Red winged blackbird
Today my husband and I took a drive along the Hanford Reach - the last free-flowing stretch of the Columbia River. We drove down from the north, and went into the Wahluke Slope region. Much of this area is typical for eastern Washington - arid lands, with sagebrush, bunchgrass, and few trees. But there are a number of ponds near the edge of the river, and springs that come out of the hills. (Some are the result of years of irrigation.) So, the willows, the marsh birds, lots of ducks and geese, several egrets and cormorants, and at least two bald eagles. And the red winged blackbirds, which love the cattails and the reeds, and sing all day this time of year.
I think the contrasts are what captivated me most today. The dry, chalk hills against the vivid blue sky. The shocking yellow of the willows, counterposed against the faint green of cheat grass on our brown hills. And the bright colors of the blackbird against the brown and blown cattails. It was a beautiful drive, on a beautiful day.
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