28-Dec-2019
Beautiful Touchdown!
No, not talking about football, though there are lots of bowl games to watch right now. There is not a more beautiful touchdown than this one! 🧐 This Great Blue Heron weighs about five pounds, so it can easily land and perch on those small twigs and branches at the top.
27-Dec-2019
Lichen and Leaves
The trees in Kirk Park are covered with lichen and moss. Though it can be pretty, I am not sure it is good for the trees. If you look closely, you can see that those pretty leaves are on a blackberry vine. I thought the two, lichen and leaves, made a nice combination.
24-Dec-2019
"Great" Blue Heron is Fitting!
Ever since I saw my first Great Blue Heron, I have been fascinated by them. What a wonderful sight they are, either on land or in the air! On land their size impresses and their skills as hunters are many, in the air their wingspan and slow, steady wing beats carry them far and quickly. When a person examines how they are constructed , they can't help coming away in awe. They are built for flying.
"Whether poised at a river bend or cruising the coastline with slow, deep wingbeats, the Great Blue Heron is a majestic sight. This stately heron with its subtle blue-gray plumage often stands motionless as it scans for prey or wades belly deep with long, deliberate steps. They may move slowly, but Great Blue Herons can strike like lightning to grab a fish or snap up a gopher. In flight, look for this widespread heron’s tucked-in neck and long legs trailing out behind."
21-Dec-2019
Country Lane
I have made photos of this lane before and it seems to have a great attraction for me. I just had to shoot another, with the sunlight contrasting with the shaded parts. The old fence on the right and trees lining the lane on the left, and the hill in the distance all combine to give it that appeal. Also, the bit of sunIight contrasts nicely with the dark clouds above the hill. Guess you can tell that I just happen to like it! 🤓
20-Dec-2019
Home From School
For many kids this is the best part of the day. I guess we all liked it too! It's been a long time since I was in school, but I have lots of memories, both good and bad. This photo was made while we still had some vivid colors.
It certainly couldn't have been today, which brought strong wind gusts and rain. Tomorrow will be even wetter. But we have been way behind on our rainfall for this time of year, so it is good to get it. Along with that, it brought 12 to 24" of snow in the Cascades.
26-Jul-2019
Taking a Break
i just had to post this close up of a Dragonfly from summer, which now seems some time ago. What a wonderful flying machine this insect is!
According Wikipedia: "A dragonfly is an insect belonging to the order Odonata, infraorder Anisoptera. Adult dragonflies are characterized by large, multifaceted eyes, two pairs of strong, transparent wings, sometimes with coloured patches, and an elongated body."
Lifespan: 6 months (Talk about a short lifespan!)
Size: Average size of a dragonfly is from 1 to 4 inches in length.
(Ever wonder how they fly in a strong wind, or rain?)
16-Dec-2019
The Wonderful Rose Hip
Think about about how much of what you are fond of is found in nature! Even what we are not familiar can be valuable to us and worth learning about. Take, for example, the rose hip. They are sometimes called the fruit of the rose, as well as containers for rose seeds that some rose bushes produce.
"It is said that three ripe rose hips have more vitamin C than one orange. Because of this, they are often used in recipes. Rose hips have a sweet, yet tangy, flavor and can be used dried, fresh or preserved for future use. Steeping them to make rose hip tea is a common way that rose hips are used, making not only a nicely flavored tea but also one with good vitamin C content. Some folks use rose hips to make jams, jellies, syrups and sauces. The sauces can be used for flavoring in other recipes or on their own." SEE:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/flowers/roses/rose-hip-information.htm
We aren't the only ones appreciating the rose hip. "If the rose hips are left on the bush and never harvested, the birds will find them and peck out the seeds, eating these fine fruits as a great source of nourishment in the winter months and beyond. Bears and other animals love to find patches of wild roses and harvest the rose hips too, especially after just coming out of hibernation."
So, next time you see some rose hips on a wild or some domestic rose bushes, stop and take a look. You will see a thing of beauty, one useful both to humans and other creatures.
11-Mar-2019
The Fern Leaf is a Wonderful Thing!
Have you ever really thought about the leaf of the fern?
Here, out in nature, they can be seen at most every turn.
So simple in design, yet there is much more to see.
There's Frond, Midrib, Petiole, Pinnate and Sori.
And we still haven't mentioned Fiddleheads, also Rhizomes,
inconspicuous as they grow underground in their homes.
Next time you see a fern, stop and think about why,
they were put there to be enjoyed by both you and I!
(Feeble attempt at poetry for Russ, a good guy!)
If you want information about the names mentioned above,
13-Dec-2019
Brewer's Blackbird
This sweet little bird looks like a Brewer's Blackbird, from what I can tell. I love the bright eye!
See '
http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Brewers_Blackbird/' for more information. Another blackbird close to this is the Rusty Blackbird, but it looks like the bill is different. Here is what 'All About Birds' says about the Brewer's Blackbird: "Most birds fly south for the winter, but a small number of Brewer’s Blackbirds fly west – leaving the frigid Canadian prairies for the milder coastal regions of British Columbia and Washington." I would assume that they also reach Oregon.
10-Dec-2019
Hiding Among the Leaves
I believe this is a House Wren, which some consider an ordinary looking bird. But what I always notice is that beautiful tail often tilted upward.
The website, "All About Birds" (
http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/House_Wren/id) said this about the house wren - "A plain brown bird with an effervescent voice, the House Wren is a common backyard bird over nearly the entire Western Hemisphere. Listen for its rush-and-jumble song in summer and you’ll find this species zipping through shrubs and low tree branches, snatching at insects. House Wrens will gladly use nestboxes, or you may find their twig-filled nests in old cans, boots, or boxes lying around in your garage."
"Small and compact, with a flat head and fairly long, curved beak. Short-winged, often keeping its longish tail either cocked above the line of the body or slightly drooped."
08-Dec-2019
Gotta Get Used to It!
This view of Fern Ridge Lake under clouds will be a common scene this winter. Oh sure, we will get sunny days this winter, maybe tomorrow, but they will usually be cold. At least with cloudy days the temperature is warmer. Those clouds keep some heat in. Of course, I enjoy the clouds. They can be so varied and interesting. I enjoyed this scene.
06-Dec-2019
Walking and Talking!!
Who says one can only do one thing well at a time? This Great Blue Heron was doing quite well at walking at the same time it was doing a little squawking. I do love those big birds! They would tower over some small children. There are a lot of them at Delta Ponds year-round. I will never make use of all of the nice photos I have of them. But I can never resist shooting another one.
03-Dec-2019
Peacock Feather on the Wall
Just playing around with this subject, one I have been wanting to get a picture of. This is the result. It's a feather that our friend, Peabody, left behind. Carol saved it. I think the vase is a momento someone gave Carol over 50 years ago.
02-Dec-2019
What Swims Like A Duck But is Not a Duck?
Contrary to the saying that what acts like a duck must be a duck, here is one bird that swims like a duck, but is no duck! It's the American Coot, a somewhat strange looking creature with quite unusual legs and feet.
About the Coot, the site "All About Birds" says this: "Although it swims like a duck, the American Coot does not have webbed feet like a duck. Instead, each one of the coot’s long toes has broad lobes of skin that help it kick through the water. The broad lobes fold back each time the bird lifts its foot, so it doesn’t impede walking on dry land, though it supports the bird’s weight on mucky ground." See:
http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/American_Coot/overview
14-Jul-2019
DON'T YOU DARE!
For Nov. 29 - The weather is changing and it's getting cold out. Fall will soon be over. We enjoyed having deer in our yard often this summer and fall. They are such beautiful creatures. The only time they weren't welcomed by Carol was when they ate her flowers. I captured this tempting situation for her.
25-Feb-2019
Just Nine Months Ago!
This was our yard only nine months ago, in February. The snow in our yard got up to 18 inches. Now the surrounding hills are again covered with snow. The Coburg Hills just north of Eugene/Springfield are white. No snow on the valley floor, yet anyway. The temperature tonight will get down to 26 deg, and winter is still a month away, after a break of nine months. Still it is mild here compared with what is happening elsewhere. It just takes us longer to get used to winter.
