Camouflaged Goose Nest On Sammamish River

 

 Canadian goose nesting on tree snag in Redmond / credit John Reinke 

In 2020, John Reinke took this amazing photo of a Canadian goose nesting her offspring in a 20-foot tree-trunk snag. Note the camouflage!  The snag is located in the 90th-Street Run-off Pond designed to clean water entering the Sammamish River. 

The dead tree was cut down in 2023 during a $1M city restoration project to improve drainage from the pond into the Sammamish River.  Since then the goose and other waterfowl haven't returned to build nests.

Mr. Reinke lives in Redmond, WA.  He's an avid nature photographer focusing on city wildlife living along a downtown segment of the Sammamish River.  

-- B. Yoder, 

  4/2/2024

River Jewelwing Damselfly, By Reinke

Photo by John Reinke

The River Jewelwing is the largest damselfly found in Washington state.  It is most commonly sighted in June and July, along rivers and streams.  Indeed, I spotted this one along a recently dried up stream that drains into the north end of Lake Sammamish.  It's the first one of its kind that I've ever seen, so I felt fortunate to photograph it.

The dark patches on the wings indicate it is a male, about two inches long.  Note that the thorax is a brilliant metallic green that shades into an equally brilliant metallic blue covering the long abdomen.  The thorax contains the muscles that control the four wings, which all damselflies have.  The wings are typically folded close together back above the abdomen when the damselfly is perched.

Also observe the spiky hairs that extend outward from the six legs. (They're hard to see.) They all angle down and may help to clasp prey caught in mid-flight.

-- John Reinke

Pair of Nesting Eagles On the Sammamish River

A friend of mine told me 4 or 5 days ago that she had been monitoring the nest daily for 35 days.  According to the excellent website https://www.eagles.org/, that is the incubation period for hatching eaglets.  Presumably the egg(s) will have hatched by now, if that is true.  - John Reinke, 4/24/2023

Photos by John Reinke

John's  photos were taken from up on the Central Connector bridge over the Sammamish River.  The nest is on the west bank of the river across from the Opportunity building.  As of 7/14, the chicks have fledged (left the nest.)

Eight Species Of Ducks Congregating In Local Pond

Photos Credit/ John Reinke

Northern Pintail ducks are lingering with other wildfowl in a large shallow pond close to the Sammamish River.

Up until a few days ago, I had never seen northern pintail here in Redmond – like the two males I very recently snapped in the photograph shown above.  Thanks to a tip from Bob Yoder, I learned that they could be found in a shallow narrow pond that lies parallel to the Sammamish River Trail, not far north of the “rusty footbridge” at the north end of town.

Heading over there as soon as I could, I discovered that several other types of waterfowl were also present.
In addition to the pintails, I also managed to photograph the following species:

Pintails dabbling for food

American widgeon, green winged teal, northern shovelers, bufflehead, and common goldeneye. In addition, some mallards and a few mergansers were also present. 

I had previously seen all of these species here in Redmond, with the exception of northern shovelers.  Male shovelers somewhat resemble male mallards, in that both have green heads.  However, whereas male mallards have yellow bills, male shovelers have wider enlarged black bills.

Bufflehead, common goldeneye and mergansers are all diving ducks.  Pintails, American widgeon, green winged teal, northern shovelers and mallards are all dabbling ducks.  Dabbling ducks primarily feed along the surface of the water or by tipping upside down and grazing on aquatic vegetation, larvae and insects.

It was exciting to see so many species in one place.  I am sure that most will soon migrate out of the area, since this pond dries up in the summer.

-- John Reinke
   3/3/2020

Restoring Tosh Creek improves fish habitat and mitigates flooding in the Overlake neighborhood

City Planner Roger Dane (l) and Project Manager Steve Hitch book-end Tosh Creek

Susan, Bob, and Steve
Credit John Reinke

A few weeks ago Steve Hitch and Roger Dane of the City went out of their way to give Water Tenders’ Susan Wilkins, John Reinke, and myself a short tour of the Tosh Creek Restoration Project.   Do you see the creek running between Roger and Steve?  

