News and Opinion on Neighborhoods, Schools and Local Governments of Redmond, WA.
Monday, September 6, 2021
Sunday, July 18, 2021
Thursday, June 24, 2021
Sammamish River Eagles - Photos By John Reinke
Friday, May 28, 2021
Sammamish River Swallows by Reinke
(l-r) Olive Green Swallow, Barn Swallow |
(l-r) Barn Swallow, Olive Green Swallow, Tree Swallow |
"I had never before seen these swallows perch anywhere along the [Sammamish] river, although they can be seen all the time swooping and diving in the air, back and forth along the river, catching insects "on the fly". - John Reinke, 5/19/2021
Wednesday, May 12, 2021
In the Light of the Shining Moon
Waxing Gibbous Moon as seen from the Sammamish River Trail ~ 5-fold magnification Photo by John Reinke, 4/22/2021 : 6.49 p.m. |
For those who weren't Boy or Girl Scouts, "waxing" means becoming a full moon.
I see the moon and the moon sees me,
The moon sees somebody I wanna see
God bless the moon and God bless me:
And God bless that somebody I wanna see.
Clifton Johnson, 1896
Wednesday, March 24, 2021
Sunday, March 14, 2021
Friday, February 26, 2021
Cackling Geese Seen On Sammamish River
Just north of the 90th Street bridge I saw a fair number of folks walking and riding bikes up and down the trail, but these "Cackling geese" paid no attention to them as they munched away on the grass. Some folks approached fairly closely to take photos, as I did also. The geese didn't object or scuttle away.
FYI: Cackling geese are a separate species that closely resemble Canada Geese, but are smaller in size.
[ to learn about cackling geese, go to this link: https://www.audubon.org/news/learn-tell-cackling-goose- canada-goose ]
-- Picture and story by John Reinke, 1/17/2001
Wednesday, February 17, 2021
What a Look
She looks quite ravishing, what with her 'flower power' eyes and festooned with a striking fuchsia scarf around her shoulders. She is certainly a cheery addition to our otherwise drab winter scene. -- John Reinke, 2/17/2021, Sammamish River.
Sunday, January 10, 2021
New Sign Unites Our Community
A new trilingual sign staked at the entrance to Redmond Police Department headquarters comforts our community. The sign was staked on January 9th, three days after the insurrection in our nation's Capital.
Photo by John Reinke, 1/9/2001
Tuesday, November 17, 2020
Redmond's "Species Of Local Importance"
Do you know the Great Blue Heron is Redmond's "Species Of Local Importance?" Do you why it's taking this pose? Leave a comment below to register your response.
Photo by John Reinke
Sammamish River 90th Street Stormwater run-off Pond
Saturday, October 24, 2020
Friday, October 2, 2020
It's Salmon "Seeson!"
Excellent article and Youtube from Army Corps of Engineers.
The 2020 sockeye run returning through the fish ladder at the Ballard Locks is the third lowest return on record, after last year’s record low return. Sockeye are affected by the changing climate, with variable ocean conditions and warming of streams and lakes. Warmer water increases predator metabolism and consumption of juvenile salmon and makes salmon more susceptible to disease.
Rearing sockeye:
Juvenile sockeye rear for one or two years in a lake (Lake Sammamish and Lake Washington) although they are also found in the inlet and outlet streams of the lake. Sockeye fry are often preyed on by resident lake fish, and because they use freshwater year-round, they are susceptible to low water quality. (John Reinke.)
While average annual Chinook returns fluctuate and are well below population recovery goals, 2017 saw the second highest return to the Cedar River since before 2000 and this year, as of mid-August 2020, the count through the Ballard Locks was almost double the 10-year average. Lake Sammamish’s native kokanee population has also been in decline for the last few decades and King County and partners have recently taken emergency actions to prevent possible extinction.
Salmon are tasty and great for your health! We are so blessed to have fresh, wild salmon in our "backyard.".A quick and easy way to cook it is: place the fillet on a pan, skin down, sprinkle with olive oil and salt. Bake for 325 degrees for about 14 minutes depending on its size. Simply amazing!
-- Bob Yoder
Tuesday, September 8, 2020
Bear Creek/ Keller Rehabilitation Expenses To Improve Salmon Habitat
Project Overview
"The City of Redmond will be constructing log jams in Bear Creek to improve salmon habitat. The project is located adjacent to the Keller Wetland Mitigation Bank (KWMB) project on the former Keller farm. In the fall and winter, the City’s Washington Conservation Corps crew will plant 3 acres of the Bear Creek buffer.
Restoring habitat in this stream reach is important for Chinook salmon recovery. It is identified in the WRIA 8 Chinook Conservation Plan, along with the adjacent KWMB project. The Bear Creek project is funded by City stormwater fees and by a $340,000 award from the Cooperative Watershed Management grant program."
redmond.gov/ sign photo by John Reinke.
Monday, September 7, 2020
Bear Creek Restoration At Friendly Village
click to enlarge |
The Adopt A Stream Foundation (AASF) has launched a major project to restore chinook salmon breeding habitat in the portion of Bear Creek that flows through Friendly Village, a forty plus acre manufactured home residence park operated by the King County Housing Authority in eastern Redmond.
click to enlarge |
-Reported and photos by John Reinke