The swans return

Finally -- swans -- at Potter Marsh, and Alyeska. Trumpeter swans migrate through the Anchorage area spring and fall on their way to nesting grounds. Eighty percent of North American trumpeter swans nest and breed in Alaska. Some winter over here, but most disperse to different areas in the continental U.S. for the winter. Occasionally a pair will nest near Anchorage where they can be seen throughout the summer, but most go further away from large communities. These are still gray, which means they might be just a year or two old.

This swan, in the wetlands across from the entrance to Gridwood on the Seward Highway, is  white.

Plenty of geese at Ship Creek -- this gaggle seemed to be engaged in a lot of splashing about.

The tide was rolling in, with opaque gray waves that looked like Bootlegger''s clay come to life.

It didn't bother the gulls lined up at the water's edge.



We drove to Alyeska, in part to look for the swans, and in part to see how much snow was left.

Around Anchorage, great road trip weather. Further south, rainy and a chill wind.

Alyeska on Easter, April 5, two weeks ago.

Same area today -- no snow at all on the lower trees, and not so much higher up. Light rain, and clouded slopes.

There's no snow in the avalanche chutes along the Seward Highway. Not sure that I've ever seen that before at this time of the year. This chute (other than the brown grass) looks like it might on an August day after a very warm summer.

The sap is rising in the trees and shrubs, yellows, greens, and reds.

Later in the day we walked along Ship Creek. The Totem North Star is getting ready to sail to Tacoma; the tugs are in place. Looks like a barge with containers might be heading out too.

The wooden trestle railroad bridge across Ship Creek. A nearby sign says that the original one was built in 1916; it was rebuilt in 1938 and 1956. The railroad stopped using it in 1987, and it was converted to a pedestrian bridge. It now has a private restaurant on it. The higher concrete bridge in the background is part of the A Street- C Street couplet that goes up to the Government Hill neighborhood.

Yesterday the horse and carriage was giving free rides to people at Kids' Day; today it was filled with a wedding party that was on a little outing before dinner at the restaurant on the bridge.

Johnny-jump-ups at the railroad station -- they've survived the winter, and are beginning to thrive.

Quiet Sunday -- April 12, 2015

The squirrel was foraging for seeds and goodies in the mosses on the neighbor's roof.

Phyllis the Amaryllis (a gift from friends who left town several years ago) has put up a flower stalk. She should be blooming within the next week.


While out walking:

"To walk is to gather treasure," Spanish saying. "Caminar es atesorar." from The Old Ways, by Robert McFarlane, a Christmas gift from my friend Pat Fitzharris Newman.

Magpie on the church steps.

The Sunday ship sailing south. I believe that it is the Totem North Star and is sailing to Tacoma. It arrived about 7:00 a.m,, unloaded its cargo, and maybe is sailing back to Tacoma empty? Yesterday there were lots of containers at the small boat harbor (and this afternoon there were none), so perhaps it was carrying those back.

A straw star in the window of the Oscar Anderson house (built in 1915; oldest house in Anchorage; has been moved to Elderberry Park), with tree branches reflected.

Carpets hung out to air on a condo railing.

Fattening pussy willows along the Coastal Trail. Gray day -- kept looking like rain.

Crocuses blooming at the Copper Whale Inn (corner of 5th and L Street).

A rock, still relishing its raiment of moss and golden grasses.

The totem poles at the Nesbett Courthouse.

The Pioneer Bar has survived one hundred years; quite impressive (although this isn't the original building).

At Covenant House at 5th and H Streets, someone is starting nasturtiums from seeds.

Platinum Jaxx is gone (from the corner of 6th and I streets), and in its place is a new bar and a restaurant that serves Italian, Southern, and Chinese cooking. Can't wait to try it -- it's got to be interesting (maybe not the food -- who knows? But the experience is likely to be not at all boring).

This is as much as we saw of the sun this afternoon.

Jim balances the salt shaker on edge at Bear Tooth.

Purple and yellow crocuses too, at Copper Whale Inn.