Spencer Island — Sunday, Feb. 24, 2019

Today was an excellent day to do this nice walk. We started under the freeway at the sewage treatment plant and walked along the cement pathway to the bridge. After crossing the bridge, we decided to head along the north trail before we did the south trail loop. The north trail is nice and straight and easy to follow. The blackberries were brushed back off the trail, but they should have been brushed back to WTA trail standards. Come spring, they will be seriously encroaching on the trail as they grow. We decided to follow the trail all the way to its end, which is just as it curves around the north side of the island. There are 2 nice benches looking out over the estuary for resting. The trail once continued all the way around the island, but the dikes were breached here (and on the southeast side also). The tide was completey out today and the water level was low enough you could have rock hopped across to the other side. However, it the tide came in, it would be a wet crossing back. After we walked the north side, we did the southern loop. Here we saw lots of deer tracks, but we did not see the deer. Good to know they are still around! We also saw an eagle, hawks a couple of swans, the usual herons, and blackbirds are returning now. PLUS we saw the FIRST pussywillows of spring!!