24-Nov-2019
A Path Through the Park
Lots of leaves on the ground this year. In the city parks, they have a crew that keeps them tidy. A few colorful leaves remain, but many trees look pretty bare. I remember thinking that we wouldn't have much color this year, but I was expecting them too early. It turned out nice after all.
22-Nov-2019
Just Had to Post One More Cormorant Picture!
I just couldn't resist posting another cormorant image. There are a number of them visiting Delta Ponds right now. I had a doctor appointment and needed to pick up an RX in town so dropped by for more photographs. I liked very much the light, colors and detail in this image. Hope you like it too. As you can see, all kinds of wildlife fascinate me!
21-NOV-2019
Double Crested Cormorant
As near as I can tell, this is a double crested cormorant and it posed so nicely for me. I was able to photograph it on a recent visit to Delta Ponds. If you can imagine, Delta Ponds, which lies completely in the city limits of Eugene, is a treasure for local residents. One can see a variety of bird life throughout the year. Some appear for a time during their migrations and others stay year round. The cormorants are among those who stay a while and then move on. I love capturing them in beautiful poses.
18-Nov-2019
BACK AT HIS PERCH!
This is the third year I have seen a Red-shouldered Hawk sitting on a wire along a road a mile or two from home. I always look for it as I go to the store for meds or food. It appears that the hawks winter in this area, because I start to see them again in late fall and winter, even into spring. But I don't see many during the summer. I am glad this one or a relative returns to the same area yearly. It gives me something to look for. Anytime I get a nice photo of it posing for me (well, not really), I am happy.
15-Nov-2019
Rose Hips
A study of nature is so educational. The more we learn, the more there is to learn! Take, for example, rose hips. I never knew much about them until I first photographed them a number of years ago, but have learned what they are and that they are beneficial to humans. No doubt, many drink rose hip tea. Also, rose hips are rich in vitamin C and valuable to ward off colds, etc. We see rose hips appear in nature areas and some parks here in late summer and in the fall where wild roses had bloomed.
This is what Wikipedia says about rose hips: "The rose hip or rosehip, also called rose haw and rose hep, is the accessory fruit of the rose plant. It is typically red to orange, but ranges from dark purple to black in some species. Rose hips begin to form after successful pollination of flowers in spring or early summer, and ripen in late summer through autumn."
I have found photography to be such an educational experience.
12-Nov-2019
Nature's Autumn Decoration
We continue to see beautiful fall colors, even as leaves fall. It's a beautiful time of the year. Rain is predicted for later in the week, and if the rain is more than a drizzle it will bring down more of the leaves. A few trees are already looking bare. Strange that trees get bare when it is cold. Brrr!
10-Nov-2019
Female Scaub Diving!
I have always wanted to capture a pied-billed grebe as it started its dive, and I finally did it! Well, I thought it was a grebe. But a friend called my attention to features that more resemble a scaub, and she is correct. Scaubs dive much like a grebe and are very fast also. I didn't think I was fast enough any more, but thanks to the help of my little Nikon V2 I can say 'mission accomplished.' I caught the scaub at Delta Ponds along with images of other wildlife. It was a good day!
09-Nov-2019
Wet and Wild
I just couldn't resist posting another photo of the River Otter! It was such an interesting and lively character, roaming along the bank of the pond hunting for fish dinner. I think it is a fascinating creature! Here it is glistening with wet fur having come out of the water. It surely has big sharp fangs for tearing its food apart. The otter is not particularly dangerous, but is a wild animal and can be aggressive when necessary.
The official name is North American River Otter. It is not a real small animal, and has a long body and long tail. Check out the National Geographic website for information, such as this:
AVERAGE LIFE SPAN IN THE WILD: 8 to 9 years
SIZE: Head and body: 21.75 to 31.5 inches; tail: 11.75 to 19.75 inches
WEIGHT: 11 to 30 pounds
They can hold their breath underwater for some eight minutes.
07-Nov-2019
River Otter With Catch
I saw this River Otter on a log at Delta Ponds and got several good shots of it. It went into the water and came up with this fish. It took it a while to chew it up so it could swallow it. All this time I was still getting pictures. A few times it looked directly at me, probably hearing the (very quiet) shutter release. It was great seeing it.
05-Nov-2019
Autumn Leaves
The falling leaves of autumn make me think of this song of years ago. It is a sad song of lost love, but such a beautiful song, and it can be a song of love for a dear one who you miss at the moment. (
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ZEMCeymW1Ow) I can be on an errand or in town and think of Carol at home. The fallen leaves can bring the song to mind and make me think of her and I become anxious to get home. That's what 58 years of marriage does to you.
04-Nov-2019
Tree at Orchard Point Marina Entrance
I was impressed with these colorful trees so had to back up to get a good shot, The shape of the evergreen tree, a cedar, is striking and eye catching, I think. With the background of the yellow of the maple and the blue of the sky, we have a beautiful color palette to enjoy.
01-NOV-2019
A Good Looking Buck!
I saw this beautiful buck in the South Hills, within the city limits of Eugene! He is just crossing a driveway to a home, so likely feels safe there. There were a couple does with him as well. I enjoy the deer. They are actually quite gentle and would tame easily if one were to continually provide food for them. I have thrown fallen apples from our yard across the fence to the woods beyond, and the deer show up often to eat them.
I remember the old days of my youth when I lived along Big Fall Creek about 25-35 miles from Eugene toward the mountains. We lived in a narrow valley with beautifully timbered hills surrounding us. Today those hills are bare and a dam sits on our old property. Next to our place was a large field owned by the next neighbor up the road. He pastured cattle in the field. Sometimes I would get up in the morning to look out at that field and would see as many deer grazing with the herd as there were cows. The hills around us had coyotes, cougar, bear and other wildlife in abundance. It was a great place to grow up. I can't return to see the old home now, just drive by the dam and remember the old days.
31-Oct-2019
(King) David
I had to run to town for an appointment and met this nice fellow in a city park. It was a beautiful sunny day and was warming up some. He said his name was David, but that some of his friends call him 'king David'. We visited briefly and he was willing to have me take his picture. I like how his eyes are looking directly at the viewer, indicating trust and friendliness.
29-Oct-2019
Tree Swallow in Flight
Have you tried to photograph a tree swallow in flight? They feed on small, aerial insects that they catch in their mouths during acrobatic flight. And that kind of flight makes getting good shots of them difficult. I was pleased to capture this little bullet as it flew about feeding. I am not sure of the top speed a tree swallow can attain, but it isn't so much speed that makes it difficult to capture them in flight as it is their acrobatic maneuvering.
26-Oct-2019
The Dragonflies Are All But Gone!
Through the summer I saw lots of dragonflies along the ponds, by the lake and even here at home. Lately, I have seen only one. I liked how this one was posed on the angles of a fork in the tree.
We had a pretty sunny day today, but it was the first morning that caused a bit of ice on the windshield. So it got below freezing, for a short time anyway. That isn't unusual for this time of year.
25-Oct-2019
Great Egret at Delta Ponds
If you have watched Great Egrets or Great Blue Herons, you probably noticed that their flight is slow but powerful. An interesting fact is that their wingbeats can be timed at about two per second and they cruise along at about 25 MPH. They are a dazzling sight in many wetlands in North America.
We can be glad that we have the Great Egret among us today, as they were hunted nearly to extinction for their plumes in the late nineteenth century. This brought about some of the first laws to protect birds.
23-Oct-2019
Bridge At Orchard Point Park
In the summer this bridge has water under it. 😊 I always thought it to be a very attractive all-wood bridge. But, even though I shot other nice photos of it, I wanted one that stood out. I think the fall colors at their best made it my favorite of all so far. The park closes for the winter, as do all county parks, sometime in October. But one can still go there and walk and enjoy the park. I sometimes go there to exercise my hip. I was glad I went today! Already, some trees are losing their leaves. Some I have seen are now half bare, where last week they were in full color.
