Bleak

No other word would be a better description.  This is Birch Bay, about 20 miles north of where my gulls were yesterday.  Of course, like all water views, it can be beautiful at the right time.

A few years back, my Blip Buddy Mary Jo and I attended a local event which celebrated this area as one of the most significant migratory paths for many species of birds in this part of the state.  We attended a slide show, a presentation by a local bird expert, with snacks, and then walked along the beach while he continued to tell us all the important points about the area.  We saw our first up-close-and-personal heron.  I think both Mary Jo and I blipped him and she even won a prize for her photo later that year.  

Unfortunately, the heron was the only bird attending the event which was called W.O.W (Wings Over Water). While we waited patiently for the great flocks of migrating birds we were certain would show up, the heron did his best to entertain us and, as heron usually do, sat patiently while we took pictures.  We have since learned more details about the migratory patterns and dates but it's fun to look back and laugh at ourselves for assuming the birds were planning to attend as well.

We did the same thing at a butterfly garden event which actually celebrated the planting of butterfly friendly shrubs, not the attendance of any butterflies.  

We're stubborn, but we have a lot of fun together.