Salmon fry and lamprey were found right at this spot in May.  Can you believe it? You've got to watch the City’s fascinating underwater video!    (removed.)

Tosh Creek is an important tributary to the Sammamish River. Its headwaters are actually in the Overlake neighborhood up the hill from West Lake Sammamish Parkway.  In 2013, the culvert running under the parkway was improved and the stream was re-aligned away from the road to be more "fish friendly," and to reduce sediment build-up near the culvert.  Willows and other native plants were planted to shade the creek and keep it cool. The $1.9M project was managed by Roger Dane and Mike Haley and funded primarily from city stormwater utility funds.

The Sammamish River's federally protected Chinook salmon and endangered Kokanee salmon need the cool water Tosh Creek provides to thrive and reproduce. Coho salmon and trout live in Tosh Creek. As small as Tosh Creek is, its flow is significant in the Fall when salmon are spawning and need cool water.  

But, the restoration of Tosh Creek does much more than improve fish habitat.  Serious erosion and flooding from stormwater run-off upstream is damaging the creek and threatening adjacent properties.  Thus, the city is installing an expensive stormwater detention system (vault) near 159th Avenue NE. and facilities in 4 other locations.  The cost for the vault is over $8M but the city was able to secure a  $5M grant and $1.6M low interest loan from the Washington State Department of Ecology. 

This is a bit more than a fish story!  At the end of our tour we saw a doe and two fawns wandering south from the creek. Hmmm.... I wonder what they were doing? 

 If you want to participate in the planning process of the vault and treatment facilities, Steve is hosting two September meetings.  For details, GO HERE. 

Bob Yoder

Great Blue Heron feeding on the Sammamish River

Great Blue Heron catches Skimmer dragonfly/ Photo by John Reinke

The dragonfly was an eight spotted skimmer, and it had landed on a plant located right next to the Sammamish River at the south end of the Luke McRedmond Landing, on the south side of the 85th Street Bridge.  The heron cautiously stalked up fairly close to the plant and then made a lightning strike to snatch the dragonfly from its perch.

-- John Reinke

Piliated Woodpecker nesting along the Sammamish River

Credit, John Reinke

The bird you see is a pileated woodpecker, which is the largest woodpecker in North America.  It is close to the size of a crow.  This female is sticking its neck out of the nesting hole it and its mate has dug about 25 feet off the ground in a dying poplar tree.  You can tell it is a female by the fact that it has a black forehead above its beak, whereas in males, this area is red.  Both sexes have red crests and otherwise are mostly black.

Pileated woodpeckers are not very common in our area.  I have only seen one in Redmond during the previous 25 years I have lived here.  However, I spoke recently with a man who said that he sees one at his bird feeder frequently, and he has a friend who has had the same experience.  The Washington Department of Fish and Game is currently considering the pileated woodpecker as a candidate to be listed as an endangered species in our state.

I took this photograph in a stand of dead and dying poplars located along the Sammamish River Trail, about seven tenths of a mile north of the NE 90th Street Bridge.  The stand is located on the east side of the trail, right across from the rust-colored foot bridge that spans the river there. A friend saw a male and female in the same area.  

If you walk or bike up that way, you'll see that there are a number of holes that have been drilled high up in the poplars.  The pileated woodpecker nest hole is kind of around the back of one of these trees, so you are unlikely to spot it without a good deal of effort.  

However, you may well see a pair of red breasted sapsuckers that are nesting in a hole that faces the trail, about 40 feet up in the same tree.  A pair of flickers has a nest in another hole that faces the trail, located even higher in another dead poplar, one or two trees to the left of this one.  I have also occasionally seen a downy woodpecker foraging among these trees.

Happy Birding!

John Reinke

Sammamish River nature photographer captures Downy Woodpecker

click to enlarge

The title is kinda funny, huh?