22-Oct-2019
Our Favorite Barista
After both of us finished up with dentist appointments, we rewarded ourselves with a latte (me) and a mocha (Carol). We were glad to see my favorite Barista, Jessica. She is such a sweet girl and has become a friend. 😀 Plus we get great service. Jessica gave me permission to post her beautiful picture as my photo for today.
19-Oct-2019
Group Shots Are Not Easy!
The problem with group shots is coordinating the individuals in the group. Invariably, one or more of them will be looking the wrong way, making a face, closing their eyes or doing something else that upsets the composition. This group was especially difficult. I couldn't seem to get any cooperation. I don't know, perhaps the pay wasn't good enough, or they didn't like the photographer. Whatever the case, I had to be satisfied with this result.
18-Oct-2019
Found Some Fall Colors
There are some nice fall colors on the north side of Fern Ridge Lake. I guess we did end up with some colors here and there. I liked this variety of trees on a hillside. It seems that the most colorful tree we have is the sugar maple, which seems to erupt in oranges and reds during the fall.
17-Oct-2019
Barking Up The Wrong Tree!
I just love the bark on this old tree. The moss and the yellow growth on the bark add to the attraction, though likely not to the health of the tree. I felt it was worthy of a picture.
15-Oct-2019
Wonderful Western Grebe
I think the Western Grebe is an elegant large bird, One will see it in lakes and ponds across the American West. It is similar to the Clark's Grebe, one difference being the black on the head surrounding the eye while it is surrounded by white on the Clark's Grebe. I love how its long neck is black on the back and white on the front, plus the way the eye color stands out from the black on its head. All in all, an attractive bird.
14-Oct-2019
Waiting For Color
I have been looking for fall colors and thought we had none. But I think colors are just now beginning to show. And the trees that are colorful are not really native to this area. They often get an opportunity to show up as areas are logged. Even though the only trees replanted are firs, still colorful trees like vine maple will take root where they get the opportunity. There are lots of them to be seen at higher elevations in the Cascades. Also, people have planted colorful varieties of trees in their yards, adding to the beauty. So I realized that these trees are just beginning to show their beauty. It hasn't really got cold on mornings as yet, if that stimulates the appearance of color. I still hope to take a drive into the Cascades once this year, but lots of things have been happening that keep me close to home.
07-Oct-2019
The Grapes Are Ready!
And they are good! The grapes here at Critter Creek Ranch are waiting for us to pick them. It's a good year for them. I have always loved grapes. As a youngster I had lots to eat right off the vine. We lived along a gravel road in those days and the grapes vines were planted along the full length of the driveway, a long one. My mother always knew when I had been eating grapes. I would come in with a ring of dust around my mouth. When cars and trucks went by, a cloud of dust would rise and settle on the grapes. I could never get away with anything. 😔 Actually, she didn't care, there were plenty grapes to go around.
12-Oct-2019
At the Shopping Center
We do have a small shopping center out in the country. It is between two small towns. There is more here than meets the eye. One might think the doorway leads to a pharmacy, but it actually goes into a grocery store. The pharmacy is located in that store. The larger store sign is to the right of the doors.
Also in the shopping center are four eateries (I know, I have tried them all), a gas station, a hardware store, liquor store (which I haven't tried), a latte stand (I try it often), a bank, pizza parlor, laundromat, and sundry other shops. One thing that is lacking is the rush one usually sees at big city shopping centers. It is more relaxing and friendly here.
11-Oct-2019
What's That About a Bird in the Bush?
Talk about getting a bird in a bush! This bird, seen in late afternoon light and deep shadows, is very difficult for me to ID. In some ways it looks similar to a female house sparrow, but seems to me that the colors may be different. The features I find to stand out about it are the thick beak, whitish breast, and the wings of dark and light brown, with streaks of white. Anyone refer me to online information about what bird it is?
10-Oct-2019
Contortionist!
Several wild turkeys are residents here on the farm, as well as the neighbors property. They are interesting to watch and can get into some of the most unusual positions, such as this one. They are very large birds with a big appetite. In the wild, turkeys range from 5-20 pounds, in comparison with a Great Blue Heron, which weighs a mere 5 lbs. The average lifespan of a wild turkey is 3-5 years, though one of them is known to have lived at least 13 years.
Many US residents know that Benjamin Franklin preferred the wild turkey as the national bird because of its proud demeanor and protective instincts. He felt the bald eagle less deserving because it can be a scavenger and will rob other birds and animals of their prey.
09-Oct-2019
Not Just a Pretty Face!
When a turkey stand in sunlight it can really show up all of the colors in their feathers. One doesn't really notice them unless the light is right. In all, the wild turkey is not as ugly as one might get on first impression. I think it is a marvelously designed creature.
08-Oct-2019
Fall Colors? Where?
I took a short walk down the road to see if I could get a picture of some fall colors for a friend Back East. Sorry Steve, we just don't have any colors to speak of this year. After all, this is Tall Fir country, and Washington, next door, is the Evergreen State. So our predominate color is green. If one wants some pretty fall colors, a drive up the McKenzie River into the Cascade Mountains will get you some. Anyway, There is a bit of color in this scene so I figured I would post it.
07-Oct-2019
Ladybug, ladybug....!
Seems I remember a saying we kids used to say when we saw a ladybug, but that was long ago. So I don't recall how it goes now. I remember pieces of it only. Could it go on to say, "fly away home. Your house is on fire and your children will burn." Is that it? Sounds silly now. LOL
Thanks to those who sent the words to this, a nursery rhyme. I found this interesing suggestion of a source for the rhyme at a website called 'nurseryrhymesforbabies.com' - "The ties between the ladybug and the fire could also come from the idea that ladybugs are helpful for keeping harmful pests from crops. Farmers who burned their crops yearly may have shouted this rhyme out before lighting the fields on fire so that the benevolent ladybugs would have a chance to get away. This points to the idea that this rhyme was written about a farming tradition. It is possible that it was originally written about Catholic mass but then later transformed in meaning to be about farming and the helpful role of the ladybugs in farming."
Other suggestions were given but this one made the most sense to me!
06-Oct-2019
Bird on a Boat Railing
I saw this bird sitting on the rail of a boat at the marina in Richardson Park. I am not sure of what kind of bird it is, but I think it could be a female Common Grackle.
Some may find the bright line at the top to be distracting but it is the rail on the opposite side of the boat, and to me it is part of the scene.
04-Oct-2019
One of Our Neighbors
We have apple trees in our yard with an abundance of apples. I have been throwing those on the ground over the fence into the woods on the other side for the deer to eat. This has brought a few in the mornings to feed. It is always fun to watch them out the back windows. I have even been out in the yard when they were there, ever watchful. The only male I have seen so far was a young spike the other morning. Last year, a buck with a nice rack was bedded down in the woods chewing its cud. I heard gunshots in the distance. Guess he knew a safe spot to be.
02-OCT-2019
Carol is Doing Better
Carol hasn't been feeling well for a couple weeks. She had an appointment with the heart doctor on Monday and he said she was in A-fib. So he scheduled a cardio-version for yesterday. On Wednesday we went to have her Coumadin level checked at our primary care doctor. When he looked at her he said that he felt he should call an ambulance for her, as she was going into heart failure. So she ended up in the hospital. They did a number of tests there to see if they should do the cardio-version that evening or wait till Thursday as scheduled. The tests were OK and they felt that she was able to handle the procedure that day. The paddles worked and got her heart in rhythm and her blood pressure up where it should be. After she recovered enough we were able to take her home that night. She is weak and tired, but beginning to look and sound better. More rest and time to recover will help a lot. Photo by our granddaughter, Kailey
03-Oct-2019
A Break in the Clouds
This scene greeted me as I got to the north side of Fern Ridge Lake. You are looking south across the lake. I saw clouds above when I went to the store for a prescription. So I figured that if I drove to the north side of the lake I could get those clouds in the picture. It all turned out just the way I wanted it to.
30-Sep-2019
Light in the Forest
I like to look for spots of light areas with contrasting dark areas to add focus to a subject. Here these simple leaves seem to stand out against the tree they are growing from and the darker woods beyond.
