Mom in Town: Day 5

Buena Vista Ferry crossing the Willamette River

We took Emma back to college today and then, since we were down in that neck of the woods, we returned to Salem via several wildlife refuges and the Buena Vista Ferry which I had never taken before.  The first place we went was to the Finley Wildlife Refuge and the Homer Campbell Boardwalk which traversed a wooded swamp, ended at a lake, and then looped back on a trail that paralleled a field (pictures below).

Our next stop was Ankeny Wildlife Refuge and the Pintail and Egret Marsh Boardwalk (pictures below) which wasn't terrible, but not all that exciting.  Honestly, the park-and-view at the adjacent pond showed more birds.

Then, still at Ankeny, we went over to the Rail Trail (pictures below) which was quite impressive and among other sightings, mom captured a western tanager!  The weather today was really neat as there were intermittent showers, sunshine, and a nice breeze.  That evening, we celebrated the twins' birthday!