06-OCT-2016
A Nice Day at Delta Ponds
When the sun shine and the sky is blue over Delta Ponds, they stand out even more for their beauty. The 150 acre nature area has provided me many hours of enjoyment as I take photo walks there. This is a favorite view of one of the ponds.
08-OCT-2016
A Reason for My Love of Deer
I still have a children’s book, named “White Tail, King of the Forest”, by Neil Stolp Smock and published in 1938, that was one of my most prized possession when I was just a little guy. It isn’t in very good condition now, starting to come apart, but I wouldn’t part with that book for a thousand dollars! I could have doctored the photo to make the book look better, but that's not how it is and that is part of my sentiment feelings for it! I hope one of my girls will treasure it like I do.
As you no doubt can tell, deer have been close to my heart for many years, and a reason why you see photos of them in my galleries from time to time.
09-OCT-2016
Leaving Muddy Tracks
This beautiful Killdeer had been wading along the shore at Delta Ponds and you can see it has very muddy legs. Fortunately, it didn't wallow in the mud! :)
10-OCT-2016
Enjoy The Colors
We still have beautiful flowers in bloom, though they are less often seen. As I walk to parts of Delta Ponds, I walk a portion of Riverbank Path. I pass some nice condos and one has a yard full of beautiful flowers. I shot this photo there.
11-OCT-2016
Double Exposure
Some of the species visiting Delta Ponds are migrating now, and fewer of them are seen. The year-round residents are still seen, Mallard Ducks, Canadian Geese and Great Blue Herons. Of course, many of the geese do migrate and lots of them are here now. But the Green Herons and Great Egrets are moving on for the winter. This pair graced one of the ponds with their beautiful choreography, which I enjoyed very much. It was almost like a double exposure. One of them clearly shows some battle scars.
12-OCT-2016
Dexter Lake and the Lowell Covered Bridge
13-OCT-2016
Poor Butterfly!
The weather has definitely changed here in the Northwest! Tonight we are having windy and very wet conditions, with more predicted for the rest of the week. So summer has left the building! Actually, it's been gone a few weeks, and with it the few butterflies I got to see this year! This poor Swallowtail Butterfly was already the worse for wear when I shot the picture in July on our oldest daughter's new place in the country. I just had to post one more butterfly image, since I get to see so few of them.
Poor Butterfly! That thought brought to mind a song by that name. I found it being sung by Judy Garland on YouTube -
14-OCT-2016
Backlit Teasel
With unsettled weather and some thunder and lightning, I decided to stay in today. So I decided to post an image shot in the warm sun of an August day. I liked the backlight on this teasel.
15-OCT-2016
Enjoying the Fountain from the Balcony
This beautiful fountain belongs to a new apartment complex along the Riverbank Trail in Eugene. As seen here, residents can enjoy the view of the fountain from their balcony.
16-OCT-2016
They Serve a Useful Purpose
The turkey vulture is actually a very interesting bird, part of nature's sanitation squad. To me that is another amazing part of the balance of nature, the wisdom of which is yet to be humbly recognized by many. The vulture looks for its food while soaring over open or partly wooded country, watching the ground and also other scavengers who may be around. Something that few of us have known is that, unlike other birds. turkey vultures have a well-developed sense of smell and they can locate carrion by odor.
I had an interesting experience with a turkey vulture at one time while I was at the Fern Ridge Wildlife Area. As I climbed the steps to an observation deck, I noticed the vulture soaring overhead. While I stood on the deck, the vulture began to descend and then landed below the deck. I was surprised and watched it for a moment. Then I said to the vulture, “Hey, you can't land here! I am not dead yet!” It wandered around a bit and then flew off. I guess I had it convinced. LOL
17-OCT-2016
Double Date
These Ring-necked Ducks were cruising the Ponds today. I think they might winter here. Anyway, I enjoyed watching them. You can often find Ring-necked Ducks in fairly small, shallow wetlands, such as these Delta Ponds. Even though they are called Ring-necked Ducks, don’t look for a ring around the neck—it’s really hard to see. Look instead for the bird’s peaked head shape, white ring around the bill, and white patch just in front of the gray flanks.
Interesting fact: The oldest known Ring-necked Duck was a male, at least 20 years, 5 months old. He was banded in 1964 in Louisiana and was shot in 1983, in Minnesota.
For more information press here for Link
18-OCT-2016
Sailing on Fern Ridge Lake
The last few days have been pretty wet and I have been prevented from doing much photography. So I decided to post a pleasant scene at Fern Ridge Lake on a more pleasant day. A little wind stirred the water and low fog hid out in the hills, but I am sure that it was a good day to be on the water.