29-Sep-2019
Trolling!
This almost does not look like a pelican but that's what it is, trolling for fish. It was the lone one left in Kirk Pond after the rest moved elsewhere. I drove by yesterday and it was no longer there either. In fact, the pond was deserted, no birds at all.
27-Sep-2019
Sunlight Glistens on the Water
The late afternoon sun reflecting on Fern Ridge Lake back in January got my attention, as did those interesting clouds. All in all, I thought it made a pretty scenic. But I had forgotten about the photo and noticed it now.
24-Sep-2019
Look What Just Popped Up!
As I was walking around the property, I was surprised to see these Crocuses that just appeared at the base of a tree. I know they bloom early, sometimes the first flowers I see in late winter or early spring. But hey, it just turned into Fall!
An interesting comment about the appearance of crocuses I found at 'All About Crocus' (
http://www.longfield-gardens.com/article/all-about-crocus): "Crocus can flower any time from late winter to early spring. They appear on the scene very quickly. One day there will be no sign of growth and the next day you may discover them in bloom!" That description fits here precisely.
15-Sep-2019
Pinpoint Landing!
I saw this Green Heron just as it flew away from one spot at Delta Ponds to make a pinpoint landing on a rock in another spot. This small heron is a wary one and moves fast. And it is capable of such precision flight, plus they are expert hunters.
Green Heron population has gone through a gradual decline of over 1.5% per year from 1966 to 2014, everywhere in the US except for California, where their population increased. The biggest threat has been habitat loss through the draining or development of wetlands.
14-Sep-2019
A Bright Spot on the Road
This scene showed up along Kirk Road as I was passing through an area that was shaded by tall trees. The road ahead and the barn beside it stood out in the light. It caught my eye and so ended up as a photograph that I like. Perhaps you will too.
12-Sep-2019
Golden Fields
This is the time of year when the golden grass fields have been cut for hay. It is a pretty time of year. Fall is probably my favorite of the seasons, but they all have their appeal. Of course, we are not officially into Fall yet, but it is sure feeling like Fall here. I need to drive around more and take in the pretty scenery.
22-Aug-2019
Bigmouth!
When a pelican opens its mouth, you really see a mouth! I suppose a hippo can compete with it and a few other forms of wildlife. But the term 'bigmouth' came to my mind when I saw this.
How big is a pelican's mouth? "It can reach 18 inches in length. Underneath the bill, pelicans have throat pouch that can hold 3 gallons of water. Pouch is mainly used for feeding, but it can be also used as a cooling "device". During the warm days, pelican will swing its pouch to cool itself."
http://www.softschools.com/facts/animals/pelican_facts/300/
(quote from www.softschools.com. check out their website for more facts about pelicans.)
05-Jun-2019
In The Woods
The woods next door add to our enjoyment of country living. They add shade and cool the air. On the other hand, there is something affecting the fir trees and it appears that some look like they could be dying. I hope not! The woods were planted for use to produce lumber. This could be affected by whatever is affecting the trees. We will see what comes of it.
The woods provide shelter for deer and other wildlife. I throw apples over the fence to feed the deer and see them mornings eating them. They have also come into the yard for apples. So let's hope the woods remain as a welcome part of our surroundings.
04-Sep-2019
Happy Landing!
A large flock of geese came overhead, honking as they flew, and began landing on Fern Ridge Lake. They didn't land as one unified group but rather broke apart into smaller groups, one after one coming in for a smooth, precision landing, one and all! It was a sight to behold, if you like geese as I do! :)
03-Sep-2019
Widow Skimmer
I thought this dragonfly looked great on that dead stem and a dark background.
"Widow skimmers have large bulky bodies, with large head. Adults have a steely blue body area but juveniles are yellow with brown stipes.[1] Eyes are also large and close together meeting in the middle of the head.[2] They have three pairs of legs. Legs are black in color. They have two pairs of wings: forewings and hindwings. Wings of both sexes are marked with prominent black basal bands. They keep their wings extended over their bodies. Adult males develop broad white spots at midwing as they mature. The abdomen measures 24–32 mm.[3] They also have a slight white hue on their abdomen and thorax." - (Wikipedia)
Thanks for the link, Laura.
02-Sep-2019
Samara
I think we all have marveled at the wings or 'helicopters' of maple trees as they spiral to the ground. I never paid much attention to the details as a kid. I just liked watching them. Turns out they are called 'Samaras', and all maple trees produce them. But I had no idea that there is technical precision involved. It should cause us to ponder the wisdom found in nature.
01-Sep-2019
Come On Guys! Go Get the Ball!
It almost looked to me like these two dogs are thinking, 'you want us to go in that cold water and get all wet? No way!' But I know how most dogs seem to love the water, so I don't know what was holding them back. The scene made me smile. :)
31-Aug-2019
You Better Go Left or Right!
This motorcyclist went through the Coyote Creek covered bridge to Coyote Creek Road as I was photographing it. Of course, I just had to get a picture of him too. He hesitated, likely to make sure it was clear, and it looked like he couldn't decide where to go. So I thought maybe we would tell him. :) He turned right!
23-Jun-2019
Hay There!
I love to see golden fields after the hay has been mowed and baled. Farmers play a huge role in providing for our needs. This field is next door to our daughter's place. Some of the hay was purchased by our daughter for her horses. In my childhood days, we lived on a nine acre farm where my father raised pigs, chickens, cows plus having fruit trees and a huge garden. We had a big barn and my father harvested the hay from a field that made up part of the property. In addition, my father held down a full-time job. But we were pretty much self sufficient. Now we buy most of what we eat.
28-Aug-2019
Bathed in Lovely Light
I thought this wild rose looked so beautiful when bathed in wonderful sunlight. Wild roses are lovely in any light but this light made it look even better. And, of course, the sunlight also made some nice detail stand out.
27-Aug-2019
High Stepping!
I paid a visit to my friend, Mr Pelican, today, early before the day got hot! Turned out that he was doing a hot dance routine. The trouble was that no one in his audience paid any attention, even when he did this amazing high step. I felt bad for him so I applauded. Guess he wasn't used to applause. He flew off and circled a bit then came back to his log to try again. I thought he put on a good show!
26-Aug-2019
Blanket Flower (Gaillardia)
Talk about a gorgeous flower! Take a look at a Gaillardia, commonly called the 'blanket flower'. It is a wildflower, native to the US. I saw these flowers at Richardson Park.
According to Wikipedia: "Gaillardia is a genus of flowering plants in the sunflower family, Asteraceae, native to North and South America. It was named after a M. Gaillard de Charentonneau, an 18th-century French magistrate who was a patron of botany."
"Native to the American prairies, gaillardia, commonly called blanket flower, is a tough, drought-resistant, sun-loving perennial that's super easy to grow. Blanket flower's festive, solid or patterned flowers in red, orange, or yellow appear throughout the summer and will attract scores of colorful butterflies to your garden. The flowers appear on sturdy stems held high above the plant's foliage. Most varieties of blanket flower grow 18 to 22 inches tall. Hardy from zones 5-9."
24-Aug-2019
Lavendar Orpingtons All Grown Up!
Back on May 5th I posted a photo of one of our daughter's Lavendar Orpingtons, along with information about this breed of chicken. Now they are fully grown.
On May 5th I posted this image:
http://pbase.com/fotabug/image/169157031 Along with that post I included this information: the Lavendar Orpingtons are a unique breed of chicken, and have quite unusual coloration as adults. Here is what the website, "Pure Poultry",
http://www.purelypoultry.com/lavender-orpington-chickens-p-…), says about them: "Lavender Orpingtons are a shimmering, grayish, silver color with a definite purple tone. Orpington Chickens, in general, are big, round, fluffy chickens and could arguably be the softest of all the breeds. Combine that soft fluffiness with a shimmering lavender-gray color, and Lavender Orpingtons are chickens to behold!"
22-Aug-2019
Ever See a Pelican Do This?
