For someone who doesn't travel much, sometimes even a short trip is pretty cool. Needing a change of scene from urban Everett where I've been working a lot lately, I decided I needed a Road Trip!. So yesterday morning I had one.

That I considered the 13 minute drive from my North Everett home out to Spencer Island a Road Trip is some indication of my need to get outta town. A nice marshland experience is what I had in mind and it all worked out just fine. The sun was just coming up as I walked out the gravel road toward the bridge to the island. On my 'bucket list' for the trip I really wanted to hear a really big Pacific Chorus Frog chorus since I havn't heard one yet this year.It was a bit too sunny and cold out for the frogs taste - did'nt hear a peep- so now I have an excuse to go back and check out the scene.

I'm enjoying myself lately playing with the notion of 'Bucket List' - I'm reinventing it for my own use. I'm not that old, and feel fine but why wait? You never know. If my Bucket List had a motto it might be 'Low on Ambition, High on Appreciation', if I was organized enough to have a motto that is.

While enjoying the lack of frog song, I noticed the quiet ( aside from the sorta white noise of I-5 nearby) allowed to me to hear singing birds all the better. First on my morning bucket list, singing Marsh Wrens! And singing Red-winged Blackbirds! Wonderfull marsh sounds. And a particularly well sung Song Sparrow. The sewage ponds were largely empty of birds.

Then a suprise flew by - for me a FOY Tree Swallow! I did'nt have that on my bucket list but decided to add it after the fact. Why not? Always great to see a swallow. Another add-on was a loudly singing Ruby-crowned Kinglet in the alders on the Island - I love their perky tune. One thing I did have on my list for the day already, was blooming Salmonberry - I saw some!

The tidal ponds in the middle sported several large dense rafts of More or Less Scaups, not sure which. Did'nt note any Ring-necks. It was pretty quiet overall. Enjoying great views of the common but spectacular Mallard as I walked back out to the truck, I got to thinking about that whole bucket deal. Is the bucket like the Taoist notion of Form and Void, Spirit and Body? Would it be better to kick an empty bucket or a full one? And full of what? If my dear ol' Grandma was still around she might say " I don't know about the bucket, but your'e sure full of it!

Jeff Gibson
on the road
in Everett Wa