Beth, of Wandering Dawgs presents another opportunity to showcase the many splendors of being “On the Water”. This wide-open challenge is right up my alley, so the test for me is to sort through my choices, and make some kind of order to it. Here goes!

Top photo, sunlight sparkles on Hines Marsh, along the Martha Jordan Birding Trail, Leadbetter State Park, Long Beach Peninsula, WA. A Yellow Pond-lily (Nuphar variegata) in a shallow sheltered niche, took me back to my childhood when I visited my grandparents at their resort on Deer Lake, north of Spokane, WA. These lilies were a sure sign of spring.

Birds and water go together. Top left, Canvasback ducks (Aythya valisineria) splash the surface with their web-feet as they lift from Conconully Reservoir, in the Okanogan region of Washington State. Clockwise: a Mallard hen (Anas platyrbynchos) tends her precocial brood on a pond at the Breakers and a Red-necked Phalarope (Phalaropus lobatus) cruises in the same marsh ponds; a mature Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) forages for breakfast at surfside on Long Beach, WA.

Humans have created many different crafts to port themselves across bodies of water. In my post #155, I featured my brother-in-law’s trout-fishing boat. https://lindylecoq.com/2021/07/10/lens-artists-photo-challenge-155-on-the-water/ Above, a small sailboat rests at anchor behind a pine tree on Lake Tahoe at sunrise.

Above, two sunset photos from Orcas Island, WA – looking across to Waldron Island: a young girl on a paddle-board, and a sizable sail boat at anchor in the bay. Then there is my fishing pole ready for a strike on Odell Lake, Oregon!

Located in Willapa Bay and part of the Willapa National Wildlife Refuge, Long Island is only accessible by watercraft. I was fortunate to attend one of the last ferry excursions sponsored by “Friends of Willapa Bay” before funding to support programs like this was stripped away by the current US administration. The tide wasn’t quite right for a perfect landing, so we participants took off our shoes and waded ashore. To see what treasures were in store on this little gem, here is my post featuring it: https://lindylecoq.com/2022/09/28/lens-artists-photo-challenge-218-over-the-hill/

A single Canada Goose (Branta canadensis) on guard near its nest. With the warming climate, our marsh did not get large enough this spring to attract geese and ducks to set up housekeeping. I miss them.

Thanks to Beth for this tranquil dip into one of the wonders of our planet.

On your walk with life, please honor our earth, encourage dignity and share kindness. 🐾