On a recent overcast day, I stepped out onto the promontory that overlooks the Sammamish River in downtown Redmond, opposite the Opportunity Building.  I was surprised to see a downy woodpecker suddenly alight in a low bare-branched tree in the middle of the fence at the edge of the river bank.

click to enlarge

I quickly reached for my camera, hoping I’d be lucky enough to get off a few shots before it flew away.  To my surprise, it ignored my approach and calmly flitted about, pecking at the bark on the trunk and branches.  It was a male, as evidenced by its red topknot. 

click to enlarge

Downy woodpeckers are the smallest woodpeckers in Washington state and indeed the country.  They are quite common and typically inhabit deciduous forests.  They find insects in the crevices of bark, but also feed on berries, seeds and suet.  Monogamous breeding pairs form in late winter.

My little friend allowed me to take several photos at close range.  It's amazing what you can find in our  growing downtown urban center.

-- John Reinke

    Redmond, WA

    Photos credit John Reinke

Reforesting the Sammamish Slough

Ling Niu is a Redmond software engineer from China - with daughter

Reforesting the Sammamish Slough, by John Reinke

In a torrential downpour on Saturday morning, twelve of us gathered under a tent set up along the path that parallels the slough, just south of the Leary Way Bridge. Our group was composed of Redmond residents and crew members of local nonprofit Earth Corps.

We were there to replant tree and shrub seedlings in the open area by the slough. The idea is to create a “mini wilderness” to the maximum extent possible, so as to improve and preserve the salmon and wildlife habitat. City of Redmond environment officer Peter Holte instructed us in how to dig holes in the dirt and then remove seedlings from their pots and plant them properly. The seedlings had previously been set out in their desired locations, so we just had to find them and set to work.

As the morning progressed, the rain subsided considerably, and more residents showed up to help. The newcomers were instructed and assisted by the Earth Corps crew members. These young folks were made up of Americorps Volunteers and a young woman and man from Morocco and Cambodia. (Go to http://www.earthcorps.org/  to learn more about their environmental restoration work.)

The reforestation effort has been going on for several years. Nearby were 10 foot high trees that had been planted three years ago on the bank of the slough. Jane, who was there with her daughter, said she had helped plant them back then. Funds for this work come out of the stormwater runoff control fees paid annually by Redmond homeowners.

By the time 12 noon rolled around, Peter estimated that we had planted 200 to 300 seedlings. Despite being wet and muddy, we all felt pleased and proud of our work!

photos and story
by John Reinke
Redmond resident

Large School Of Chinook Spotted At Redmond Trestle Bridge

Photo by John Reinke, Redmond resident, 9/10/2021
(click to enlarge)

"Thanks (John Reinke) for sending the photos of the salmon in the Sammamish River. I saw them when I was walking on the trestle bridge as well, and I agree, it is the biggest school of salmon (mostly Chinook) that I have seen. We've saw a few in lower Bear Creek last week, and they should really move upstream with the rain later this week. 

I believe the Chinook congregate upstream of the trestle because there is a deeper channel/pool there compared to many places in the river. There may also be some groundwater flow into the river that helps to keep it slightly cooler. There are also salmon concentrating under and downstream of the 90^th Street bridge outfall because there is groundwater being pumped into the river through the outfall pipe there. The groundwater entering the river provides a cooler pocket of water for the fish to rest until moving upstream.

 

Thanks, and enjoy the fall,"

 

Tom

  

Tom Hardy (he/him) Stream & Habitat Planner, City of Redmond
425-556-2762    twhardy@redmond.gov    www.redmond.gov

Tom Hardy, Redmond city's stream specialist leads citizens on Willows Creek tour

Tom explains woody debris placement on Willows Creek 

 "These photos were taken on Monday during a hike up Willows Creek, that was conducted by Redmond City stream specialist Tom Hardy.  The aim was to learn how water flow in the creek has been restored to a more natural state by careful placement of logs and other natural materials in the stream bed."