I am not exactly sure what the pelican did, but it looked to me like it turned the pouch on the lower beak inside out! I have never seen such a thing until now! It did a lot of stretching and just before this stretched its neck up completely with that beak and pouch showing. Sometimes when just sitting one doesn't see the pouch at all. It is used for scooping up fish.
Here is what 'Projectbeak.org' has to say about it: "The American White Pelican uses its beak to scoop up fish. Sometimes, these birds will fish in semi-circular or circular groups so they can concentrate fish for easy feeding. A pelican expands the pouch on its beak when it's fishing, and sometimes when it's stretching. Otherwise, the pouch on its beak is folded up."
I learned that pelicans do indeed turn their pouch inside out. The website 'www.beautyofbirds.com' said: "pelicans perform exercises, such as stretching and turning the pouch inside out, to keep it flexible." Thanks for finding this information, Laura!
21-Aug-2019
EAT MY DUST!
It would seem that the jet ski would be the only way to go, and I guess it would be if one was in a hurry to get across the lake. But the slower, leisure pace of a sailboat would appeal more to many, and in a way both would be fun.
Why is this called a jet ski? The answer, according to Wikipedia, is interesting - "Jet Ski is the brand name of a personal water craft (PWC) manufactured by Kawasaki, a Japanese company. The term is often used generically to refer to any type of personal watercraft used mainly for recreation, and it is also used as a verb to describe the use of any type of PWC."
So in actuality, it is a personal water craft or PWC.
20-Aug-2019
A TINY VISITOR TO A RED HOT POKER
I didn't notice the little bee or fly at the left top of the flower at first. But then it stood out to me and seems to draw the eye after it moves up the flower, led by its angled pose.
"If you're looking for a stunning plant to add an accent to your sunny flower border, consider the Red Hot Poker plant. There are more than 70 species of Kniphofia or the Torch Lily from South Africa, but few have made it into the commercial trade."
"This plant once was popular in England and Europe, but during the second World War, many were replaced with edible plants in an effort to feed the people. But the interest in Red Hot Poker plants has returned, as gardeners further their search for showy, unusual, low-maintenance plants."
18-Aug-2019
How Do Vultures Find Dead Animals?
That is an interesting question answered by the online bird site, called 'All About Birds'. Turns out that they have a good sense of smell, proved by science some time ago. And usually where you find roadkill you will find a number of vultures either circling overhead or on the ground nearby. This vulture just landed on a power pole before moving to the ground to inspect the prospects.
16-Aug-2019
A Small Step For a Heron, a Big Step For a Man!
I have a lot of heron photographs, made over the years, but I never tire of watching them and recording more images of them. I was amazed at the way this Great Blue Heron could stretch out so far to get from one log to another. It could have stepped farther.
The heron is one of my favorite birds, so big and so impressive, in their design and capabilities. The Great Blue Heron can stand up to four and a half feet tall, and has a wingspan of up to six and a half feet. That's a big bird! Yet it weighs only five to six pounds! To me it is a joy to see in flight. The heron can cruise at between 20 to 30 miles an hour. Compare this marvel of creation with those of humans! How primitive and awkward our creations are by comparison!
15-Aug-2019
COLORFUL CAR SHOW
Just a few of the cars shown at the Falcon Country Classic Car Show In Elmira, Oregon. I walked through the rows of cars and got quite a few pictures that afternoon. Car shows are always interesting and enjoyable.
13-Aug-2019
CUSTOMIZED 1931 FORD SEDAN
This old Ford was full of custom features, like this replacement part temperature gauge. The paint job was a stylish, yet subdued, dark brown and black two tone. That chrome mesh grille is also a replacement product that covers the radiator. This interesting detail stood out on this fine old car, which was among those shown at the Falcon Country Classic Car Show in Elmira, Oregon.
12-Aug-2019
NEW LIGHT ON AN OLD CLASSIC
For those who know old cars, it shouldn't be too difficult to identify this old classic car. It is the front end of a 1935 Ford Coupe, a year older than I am. The car is beautiful, customized with parts that add a refined touch and add to its beauty. For an example, look at the headlight. It is a modern bulb in the old shell, something like me wearing glasses to improve on my old eyes. I think it goes with the car perfectly. The car was shown at the Falcon Country Classic Car Show in Elmira, Oregon.
11-Aug-2019
CLASSY CHEVY NOMAD
I think this Chevrolet Nomad is really beautiful, and I like the color. :) Of course, it has been customized. It was shown at the Falcon Country Classic Car Show In Elmira, Oregon.
The Chevrolet Nomad was a station wagon model made off and on from 1955 to 1977. Its unique design came from a General Motors Motorama show car of the same name. This particular carl is a first generation Nomad, which was produced from 1955-1957. In 1976 a special Chevy Vega wagon Nomad was made. In the late 70's and early 80's, the name was used in a full-size Chevrolet Van, the Chevy Van Nomad.
10-Aug-2019
BRINGS BACK MEMORIES
This is a 1950 Ford shown at the Falcon Country Classic Car Show In Elmira, Oregon. I owned a 1951 4-door, back in the mid-fifties. Mine was green. I bought it when I was 20. It had a flat-head V8 engine, meanig no overhead valves. I had a lot of fun with that car. In actual fact, those cars got good gas mileage, more like 15-20 MPG. And the cheapest I ever saw gas was 25 cents a gallon. In my day, it was more like 25-35 cents a gallon. I could drive all day on a dollar's worth of gas.
09-Aug-2019
FADING BEAUTY
There is a prickly wild rose bush along the fence bordering the woods next door. It is native to the U.S. and Canadian northern Great Plains, and is the provincial flower of Alberta. The flowers are gone now but I have this image of some of them and also buds with the petals fallen off. I like how the stages the blossom goes through are pictured together, and the colorful petals add beauty to the composition.
I was curious about 'rose hips', red fruit that the rose bush produces. I found this insightful information online at The Spruce (
http://www.thespruce.com/what-are-rose-hips-and-what-do-they-do-1403046): "Rose hips are the seed pods of roses—the fruit that remains after the blooms fade. We don’t often see them anymore, because we tend to prune the faded rose blossoms down to the next stem node in order to encourage more flowers."
"However, if you leave the spent flowers on the rose bush at the end of the season, you should see these small, berry-sized, reddish seed balls left on tips of the stems. They are actually very ornamental, looking like small crabapples. Rose hips are edible, and many birds enjoy them, too."
07-Aug-2019
CATTAIL LEAVES ON WATER
These cattail leaves lay in the water below a footbridge at Richardson Park. I loved the contrast between the colorful leaves kissed by the sunshine and the dark water, which made a fine background.
06-Aug-2019
SEEKING SHADE
We have had hot days for a while now and so the shade of an umbrella is a welcome place. We have three to share, our daughter has a red one and a turquoise one, while we have a blue one. Even better for old people is to stay indoors and benefit from air conditioning.
04-Aug-2019
PURE DELIGHT
Recently, some of our family attended a Family Day open house at a local horse rescue facility. They had horses there available for adoption. Young and old enjoyed interacting with those awesome animals. This lady was delighted to be able to get close to this horse. You can see it in her face.
02-Aug-2019
COYOTE CREEK COVERED BRIDGE
This covered bridge is located on Battle Creek Road just south of Crow on Territorial Hwy. It is 60 feet long and of Howe Truss design. It was built in 1922, and is still open to light traffic. In 1969 the bridge suffered snow damage to its roof, which has since been replaced. it is also known as Battle Creek Bridge and Swing Log Bridge.
At one time Oregon had over 600 covered bridges. Now there are 50 that one can visit, some of them still in use. I have photos of well over half of those still in existance.
01-Aug-2019
SONG AND DANCE?
I enjoyed watching this Great Blue Heron for a while. At first, it was across the pond from me. Then it flew directly toward me and landed on this log. There it performed for me. :) I don't know if it was walking and talking or doing a song and dance routine.
31-Jul-2019
HANDY WHEELBARROW
I needed something to use to carry groceries to the house. What about Angie's wheelbarrow? It was tempting but I better not! It is only about 18 inches long end to end. So I carried them in by hand. Oh, woe is me!
