More Good Than Bad

The trails are mostly dry now and we walked farther than we normally do, discovering yet another camper (or the same one who is just moving around).

But there was lots to see that was better news; first, how nature heals.  This was the site of the very first camper we found last year.  A tent was in this precise spot:

And along with the new camper, we found that someone else has taken up residence in The Patch:

Beaver Dam

Some lupine has begun to bloom, struggling through the blackberry branches that are attempting to climb over it (must take scissors next time).

Critters seen today include 13 bird species and a chipmunk, which I don't think we have ever seen there before. I also found this buggie, which, with my "expertise" in insects might be anything, but I think it is in the Lampyridae family.

My Pacific Northwest book would indicate Ellychnia hatchi, but it also says "....there are a number of species in this genus, and one needs to use the identification key in Fender (1970) to identify them...."  Well, I have never heard of that key, let alone have it, so we are just going to have to go with "close."