Our son Dominique had stayed with over the July 4th weekend and joined us on a hike to Marion Lake with my brother and his family from Missouri (post). He had to head back to Eugene the next day and Heather had to work so I drove him home. Before dropping him off though we stopped at Meadowlark Prairie Overlook for a short outing at the West Eugene Wetlands.
The Paved Fern Ridge Bike Path leads north from the overlook before turning east at Royal Avenue. The path extends about 7-miles to W 15th Avenue, but for this outing we turned back at a bridge after approximately 1.5-miles.
We spotted a very pretty lazuli bunting shortly after setting off, but my pictures were all of the grass in the foreground with a blue blob behind.
Bench near the Royal Avenue intersection. I was familiar with Royal Avenue having parked at its western end on our first visit to the Fern Ridge Wildlife Area (post).
Common madia
Amazon Creek.
Madrone
All of the waterfowl were quite a way out on the creek. There is a swallow, pie-billed grebe and I think a couple of mallards with ducklings.
I noticed a powerline corridor in the distance (right side of the hill) and recognized it as the one that Heather and I had hiked under earlier this year on the Wild Iris Ridge Trail (post).
Red-winged blackbirds
The Fern Ridge Path forks right here following the pointer for “Downtown”.
The path continuing beyond the bridge where we turned around.
A pair of swallows photobombed the bottom of this photo.
As we headed back we could see some of the Coast Range under blue sky in the distance.
More ducks and ducklings
Great blue heron
This was a nice easy leg stretcher and a good introduction to the area. I had seen it on maps before and had added it to our to-do list and this short outing helped convince me the area was worthy of a longer visit. Either a winter or spring outing would provide better birding so that will be the timeframe we target for the longer hike. Happy Trails!
Flickr: Meadowlark Prairie
wanderingyuncks 