Umtanum Creek Canyon — Friday, May. 8, 2015

Central Washington > Yakima

This was a glorious hike through a lovely desert riparian area thick with wildlife. The trees were teaming with birdsong; I must have heard 20 different calls. Every time I stopped, I could hear something scurrying in the underbrush. One time I saw the back end of what I think was a marmot, but I did not see or hear any rattlesnakes. I saw a lovely pair of kingfishers, a regal pair of turkey vultures, and grazing pair of big horn sheep high on the hillside. And I saw one MEAN osprey. When I first saw it gliding above me, I was caught up in the wonder of the moment. And then I realized that its squawks were directed at me! So I quickly moved on. About a half mile later, right after crossing the creek for the second time, I encountered it again. This time it was distinctly more upset -- and aggressive. I tried unsuccessfully several times to proceed on the trail, but it was having none of it. When it shot up straight in the air like a Blue Angel airplane, then did a 180 to dive bomb my head, I turned on my heels and ran into the trees. And it still wasn't done with me. When I emerged out into the open, it literally chased me down the trail. It must have been guarding a nest, but the behavior took me by surprise. As I was returning to my car, I happened upon four Audubon Society birders. They were absolutely giddy with the possibility of encountering my nemesis. They invited me to return with them (safety in numbers?), but I politely declined. I wonder what kind of encounter they had? Despite my run-in with the bird, I highly recommend this hike! And sorry, no good photo of the osprey -- the few I dared to take came out blurry.