Damselfly derring-do

Wanderin' Weeta has a look at the anatomy and life history of the Pacific forktail damselfly, now emerging from ponds around the region.

Teeming icebergs

Not Exactly Rocket Science has a mind-blowing post about research into the marine life associated with icebergs.

Hot pink Douglas fir flowers.

Found on this foray by Chattermarks.

Well, this is alarming

This article from the Times of London describes a finding that increasing numbers of orcas are switching to mammal diets -- a development that has some people calling for orca culls to protect threatened species such as sea otters and Steller's sea lions.
In a simultaneous development, there are reports that orcas have been showing up in the Canadian arctic, preying on sea mammals there.
Via Heather Reid-Stories from an Island, which is a very fine blog indeed.

In bloom in Discovery Park.

Pacific rhododendron



False Solomon's seal



Western trumpet honeysuckle



Salal

Hot pink pine flowers

Shore pine (Pinus contorta) is a cool plant in a lot of ways. Depending on the setting, it can grow into a 60 foot-tall tree or a twisted, bonsai form. It can keep some cones sealed up on its branches, until a forest fire triggers the cones to open and release the seeds.
But did you know the female flowers can be hot pink?

I found these pines on Discovery Park's north beach this morning. If you look at some of the branch tips the right way, you can see a face.

Savannah sparrow, Discovery Park south meadow

Discovery Park's south meadow is one of my favorite spots in Seattle. You walk out of the woods to see a broad, rolling stretch of grass and shrubs, leading to a bluff overlooking Puget Sound. This time of year, almost every bush or tree sticking out of the grass is occupied by a male song bird singing with gusto.
This morning, joggers and strollers heard from white-crowned sparrows, a goldfinch, and savannah sparrows, such as this fine fellow.