Days 38,39,40 July 13, 14, 15, 2011 Anchorage.

1.. Potter Marsh in Anchorage

2. Ruth gets a Massage and adjustment

3. Wild Celery

Day 38-39-40- July 13, 14, 15 2011 At Anchorage

This will be brief as there has been few excursions away from the RV Park in the past three days. Oh, we got the vehicles washed, bought groceries, and did the laundry, but stayed close to home. We await the arrival of Ruth’s sister and brother in law Gerri and Andy, who come in tonight on the “red eye” from GR and Denver. Their plane was two hours circling the Denver Apt. due to storms.

But, we did get out yesterday to view both Potter Marsh and a Lagoon in downtown Anchorage called Westchester Lagoon. Although we are in summer and that period of time is when the mother’s are with the young and identification is difficult, we did ID some birds and saw a new one to add to the growing list of 170 birds species that we have seen. Potter Marsh is a large wetlands located on the south end of Anchorage on the road leading to Seward (Seward Highway!). Here the local bird support organizations and the city have built more than a mile of boardwalks into and around the north end of the Marsh, making access east and walkable as well as better for the birds and animals. Yes we did see salmon heading up one of the three streams that flow out of and make up this Marsh. One was in the 35040 # category. Ironically, the Alaska RR built a track along the exit of three streams that enter Turnagain Arm (the Ocean) there. This has helped maintain the Marsh as it limits the removal of the water to selected spots and allows chemicals to build up in the soil for plant growth for the animals and birds.

This is the time after the young have hatched and many have fledged already (flown) but a few were in the later stages of learning to fly, particularly the larger birds. An example were some Mew gulls that were still very fuzzy and mother was hovering around them constantly. We did see the Arctic Tern young ones flying to get their experience as they have 10,000 miles to go to return to the Antarctic region for the winter. The new bird was a Common Redpoll feeding in the willow trees at the edge of the Marsh. Sandhill Cranes, a Bald Eagle (lots of them around) Northern Harrier, many Lesser Yellowlegs, Red Necked Grebe, Spotted Sandpiper, and many Tree Swallows were among the ones we saw.

The Westchester Lagoon was not as active and by now it was noon so birds are down some anyway. Ruth did get some good pictures of Gadwalls and chicks of Mallards. This Lagoon is adjacent to the Knowles Trail a popular hiking skating, biking, running trail along the Cook Inlet. It runs through Earthquake Park (that’s another story!)

Later in the day we visited our good friend and house owner from the ’80’s, Ellie VandeVisse. She was delighted to have us stay for a while and invited us to an “all garden supper” meaning greens from the garden and a homegrown potato salad. The greens were steamed and there were at least 7 different greens from the garden. Ellie is a compost and nutrition expert (that is through plants and growing things) and has had a Composting business, teaches classes in environmental concerns and how to be the best gardener without invasive or destructive (fertilizers) techniques. We were able to share with her after supper as Ellie had just purchased a “Mac” computer and was open to Ruth giving her some instructions while she was there. They did that . Ellie is working on her second book in a series which will deal with animals and plants and how they cooperate with one another. Her first book “Ask Mother Nature” deals with her attempts to learn how plants and people can work together to get the best results in a garden. The book deals with a time I spent there in Palmer working on that very garden back in the 1980’s. Part of the residence we visited is a large birch grove that is a good quiet place to run on trails or walk in the woods.

Today we readied all for the 14 days of “whirlwind” tours we will have including tomorrow’s Denali trip (2 days) , an air flight to see bears , five days camping with the trailer on the Kenai Peninsula. (Homer, Anchor Point, Seward, etc) and then a six day boat cruise on the six passenger “Heron” out of Petersburg captained by the able pilots , Scott and Julie Hursey. Then we will see Whales, Sea Lions, Eagles, lots of birds, and do a little Halibut fishing and some kayaking. All this with Ruth’s sister and brother in law.

Sounds like a marvelous time. I may not be able to post after the boat trip begins so I gave you a heads up on that. Stay tuned, we will be back.