30-Jul-2019
BEAUTY AT REST
During the winter and spring, a group of American White Pelicans find a safe haven at Fern Ridge Lake. I observed a large group of them in Kirk Pond below Fern Ridge Dam in the spring. Strangely, though the group has gone, likely to other parts of Fern Ridge Lake or elsewhere, one lone pelican remains at Kirk Pond. It is often sitting on this log in solitude.
Cormorants are quite often seen in the company of pelicans, but they have moved on. So the pelican has the pond to itself, along with some geese and a variety of ducks.
29-Jul-2019
AERODYNAMICS AT WORK
According to NASA, "Aerodynamics is the way air moves around things. The rules of aerodynamics explain how an airplane is able to fly. Anything that moves through air reacts to aerodynamics. A rocket blasting off the launch pad and a kite in the sky react to aerodynamics. Aerodynamics even acts on cars, since air flows around cars."
"What Are the Four Forces of Flight? - The four forces of flight are lift, weight, thrust and drag. These forces make an object move up and down, and faster or slower. How much of each force there is changes how the object moves through the air. "
To me, it sounds like a 'rule' or law that shows wisdom and design, something we humans have learned from. Boeing could never build a goose.
27-Jul-2019
Hoverfly With Black And Pale Yellow Stripes
This is a Hoverfly, which looks very much like a bee. Hoverflies have only one pair of wings, while bees have two. What threw me are the pale yellow, almost white, strips on the back and that large black 'bubble' on its back. I loved getting a shot of it on this lovely and bright yellow flower.
26-Jul-2019
Dining On Snake Steak
You will often see Green Herons standing along the water’s edge where they hunt for fish and amphibians. They are not waders like larger herons. They have dagger-like beaks, and they can strike with lightning speed, as this one did in capturing the snake or, as some suggested, more likely an eel.
25-Jul-2019
A Little Cottage in the Country!
Carol and I always wanted a cottage in the country! We might have room upstairs if you want to get away for a day or two! I might even be willing to rent it out for a real short getaway. :)
19-Jul-2019
The Blackberries Are Coming Along
Blackberries do very well in the Willamette Valley. In fact, the bushes are hard to control and they grow wild just about anywhere. But those ripe black berries taste so good, especially a bowl full in some milk with a touch of sweetener sprinkled on top.
They are also packed with essential nutrients and antioxidants, including potassium, magnesium and calcium, as well as vitamins A, C, E and most of our B vitamins. Additionally, they contain anthocyanins, powerful antioxidants that give blackberries their deep purple color.
23-Jul-2019
A Great Way to Get Around the Lake
I saw this fellow in a double hull canoe at Fern Ridge Lake, at least that is what it looks like to me. I searched the Net to find something similar but didn't find any. So I am not sure just what this sort of craft is called. Looks like it might be something fishermen would find useful. Anyone know what this type of boat is called? I think it is pretty neat!
That's good enough for me! :)
22-Jul-2019
Close Call?
Not as close as it looks! The Turkey Vulture made it across the road with some room to spare, but it probably was a big surprise to the driver of that car. Vultures were feeding on carrion on the side of the road where I was parked. This vulture decided to fly to a nearby tree and I had to shoot fast. That's how the car got in the picture. :)
21-Jul-2019
Bubbles in the Fountain
Carol has a small fountain and pond in our front yard. It creates some great bubbles. So what does any photographer worth their salt do about it? Shoot a picture, of course! :)
20-Jul-2019
Photo of Vern by Carol
Carol grabbed a shot of me when we got home from attending a memorial service for a friend.
19-Jul-2019
The Beautiful Great Blue Heron
Besides being a great hunter, the Great Blue Heron is a stately bird with its coloration and its size and wingspan of 6 feet! They not only eat fish but also such small mammals as gophers, and amphibians as bullfrogs, etc. They can strike amazingly fast for a bird that usually moves about with slow deliberation. I never lose my fascination for this fine creature!
"Great Blue Herons can hunt day and night thanks to a high percentage of rod-type photoreceptors in their eyes that improve their night vision."
I had no idea that excellent vision was another of the interesting facts about the Great Blue Heron!
17-Jul-2019
Unusual Rose Gall
I don't know what this blossom is (I guess we can call it that!). I saw it on a walk in a county park. It was on a bush growing wild there. I think it is intriguing and beautiful in its own way. Can you help ID it?
Ah thanks to Jeanne and to Rick, who both referred to the rose. Jeanne suggested I google 'mossy rose gall wasp' and sure enough I learned that this is a blight caused by two types of wasps. Wikipedia says, "Diplolepis rosae is a hymenopteran gall wasp which causes a gall known as the rose bedeguar gall, Robin's pincushion, or moss gall. The gall develops as a chemically induced distortion of an unopened leaf axillary or terminal bud, mostly on field rose or dog rose shrubs." Mystery solved, but sorry to say it isn't natural beauty. I still think it is pretty.
16-Jul-2019
Three For Emphasis!
I liked how these three small sailboats are positioned on Fern Ridge Lake, lined up front of the distant mountain.
For some reason, I always find the sailboats on Fern Ridge Lake to be so fascinating and quite attractive.
15-Jul-2019
Chopper
In this photograph, I liked how the color of the sky matched up well with the color of the helicopter.
14-Jul-2019
Blacktail Doe in Backlight
Carol looked out the window in time to see a deer eating her flowers in the front yard. :) When it started on her Hydrangea, she couldn't stand it anymore. I went out and chase it away. The deer jumped the fence and started grazing in the field on the other side. I liked this back-lit shot.
13-Jul-2019
Proud Mama Displays Daughter's Painting
Our granddaughter is a very good artist. She can quickly paint a picture from an idea in her head. She did this painting in a short time yesterday. Of course, our daughter is a proud mama! :)
12-Jul-2019
Wild Turkeys and Poults
Wild turkeys have certainly made a comeback in Western Oregon. Where we did not see much of them for a number of years, they now are plentiful everywhere. We have seen as many as two dozen in a group here. This is the first time I have got to see little ones, called poults.
"Adult male turkeys are called toms and females are called hens. Very young birds are poults, while juvenile males are jakes and juvenile females are jennies. A group of turkeys is called a rafter or a flock."
"Due to overhunting and deforestation that eliminated wild turkeys’ habitat, these birds were nearly extinct in the 1930s. Today, there are more than 7 million wild turkeys, and the population of these birds is increasing in many areas. Their range is spread throughout North America, from Canada to Mexico."
"Wild turkeys have very powerful legs and can run at speeds up to 25 miles per hour. Their top speed in flight is 55 miles per hour. Domestic birds, on the other hand, are bred to be heavier so they provide more meat and therefore cannot fly, though they can still run."
11-Jul-2019
"What Are You Looking At?"
I don't know what this nice couple was looking at, but I liked what I saw. This happened after I talked with them. As I was leaving Perkins Peninsula Park, I saw them looking at something through their binoculars. So I stopped and shot the picture. I do know they were bird watching, but just wondered what bird they saw.
10-Jul-2019
A Green Heron
I met a new friend today in Eugene, fellow Pbaser Paul (Carter Creek), and we took a short walk in Delta Ponds. There we saw this green heron, and at times two of them. Paul. I enjoyed the walk, the coffee break, and the green herons.
The Green Heron is a beautiful little bird. It has a green back and head, and a chestnut and white colored body. It likes to be in the edges of ponds or marshes, in shallow water, or concealed in vegetation. 'All About Birds' has this to say about the Green Heron, among other things:
"Green Herons are common and widespread, but they can be hard to see at first. Whereas larger herons tend to stand prominently in open parts of wetlands, Green Herons tend to be at the edges, in shallow water, or concealed in vegetation."
"The Green Heron is one of the world’s few tool-using bird species. It often creates fishing lures with bread crusts, insects, and feathers, dropping them on the surface of the water to entice small fish."
08-Jul-2019
Apple Eater
The deer have started showing up to eat apples. The apples are small and far from ripe but they seem to love them. I had to shoot from behind obstacles and that is what causes the blur at the bottom of the picture.
