Sunday, May 7, 2006. Note to self: Next time I stalk herons, take a monopod. Herons have the patience of Job, and my arms ached as I tried to hold up the heavy 70-200mm lens, waiting for a great blue to dive for breakfast.
Just after 6a I'd gone done to the Montlake Cut hoping for good rower or boat photos. After all, it was Opening Day, and I figured recreational rowers would be out early. But rowers were scarce, and the light was flat, so I turned my attention to stalking herons.
Parked at the Museum of History and Industry for easy access to Foster Island and the south shore of the Cut. Sure enough a heron was in the marsh looking for breakfast. I tiptoed closer, then closer still. Maybe 25 yards away. He didn't move. and he kept on not moving. At all. I was so hoping he'd spear that long beak down into the water and come up with a little wriggling fish, and I'd get a great photo. I clicked a few pics, but my arms gave out before he got breakfast.
From the tranquility of early morning in the marsh, to the roar of tugs and the smell of diesel,
yesterday was full of contrasts. In the early afternoon I went down to Bell Street Pier on Elliott Bay to catch tugboat races. I've never seen tugs racing, but I thought it would be fun, and provide lots of photo opps. I was not disappointed.
The races were part of Seattle's Maritime Festival. I learned there are three classes of tugboats--small, medium and large (Class A). The large ones are ocean-going, and have a enough horsepower to move mountains. Each class had it's own race, and in between one of the races, the 79 year old fireboat, the Alki, put on a water display.
And there was a demo by the Coast Guard of a helicopter rescue. Yes indeed, there were photo opps 
galore. To see more photos, click here.
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