Your Outdoors Photos: May 2020

The Inland Northwest is full of flora, fauna, waters, scenery and active people out to savor it all. Please visit this gallery regularly to share photos of your wild experiences, learning moments, hot discoveries, favorite trips. Help us build a visual tour of what's so great about the outdoors in this region through all four seasons. This photo gallery will be an inspiration to some people. To others it will be a reminder of why we love to live here -- and get outside as much as possible.

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Section:Reader Photo

Mon., May 4, 2020

Photos in This Album

A tranquil sight in stressful times as this Yellow Warbler sits and sings with Sticky Geraniums in bloom all around. Taken June 9 2020. Turnbull wildlife refuge.

Photographer: Buck Domitrovich Cheney W.A.
Caption: “Up, up and away!” Turnbull NWR, June 3rd: This Great Blue Heron’s skinny legs (making many of them up to 4 ½ feet tall) and broad wingspan often bring a chuckle as it climbs gracefully into the air.

Photographer: Carlene Hardt
He was in a tree and going higher to get away from me, pointing a strange thing at him. This little raccoon was seen near Marshall at the beginning of June

Photographer: Melaine Williams
A young raccoon looks down from his perch near Marshall at the beginning of June.

Photographer: Melaine Williams
Image #8 in series of Robins hatching in Colbert WA

Photographer: Heather Frankovic
The swallowtail butterflies have arrived in our area, always an indication that summer is near. Taken near Cheney, WA on June 2, 2020

Photographer: Cindy Miller
The deer were playfully leaping in the fields of grass and clover. The deer not leaping quite so high was carrying a fawn, soon to be born. June 1, 2020 near Colbert, WA.

Photographer: Cindy Miller
An American white pelican takes flight at Horn Rapids Dam on May 28 (Benton County).

Photographer: Cortney Litwin
The butterflies are back! Always makes your heart sing to watch their colors flit from flower to flower. Seen the end of may near Marshall.

Photographer: Melaine Williams
Queen Lucas Lake located at the end of the Fish Lake Trail is teaming with turtles! The privately held lake has really been making a comeback, I see more and more wildlife enjoying it with each passing year. Seen the end of May.

Photographer: Melaine Williams
Daisy in Spokane, WA

Photographer: Chelsea Good
Blooming Peony in Spokane, WA

Photographer: Chelsea Good
Iris in Spokane, Wa

Photographer: Chelsea Good
Mr & Mrs Western Bluebird found them by their nest while hiking trails in the Cheney wetlands a little south of Cheney the male a very bright Blue while the female a more grayish blue but very pretty. May 29 2020

Photographer: Buck Domitrovich Cheney W.A.
Colorful May brings the ornate and beautiful Wood Ducks to Turnbull NWR. After mating season the males’ red eyes and bill stay, but his feathers grow in gray with blue markings on their wings, and white facial markings. 5/23/20

Photographer: Carlene Hardt
A "Wake" of Turkey Vultures is nested in the sheer cliffs on the west side of Riverside state Park. They are huge birds and really fun to see and watch up in the caves. Seen mid May.

Photographer: Melaine Williams
Just a bubble on a rainy day

Photographer: Anna Erickson
A landscape at your feet.

Photographer: Max Erickson (12 years old)
The neighbors' emu bird in Veradale, WA

Photographer: Anna Erickson
Female Black Headed Grossbeak 5-19-20 Four Lakes Staying home & staying healthy isn't so bad when there's a variety of birds visiting.

Photographer: Gary Miller
Lilacs in North Spokane, WA

Photographer: Chelsea Good
The columbine are beginning to bloom in my yard, in Spokane, WA.

Photographer: Chelsea Good
This is a Lewis's woodpecker different from most woodpeckers as it forages much like a flycatcher darting out and catching insects seldom bores into trees looking for grubs like most woodpeckers named after Meriwether Lewis of the Lewis&Clark expedition who first saw the bird. Taken west of Davenport W.A. May 7 2020

Photographer: Buck Domitrovich Cheney W.A.
This was my wife's Mother's Day present as it came to our backyard on Mother's Day it is one of her favorite birds. Backyard Cheney W.A. May 10 2020

Photographer: Buck Domitrovich Cheney W.A.
An American Bittern in breeding plumage on Turnbull wildlife refuge. Very lucky to see it in the open and not in the reeds very difficult to see then.

Photographer: Buck Domitrovich Cheney W.A.
TRUMPETERS RETURN TO TURNBULL! On May 8th, I saw three adult Trumpeter Swans at Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge! The Trumpeter Swan is a majestic bird, with snowy white feathers; jet-black bill, feet, and legs; and an 8-foot wingspan. With the Refuge gate now open, a wide variety of bird activity can been seen. Just remember, the restrooms and offices are still closed.

Photographer: Carlene Hardt
This crow was taking care of someones wasted chips in Spokane at the beginning of May.

Photographer: Melaine Williams
A yellow warbler, perched in the trees surrounding Thomas Lake, in the Colville forest.

Photographer: Chelsea Good
An American Bittern hides among grasses and reeds it is very cryptic and hard to see in the reeds as it blends in very well makes a deep gulping sound. Turnbull wildlife refuge May 6 2020

Photographer: Buck Domitrovich Cheney W.A.
A very productive morning on Turnbull a Virginia Rail came out for me for a photo occasionally they will come out into the open very solitary creature and can scurry away very fast . Taken May 7 2020 on the refuge.

Photographer: Buck Domitrovich Cheney W.A.
A busy little bird indeed this House Wren begins gathering nesting materials for a nest love is in the air!!!

Photographer: Buck Domitrovich Cheney W.A.
Spring color all over the place this little Calliope female Hummingbird stopped by our backyard in Cheney for a snack on the Red Current bush the Red & Yellow behind the Humming bird are Tulips in the next yard over. Taken May 4 2020.

Photographer: Buck Domitrovich Cheney W.A.
Killdeer laying on its eggs, Spokane, WA.

Photographer: Chelsea Good
Bucket of Gold, ground cover in my yard, in Spokane, Wa

Photographer: Chelsea Good
Cherry Blossoms in Spokane, WA

Photographer: Chelsea Good
American White Pelicans on the Snake river in Clarkston Wa. April 25. Stop there on their migration north

Photographer: Gary Burchill
A Rufous Hummingbird stops for a short rest on it's way north in our Cheney backyard. Cheney W.A. May 4 2020

Photographer: Buck Domitrovich Cheney W.A.
If staying home is getting boring, try going out into your yard and looking around--you might see some unexpected creatures, like this white crowned sparrow. Though this species passes through the Spokane area twice every year, most people never see it, because the birds are only here for a short time as they pass through on their migrations. Taken in Spokane Valley on April 29th.

Photographer: Bill Stickler
Yellow Headed Blackbird seen at the beginning of May in one of the ponds along the Columbia Plateau Trail that runs through the north part of Turnbull Wildlife Refuge.

Photographer: Melaine Williams
Post Falls, Falls Park was busy with life at the end of April. The new Canadian Geese babies were being promenaded around the pond by their watchful parents.

Photographer: Melaine Williams