Full story with more photos by John Reinke, Bob Yoder, and Tom Hardy will be published soon.

  

Narrative and photos by John Reinke
Redmond neighbor

The bird with the broken wing, By John Reinke

While walking along a portion of the Bear Creek Trail south of Leary Way here in Redmond, I encountered a friend who used to live in the condo below mine.  After we greeted each other, she motioned through the open gates of an adjacent fenced-in maintenance area.

She wanted me to see a robin-sized bird with long legs, whose young were skittering about on the open gravel-covered surface.  I was quite surprised and pleased to see them, and explained that this was a killdeer with its chicks.  

I mentioned that I had photoed a pair of killdeer at the nearby pond more than a month previously.  We were now evidently looking at the resultant offspring

After my friend departed, I continued to observe the scene.  A second adult killdeer flew up on the grass outside and scampered into the enclosure.  Now both parents were on the scene to protect their young.

I set out to try to photograph the young.  This was difficult, as they were small and quite nimble, plus they were far enough away to put my zoom camera to the test.  I did manage to get at least one shot of a parent and two youngsters in the same frame. 

Can you find her head?  (click pic to enlarge)

I watched for awhile, and considered my next move. I knew that killdeer will try to lead away anyone who approaches their young.  They do this by pretending to be wounded and flapping about on the ground.  

When this causes the person to pursue them, they immediately move further away and repeat the act.  When they have successfully lured away their would-be predators, they fly off and eventually circle back to their young.

Knowing this, I decided to see if I could instigate this behavior by approaching, with my camera at the ready.  Sure enough, one of the adults took me up on my tactic.  It ran a short distance and proceeded to put on a spectacular act of appearing mortally wounded.  I managed to get off a few shots as I approached, before it moved away again.  

After that, I concentrated on getting a good closeup of a chick, but without much luck.  This fuzzy image was the best I could do.

Story and Photos by John Reinke

Redmond, WA

April 27, 2017, Otters spotted in the river

Credit/ John Reinke

Otters are very common in and around Redmond. B.Y.

On a recent walk along the Sammamish River, I spotted a couple of river otters swimming southbound underneath the 90^th Street bridge.  They were merrily cavorting along, undulating in and out of the water and acting like they were having the time of their life.  I hurriedly pulled out my camera and followed them nearly a half mile, as they swam against the current.  I managed to get off a few shots along the way.

Just before they reached the old wooden railroad bridge, one of them climbed up on a partially exposed log near the opposite bank.  I was thus able to snap a good photo is it posed regally with its mouth agape.

"Droplets," by John Reinke

Frost melts into droplets on a grass frond at the Redmond Senior Center/ JOHN REINKE

Sammamish Slough crow with snake

The attached photo was taken on May 30 along the Sammamish Slough, just south of the rust colored footbridge here in Redmond. It was definitely a "shoot from the hip" photo, and I only partially succeeded in getting the crow in the frame.

I couldn't figure out what it had in its beak, until I looked at the photo later. Initially I thought maybe it was a stick or branch. It's a pretty good sized snake. The crow was evidently hunting in the grass as I approached it, and then it suddenly flew up. I was lucky to catch the action.

John Reinke
Sammamish Slough photographer
Education Hill neighborhood

A collection of John Reinke's Sammamish Slough nature photographs will be on display at the Redmond Library thoughout July.

Slough Safari: Wildlife you never expected to see in Redmond

Contributed by John Reinke, 20 year Redmond resident. 

"Over the past 4 or 5 years, I have made it a practice to walk along the Sammamish Slough several times a week. I usually start out at the Redmond Senior Center. From there I either head north to the rust colored foot bridge where 105th Street would be (if it existed), or I head south and go to the point where Leary Way crosses the slough. Either leg is about a mile in length, so the total distance is about 2 miles."  (click photos to enlarge)

During that time, I have seen quite a variety of birds and animals in or near the slough, including some I never expected.. Some of them may surprise you, too. (Naturally, I have seen a fair number of salmon, too.)  I carry a small spiral notebook in which I record my observations, noting species, location and time of day. Sometimes I carry a point-and-shoot digital camera also. As I am generally a late riser, almost all of my observations have been recorded between 10am and dusk.

