Back in the USA--Seattle, Washington

We returned via ferry from Vancouver Island, picked up our trailer where we'd parked it at a friend of Jim & Renate's, and headed south toward Seattle. We spent the Labor Day weekend with Daryl in Seattle, celebrating Liz's birthday together.

 We attended a facinating event--the return of the Vaux's swifts to the Monroe Elementary School! A large crowd gathered on the lawn of the school to await sundown and the arrival of the swifts. We enjoyed a picnic while waiting. At sunset, the swifts began to circle the chimney of the school, spiraling ever faster. Then, as the last light faded, the first swifts began entering the chimney and it looked like a tornado or funnel cloud as the swifts entered. The last one entered and the crowd cheered, then all was silent and the swifts were settled in for the night. It was amazing to witness their "stop" for the night as part of their migration. Wow.