Seattle Christmas.

So I need to get you caught on the happenings. Numbers are slow at Wolf Hollow and I got to take it down by one a week and a half ago by taking our Juvenile Bald Eagle for release up past Rockport along the Skagit River on my way to Seattle for Christmas vacation(though they did take in some critters while I was away). If you recall this one had been with us since the middle of June so he had lots of time to grow. Releasing him/him on the Skagit gives him a fairly easy chance of finding fish as the salmon are running and the eagles are congregating. Giving the best opportunity.

Eagle in the carrier just prior to release.

Less than a minute after the carrier was opened, out and in flight.

Had a great flight up and down the river before settling on the far bank.

After that I headed to Seattle to spend the holiday with friends and my brother. Had a good time, hung out with a few friends on their birthdays, especially a fun Seattle trip with my friend Zee. We rode the monorail, played at Pike's Place, and then went and explored the aquarium (man had it changed since my last visit, plus we spent a lot, A LOT, of time at the touch tanks).

The Monorail approaching West lake center!

Tropical exhibit at the aquarium.

That be a rock fish perched on her arm.

The well known Lion fish.

This guy was avoiding me taking his picture.

Nemo!!

Any guesses?? looks like an sucky disk of a octopus to me.

There he is.

This guy hangs outs in the Octopus tube.

this is a toy in the gift shop, it is suppose to be a sea cucumber.. hmm... looks less like a kids toy to me.

Oh, look they have a glow bead in them.. Thanks Zee for a great day!

I want one of these such a cute limpet!

Otters (but they weren't holding hands like the famous viral video)

They have river otters. Why the heck did I take pics of river otters when I have soo many of them already?

And so Christmas morning came, opened presents and got a new long lens for my camera!! Excellent so of course I had to try it out. Later that morning we went to brunch in W. Seattle at friends and then off to watch Sherlock Holmes at Lincoln Square. I highly recommend that movie. Home to North Bend to make a Christmas feast for Mark and I.

A close up of Fally's face.. look at those eyes. He is such a good kitty.

Chilling in the living room while we are opening gifts.

Onyx being bombarded by Mark's new toy a Nerf "tommy gun"

Another shot.

And another.

Mt. Rainier over West Seattle.

The Elwa docked in Anacortes, why I don't know??

Duck in Fidalgo bay!

Playing with the macro on my camera... my antenna.

another fun play with my camera.

Mt. Baker.. looks pretty close, but yet soo far away.

The rescue ring on the ferry.

The straits.

Birds outside my apartment. My guess? Warbler of some variety.

Robins in a tree.

So that is about it.. Came back to the island on Saturday and went to see Avatar on Sunday.. another movie I highly recommend. Love the story line, the message, and the blue people.

I am am looking forward to New Year's Eve and the good things to come in 2010. I think it is going to be a great year!