Below is an annotated list of animals I have seen, followed by a list of birds.  (If you'd like to add your observations to the list, please leave a comment!)

Animals seen along the slough  (photo of beaver-gnawed tree)

beaver Mostly seen in retention pond at NE corner of intersection where NE 90th Street crosses slough

deer  At dusk by woodcarver Dudley Carter’s cabin near Leary Way. Very handsome antlered buck.

river otter I have seen a pair of otters 3 or 4 times in the slough.  They are very playful said she saw a mother with 4 kits near the Luke McRedmond.  Bats Seen feeding on insects at dusk over the slough..

Coyote This nervy fellow was nonchalantly loping across the lawn close to the west side of City Hall

Mink Seen poking around in the grass and logs by the retention pond, quite oblivious to my presence 15 or 20 feet away. I think it was young.

Muskrat rarely seen in the slough. -rabbit - turtle Common.

Birds and Waterfowl  (photo of ring-necked ducks)

American widgeon Typically seen in flocks of males and females

Canada geese Common year round -Oregon junco

bufflehead  seen in retention pond at NE corner of intersection where NE 90th Street crosses slough.

cedar waxwing Seen in flocks -chipping sparrow

cormorants Seen in flocks that roost in trees along the slough in winter.

eagle Solitary eagles seen infrequently

gadwall Not common; seen in pairs Common Goldeneye, Not too common

grebe, pied-billed Seen frequently -grebe, western A single pair seen once

heron, great blue A solitary bird seen frequently; more than one spotted along the slough on same day

heron, green-backed Seen once in retention pond; have photo

killdeer - kingfisher Seen a few times

mallards Very common -merganser, common -  merganser, hooded Fairly common

osprey Seen rarely -pheasant Male pheasant seen only once

ring-necked duck, scaup - greater scaup, lesser - Not common; seen in retention pond

wood duck Single pair seen once; have photo

text and photos by John Reinke, Education Hill

UPDATED: Events and Chatter at "Redmond Neighborhood Blog" Derby Days Booth overflows

Bob Yoder and John Reinke at "Redmond Neighborood Blog" Derby Days booth

How was your Derby Days?  Did you see the Centennial fireworks display by City Hall?   Or dance on stage in celebration of Redmond's 100th birthday?   I celebrated on Saturday by holding an informational exhibit for "Redmond Neighborhood Blog" joining scores of other exhibitors.  It was the best turn-out ever according to Patrick Hirsch, City Communications.

I and my exhibit partners worked hard to assemble the exhibit.  We decided to focus the exhibit on the city's "Neighborhood Matching Grant Program," residential housing remodeling options, like "Accessory Dwelling Units (great for rental income), neighborhood art, and neighborhood gateway improvements.  Over 1,000 walked by my booth and scores registered! 

A neighborhood art proposal on 166th AVE & NE 100th Street generated the most excitment.  A renovated residential home care business on the corner wants to work with the community to add art on their property and common area.  One 10-year resident living on Ed. Hill off of 116th registered:  "Big Native American Art - salmon/whales."  Several others wrote "bike cut-outs" and "painted fence art" along the antiqued fence.  What do you think?  Read More >>

The downtown salmon are here!

Credit: John Reinke

Have you been out yet to look for the salmon migrating up the river and into Bear Creek?  John Reinke, an Education Hill resident, known for his downtown nature photography, saw salmon jumping under the 80th Street Bridge yesterday. Here's one of his pictures!  

It's funny, I went upstream to the Bear Creek nature park behind Safeway yesterday and couldn't find any.  I saw a lot of people enjoying the park and looking for these amazing, colorful fish.  My guess is they'll make it up here by early October?

I hope you're enjoying these beautiful Autumn days!

--Bob Yoder

The goose that flew 2,000 miles to Redmond, WA.

