at sunrise.

February Blossoms

Our mild winter is turning into an early spring. We may have to change the rhyme: February showers brings February flowers.

February Dawn

The North Cascades just before sunrise on February 22. I was on the west side of Oak Harbor on Whidbey Island.

Coupeville Port Townsend Ferry

The ferry took a zig zag course to Port Townsend, avoiding the many small fishing boats. Fort Casey is in the foreground with the Olympics peeking through the clouds.

Cloud Art

This cloud caught my attention near sunset on February 17.

Oak Harbor

Just in case you need to be reminded of how beautiful it is on Whidbey Island, these photos are from Saturday, February 21.

I was on the west side of Oak Harbor, on Barrington, to capture these views.

Swan Lake Sunset

On the way home from photographing the sunset Saturday night, I just had to stop on Swantown Road and get this view with Swan Lake in the foreground. The Olympic Mountains are in the distance.

February Sunset

This was the sunset last night. I did a vertical and a horizontal, showing both the rocks on shore and the Olympic Mountains in profile. I was at the Hastie Lake boat ramp on the west side of Whidbey Island for this view.

Venus, Mars, Moon

Venus (bright), Mars (dim) and a crescent moon appeared close together last night shortly after sunset. I was out at West Beach on the west side of Whidbey Island to catch this view.

North Cascades from Oak Harbor

This photo of the North Cascades is from mid-December. I was on the west side of Oak Harbor, looking across Oak Harbor Bay and Marina.

Olympic Mountains from Whidbey

The Olympics had a new dusting of snow on December 30. I was on West Beach Road and took this photo about ten in the morning.

Predawn Moonrise

About 6:30 am yesterday morning. The moon appearing as a waning crescent to the south of Mt. Pilchuck, from Oak Harbor.

Ebey Bluff Trail

The North Cascades from the Ebey Bluff Trail on central Whidbey Island. The winter has been so mild the farmers are already hard at work.

Ebey Bluff Trail

I and a couple hundred other people were out on the Ebey Bluff Trail yesterday. Mt. Baker was showing off.  

Chuckanut Ridge Trail

Warm temperatures and the promise of clear skies meant hiking was on the agenda for Saturday. A friend and I drove to the Chuckanut North Trailhead and headed up. It was a bit of a climb, 1340 feet in 2 miles.

We never did get out of the clouds, even on the ridge at 1470 feet. I did recognize this part of I-5, the Fairhaven exit.

The trail was nice although there could have been more signage on the first half mile. We met some hikers who had driven up Cleator Road and were making the Lost Lake loop. We decided to drive up the road, to the Cyrus Gates Overlook.

The view out to the San Juan Islands was nice. The only view east from the road is back back where Dan's Traverse Trail ends. Even then Mt. Baker remained hidden.

I'll be back.

Study in Emerging Tulips

I have tried to capture the colors and swirls of emerging tulips in this series of photos from my tulip garden.

More Rain

This drop caught my eye as I was wandering in Windjammer Park a few days ago.

Blossoms in February

I was amazed when I saw these blossoms yesterday at Lueck Park on the west side of Oak Harbor.

Olympic Mountains

We've had cloudy days lately so I thought this view from the Sno-Isle Library at the end of January might cheer us up.

Rain Soaked Dutch Boy

The Dutch sweeper at Windjammer Park keeps a straight forward gaze, rain or shine.

Rain

We've had above average rainfall in the Pacific Northwest so far this year.

Eagle

This eagle stayed near the shore as I walked along the path at Windjammer Park on a recent rainy day.

Early Mt. Baker Snow

Mt. Baker and the foothills received a nice coat of snow at the end of December. It has been warm and cloudy since and the snow pack is not what it should be by this time of the winter. I was at Dugualla Bay on Whidbey Island for this view.

March Point, Fidalgo Island

The view of the refineries on March Point after sunset on Christmas Day. The steam released seems to create cloud patterns.

This was the view earlier in the day. I was near Bayview State Park in Skagit County.

Sunset Stroll

Couples enjoy the sunset from West Beach, on the west side of Whidbey Island at the end of January. The Olympic Mountains are in the distance.

Rain or Shine

When you are a dedicated walker and live on Whidbey Island, you walk, rain or shine. Windjammer Park, Oak Harbor, yesterday.

Humid Air

The very high humidity we have been having lately can be seen in this after sunrise photo, taken at the end of January. I was on the west side of Oak Harbor, looking toward the North Cascades.

Olympic Snow

Driving along West Beach Road on Whidbey Island provided glimpses of the Olympics with new snow on January 21.

Mt. Rainier at Dawn from Oak Harbor

January 21, from Flintstone Park on Oak Harbor Bay.