07-Jul-2019
Tiny Crab Spider
I learned an amazing fact about the Crab Spider. It can change color, depending on the flower it is on. White, yellow, green, pink and other colored crab spiders have been seen. The Crab Spider is also poisonous!
06-Jul-2019
Just Visiting
I am not sure if this is a Sweat Bee or a Yellow-jacket, though I am inclined to say Sweat Bee because it looks stubbier than a Yellow-jacket. See the photos of Sweat Bees at -
http://tinyurl.com/yynm6bxq Anyway, I was pleased to capture it as it approached this Foxglove in the yard.
05-Jul-2019
Dragonflies, Masters of Flight
"6 ) Dragonflies are expert fliers. They can fly straight up and down, hover like a helicopter and even mate mid-air. If they can’t fly, they’ll starve because they only eat prey they catch while flying."
"8 ) The flight of the dragonfly is so special that it has inspired engineers who dream of making robots that fly like dragonflies."
"14 ) A dragonfly called the globe skinner has the longest migration of any insect—11,000 miles back and forth across the Indian Ocean."
02-Jul-2019
Morning Glory
Morning Glory can be a real nuisance to control in one's yard. But the flower can also be an outstanding beauty when photographed in the right light. I found this to be quite appealing.
01-Jul-2019
A Spirited Morgan
A spirited Morgan is always fun. Only this one is not a horse, it is a British sports car. This particular model looks much like the 1963 Morgan Plus 4 Roadster. Morgan has a long history as a car builder in England. In 2019 it is celebrating 110 years of production. The company was founded in 1910 by Henry Frederick Stanley Morgan and is based in Malvern Link, an area of Malvern, Worcestershire. The company employs 177 people and they produce 850 cars per year, all assembled by hand. The waiting list for a car is approximately six months, and has sometimes been as long as ten years.
30-Jun-2019
Little House in the Woods
This playhouse is in Richardson Park, along Fern Ridge Lake. I love the setting in a wooded area. There are some big trees there and a beautiful green lawn.
29-Jun-2019
A Man and His Porsche
When I drove into Richardson Park along Fern Ridge Lake, I found a sports car rally going on. The park was one of the stops along the route of a two-day rally. I believe it started in Portland and was here west of Eugene today about 1 PM. The course follows a timed route. with points awarded according to how close each comes to the designated time for each stop. With the rest of today and all day tomorrow still to run, it can be a challenging event. Any delays due to car problems or other incidents can have a drastic effect on final results There were several entrants.
If I remember right, the nice owner told me the car is a 1956 Porsche. What a beauty it is! He and his wife came down from Washington for the event.
28-Jun-2019
Another Unknown Flower
Here is another unknown flower from our daughter's yard. I think it is beautiful too. For some reason, it makes me think of drier country. But it grows well here in Western Oregon. ID - So now we know, they are Rose Campion! Thanks Carl. Also called Mullein Pink.
24-Jun-2019
Climbing The Wall
For us humans, climbing the wall can mean "feeling very anxious or frustrated because one has a lot of energy but is unable to do something he or she wants to do" For others, such as some plants and insects, it simply means doing what comes naturally, like this flower plant is doing.
23-Jun-2019
Why We Need Pollinators!
It is fascinating to watch bees at work. They play such a vital role in our ecosystem. Though this is a yellow jacket, not a bee, it is often viewed by the novice as being one and most of us may call them bees. And though yellow jackets are not true pollinators in a more precise sense, the website listed below does say, "Yellow jackets don't visit flowers much; they mostly catch other insects. When they do visit flowers, they only accomplish a little pollination, because they aren't fuzzy." Still, I am seeing them in our flowers constantly and they usually are covered with some pollen. But, in the truest sense, yellow jackets are not classified as pollinators.
I found some interesting and important information at a website called Pollinator Partnership:
"Birds, bats, bees, butterflies, beetles, and other small mammals that pollinate plants are responsible for bringing us one out of every three bites of food. They also sustain our ecosystems and produce our natural resources by helping plants reproduce."
"Pollinating animals travel from plant to plant carrying pollen on their bodies in a vital interaction that allows the transfer of genetic material critical to the reproductive system of most flowering plants – the very plants that bring us countless fruits, vegetables, and nuts, ½ of the world’s oils, fibers and raw materials; prevent soil erosion, and increase carbon sequestration This nearly invisible ecosystem service is a precious resource that requires attention and support - - and in disturbing evidence found around the globe, is increasingly in jeopardy. " (
http://www.pollinator.org/pollinators)
22-Jun-2019
Foxglove
Foxglove is a pretty plant that grows wild and in gardens all over the US. It was first called Glofa (the glove of the fox) by the Anglo-Saxon because they thought its flowers look like the fingers of a glove.
21-Jun-2019
A Gorgeous Flower
Sorry, I don't know the name of this flower. My daughter has a lot of them at the front of their property. I just love them. If you know the name, let me know. I am dying of curiosity. I just learned that the flower is called, "Aaron's Beard". Also called Rose of Sharon in Britain and Australia, besides Aaron's beard, Great St-John's wort or Jerusalem star
See Wikipedia -
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aaron%27s_beard#/media/File:Hypericum_calycinum_Tasmania.jpg
20-Jun-2019
Stump in the Wetlands
I was attracted by this scene in the wetlands of the Fern Ridge Wildlife Area. Wettand areas of used to cover a good bit of land west of Eugene. Some of it is now covered by Fern Ridge Lake. Of course, much of that had already been converted to farmland by the time the dam was put in.
19-Jun-2019
Tumbledown Barn
I saw this old barn just a couple miles from home on a side road. As dilapidated as it looks, it still had a bit of charm in my eyes. :)
VLR7058x
17-Jun-2019
Squirrel Kittens
It seems strange to call them that! But according to "All About Squirrels" (
http://www.about-squirrels.com/squirrel-facts.html ), "Baby squirrels are called kittens and kittens are born only twice a year. Once in the spring time and once at the end of the summer."
So here are a couple kittens. There must have been a dozen or more of them running around some burrows in Perkins Peninsula Park. They are fun to watch.
14-Jun-2019
Golden Rod
I saw this beauty when I went to the store. Fortunately the fellow on the left kept the driver occupied long enough for me to get my camera out for a photo. What a great looking hot rod!
11-Jun-2019
Clark's Grebe
My guess is that this is a Clark's Grebe. The reason I say that is the black on the head. On a Western Grebe the black extends below the eye, while on the Clark's Grebe it does not. If right, I think this is my first photo of a Clark's Grebe. At Fern Ridge Lake I see mostly Western Grebes.
10-Jun-2019
Wild Rose
This beautiful rose bush is growing toward the back of our daughter's place. It chose to come up next to the fence bordering the woods next door. I was going to cut it out of there and try replanting it, but it would be too big a project for an old guy. :)
09-Jun-2019
Array of Colors
This beautiful display of colors is in a pot on a bench near our daughter's front door. I can't explain exactly why but when I walk by it I get a smile on my face. Guess it brightens my day!
08-Jun-2019
Trail Along the Lake
I walked the trail that runs along the shoreline of Fern Ridge Lake in Perkins Peninsula Park. As you can see, the trail had a few rough spots. But it is a lovely park that provides pretty scenes of the lake, as well as providing many opportunities for photographs in the park itself. The park is only a couple miles from our home.
07-Jun-2019
The Art of Grass Cutting
Have you ever really watched when a farmer sits on his tractor and cuts a field of grass? The way he guides the tractor and mower around trees and other obstacles takes skill and experience. Our neighbor cut a field for our daughter and I watched with real interest as he covered every inch of that field. I marveled at his skill. It was true artistry.
06-Jun-2019
Western Grebe
The Western Grebe is an elegant bird with its striking colors, and its red eyes, which of course can't be seen in this photo. They breed in lakes and ponds across the American West. So Fern Ridge Lake is a perfect place for them to be seen.