Yukon Delta Cackling goose with neck band '@04' grazing
along the Sammamish River by Leary Way

The goose that flew 2,000 miles to Redmond, WA.

By John Reinke
Redmond, WA.

On January 16, I came across a huge flock of Canada and Cackling geese just a few hundred yards southeast of Redmond's Leary Way Bridge over the Sammamish River. It was the day after our snowstorm, and they were all busy munching on grass underneath the snow and making geese small talk.

The different sizes and coloration patterns of the geese confirmed the presence of both species. (Cackling geese are smaller than Canada geese, which they closely resemble.)  Read More >>

UPDATED: Bear Creek advocates hold meeting

Credit/ Water Tender John Reinke 

Water Tenders is a group of people who care about the wetlands and streams in the Bear Creek area and King county.

The torch of Water Tenders (WT) leadership was passed from President Eric Soshea to Susan Wilkins at the WT Annual Meeting last week.  Many of the of the original tenders were present, including a relative of the founder. Leader Terry Lavender and past president Dick Schaetzel were out of town. Gary Smith was present. Debbie Aftebro from Novelty Hill had never attended a WT meeting yet she collects and measures rainwater for Guy Baltzelle's program. She wanted to meet Guy but unfortunately he wasn't at the meeting.  Shirley Doolittle-Egerdahl was up front with Susan and Eric. Shirley was once President and is now the Treasurer, replacing John Reinke,who replaced Dick S.  One of the new board members, Heather Poe was president and secretary for WT in the Early 2000 - 2005 era (before Susan became a member.) Shirley Doolittle-Egerdahl was also once a president along with five others. 

In her presentation, (video) Susan held up a map of the entire Bear Creek watershed. She was re-directing and expanding our attention to the entire Bear Creek watershed.  She states:

"The Bear Creek Basin is an exceptionally natural and healthy environment for our native salmon runs given that it is so close to a major metropolitan area.  We want to direct more community involvement into observing the stream habitat and collecting year-round data (such as rainfall, water temperature, stream flow) across the whole Bear Creek Basin.  We also want to carefully monitor land use planning by the local government jurisdictions to encourage preservation and protection of our land and water resources."

Five members who volunteered for the new Board met with Susan after the meeting.  The first order of business was to select officers.  Susan is the President, Mark Reynolds is the V.P. (he told a touching "avatar" story about the value of engaging children.)  Mark is a software engineer for Nordstrom and a "take charge" kind of guy.  He is working on a new website and very motivated for WT to make a difference for kids.  Me too.

Youth have been involved in WT over the years:

My daughter, Lexie Conley, was once a Youth Board member -- the first and last.  She wrote an article on the history of environmentalism that was published in the WT's 25th Anniversary Issue of the newsletter.  Terry recruited her to lead the Green Team in a Derby Day parade...and work the booth. Lexie recruited her Key Club members to help restore a forest in what is now the Redmond Bike Park site.  Notably, Dick S. attended that.  The Key Club also spent a day restoring a northern Bear Creek tributary -- an ongoing WT project.

Susan Wilkins actively engaged her children in the environment.  Her daughter was a docent for the annual WT salmon "SEEson" event.  In 2007 her children surveyed the Camwest Perrigo Heights preliminary plat's northern forest boundary ...in preparation for the citizen/council/mayor/Eric Campbell's woodland march to the proposed Steep Slope sewer location.

Colorful salmon cut-outs were made for children. (don't have the details.)  Kiosks were built to educate children and adults. Exhibits were held at REI.  Terry Lavender worked at the Redmond Medical Center from where the Derby Day Children's Parade started every year. She organized the kids and I think gave them a short education on salmon before they took off on their bikes. 

### 

A 5-minute YouTube of Susan Willkin's presentation at the Annual Meeting:  https://youtu.be/_SfMBTinhqg

A slide show of my daughter and her Key Club/ Bio-Chem classmates restoring the Bear Creek tributary.