Mornings at Fiddlehead Marina are surprisingly tranquil. There are no people sounds to speak of. Most of the sounds from nature are quiet as the wildlife wake up.
One Sunday morning I was walking around the Port Plaza. I looked over at A dock. I saw some movement and heard sounds like animals playing. I was right! There were three little critters out there swimming, then scurrying upon one sailboat after an other, just to see the sights.
They alternated between rolling around in the water and traversing the docks to explore every nook and cranny of each boat. Yes they owned the place that day.
Again I was mesmerized by the animals living in our Sound. These guys were so cute. It made me want to cuddle them in my arms. But instead I watched them play. I watched them go, logging the memories until their return.
[Sounds like otters. Ed.]
The week after Harbor Days my Mom and I were driving by the Fifth Ave. bridge. When I saw people looking over the side it peaked my interest. We parked and looked out to where Capitol Lake spills into the Sound. The same place two whales were spotted several months ago.
At first I saw some sea gulls and six to eight seals. I decided to go to the bridge for a better view. To my pleasant surprise, I saw what had drawn the seals and gulls. A school of about 250 salmon was swimming upstream. Some were jumping. Some were diner for a seal. A few were stolen by the gulls. I was watching the working food chain!
Even though I was not out on the water on Wave Walker, I still got a chance to see the show. I feel very lucky every time I am around Budd Inlet: Olympia’s outdoor aquarium.
Debbie Behre, Wave Walker