One quite unusual thing about the Western Grebe, as well as the Clark's Grebe, is their courting display which is much like a synchronized dance routine, where both male and female rush across the surface of the water with their long necks extended. Perhaps you have seen this display. I don't believe I have seen that in person.
05-Jun-2019
Plentiful Petunias
Petunias come in a wide variety of colors. They are known for their vast selection of colors and patterns, and the options seem almost endless. In fact, new varieties are being developed every year. Petunias are popular for use in hanging baskets. In fact, those in the photo are in a basket given us by our grandson for our 58th anniversary.
04-Jun-2019
Bee In My Bonnet
I enjoy watching the bees work the flowers. They are so busy, flying around pollinating them so that we have flowers, and lots of other things, to enjoy. This bee would look like a scary creature about to emerge to some and, to tell the truth, lots of people are scared to death of bees. I'm not, I just stand still and let them fly around. If they land on me I know they will soon leave. :)
03-Jun-2019
Western Swallowtail Butterfly
I saw this Swallowtail butterfly at Perkins Peninsula Park. I had to crop the image a good bit to get a closer view. I don't see very many butterflies so really appreciated seeing this one flying around. It landed briefly on a leaf and I grabbed a couple shots before it took off again, no time to move in closer and I was afraid it would take off before I could get anything.
02-Jun-2019
Violet-green Swallow
I noticed some swallows flying to the roof of Angie's tackroom/storeroom and decided to see what they were doing. Right up in the peak there was a small opening and the swallows had built a nest there. They were flying in and out as they brought back insects they caught in flight to feed to their babies. I assumed they were the blue tree swallows until I got a shot of one from the back, which revealed the beautiful green and violet colors. I believe they were the first Violet-green swallows I have seen. Boy, are they difficult to photograph! They don't stay still very long and the way they dart around in the air makes it hard to get a shot. I will keep trying. :)
01-Jun-2019
Carol's Red, Red Roses
We planted a red rose just inside our fence last year and it is doing nicely. Red roses are often associated with romance and love. If so, then the red rose is a good choice. Love is a godly quality, People should love one another, not hate, care about one another, not ignore them. Life is good when we have love. Just watch out for the thorns. :)
31-May-2019
"Life Is Better on the Farm!"
This is a scene from our daughter's front porch. It looks quite inviting to me! Come and sit a spell!
30-May-2019
Collision Course?
During the recent sailboat regatta on Fern Ridge Lake, I noticed several other boats going pretty fast, at times fairly close to the large number of sailboats. In this photo the sailboats are just out of the picture frame. I was shooting with a 500mm lens, so the boats no doubt appear closer than they really were. But if I was out there I would want them as far apart as possible. :)
29-May-2019
"The Calla Lilies Are in Bloom Again!"
Calla Lilies make a lovely part of any garden! They come in several colors, though I think the white ones are most familiar to many of us. These two are in our daughter's yard. They are beginning to show signs of aging.
Did you know that the title quote above was made famous by Katherine Hepburn? "In 1937, Hepburn included a line from The Lake, [an unsuccessful stage play] in the film Stage Door, thus making fun of her biggest failure. The line became one of Hepburn's signature catchphrases: "The calla lilies are in bloom again, such a strange flower, suitable to any occasion..."" -
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Lake_(play)
28-May-2019
I Want a Ride!
This sailboat came sailing by close to the shore at Richardson Park, along Fern Ridge Lake. It looked so appealing to me that I had a desire, for the first time ever, to take a ride. Perhaps I need to go by the yacht club to see if I can bum a ride! Maybe I should have called to the owner, it appears that he might be looking at me!
27-May-2019
Inner Glow!
The back light from the sun made this interesting shed glow like it was lit up from within. Anyway, it sure caught my attention.
26-May-2019
A Three-legged Dog!
I met a new friend at Orchard Point Park recently. I don't remember his name now but was told it by his owners. Ah, was so pleased to see the owner comment (see below). His name is Hans! He is such a good dog, friendly and easy going. And though he is handicapped by the loss of a leg, he gets around remarkably well. I learned he is fiercely loyal to his owners and is ready to come to their aid when needed. It is good to have friends like that. Hans is a rescue dog and not having had him very long, his new owners are sometimes challenged with his unpredictable behavior toward other dogs, hence the prong collar on some walks. He is fine with people and doesn't usually have the collar on. I just loved getting acquainted with him.
25-May-2019
The Race Is On!
On an errand run about noon, I drove past Fern Ridge Lake and saw lots of sailboats on the lake. The Fern Ridge Memorial Day Regatta is being held this weekend. The race was going on! It was far out into the lake, so I was not able to get shots of individual boats and crews. I did get some photos, including this wide view of some of the sailboats in the race.
06-May-2019
Cloud and Goldie
I promised to post a photo of Cloud and Goldie together. Cloud follows Goldie around a lot because of his eye disease. He doesn't see much, but does surprisingly well. At times, He wanders off by himself while grazing and seems comfortable about it. But it is a real blessing to have Goldie around as a confidence builder. They are both such beautiful horses.
20-May-2019
Lesser Periwinkle
This beautiful woodland flower grows wild here in Oregon. Among the names given it are Lesser Periwinkle, Flower of Death, English Holly, Creeping Myrtle, Creeping Vinca and Common Periwinkle. Flower colors vary from Blue to Lavender, Purple and White. The leaves have various uses for medicinal purposes. The leaves ingested in quantities are poisonous. This could be the reason for the name, Flower of Death.
19-May-2018
Airborne!
I saw this Great Blue Heron at Richardson Park along Fern Ridge Lake. Some visitors spooked the heron so it took to flight. I took advantage of this and stopped it in mid air. Those big birds are always a fascination to me. As big as they are, with six foot wingspan, they weigh only about 5 lbs! Birds don't need cumbersome airplanes to get them in the air. They were just born that way!
18-May-2019
Oh That Eye!
We visited Oregon Horse Rescue, a non-profit sanctuary property on 70 gently sloping acres west of Eugene, Oregon -
http://www.oregonhorserescue.com/about-us/ It was quite interesting to hear the stories, some sad, about the horses they presently have for adoption. I was fascinated with the gorgeous eyes in this horse, and I think it was adopted.
17-May-2019
Clyde Alberta, Canada
My father grew up on a farm close to the very small town of Clyde, in Alberta Canada. I found this picture of Clyde among some old photographs we have. This is a copy I shot of the print. I had to clean it up a bit.
I am not sure whether my father shot the picture, and would guess it to be taken in the late 1930's to early 1940's, judging from the cars on the right. My family visited there in 1950, when I was 14. I seem to remember a drug store, which had a soda fountain. I also remember seeing a most beautiful redhead cross the street as we drove in. Hey, what 14 year old doesn't notice pretty girls? :) I was somewhat disappointed to learn that she was my cousin! But I was right about her being beautiful!
16-May-2019
Electric Powered Canoe
I got a chance to chat with the nice young guy who owned the canoe. He said the electric powered motor worked pretty well. If a person gets tired of rowing they can mount the portable outboard motor to the side of the canoe and glide along, not very fast but who wants to go fast in a canoe anyway? It was a pretty neat setup.
06-May-2019
The Picture Tells the Story!
The country road past our home seems to have its share of accidents. In fact, we were hit by a vehicle pulling out to pass a truck after we had entered the roadway. But this particular accident involved only one vehicle that you can see in the trees in the center of the picture. The red vehicle is from the fire department and the fellow sitting on the grass to the left is the driver of the pickup in the trees. For some reason he left the road, went in the ditch, came out over a driveway and then into the trees after hitting the power pole seen behind the red vehicle. The pickup is still in the trees today. I don't know, maybe he can't afford to have it pulled out. I am surprised he wasn't really hurt.
13-May-2019
A 58th Anniversary Photo
Carol and I celebrated our 58th wedding anniversary yesterday, May 13th. We spent an enjoyable time together. At our age, it doesn't take much to fill our time. :) Lots of fond memories to think about. One daughter reminded us of how when they were old enough we made the occasion into a family party, with cake and gifts for us and our three girls. Those were fun times. It is amazing how much time has passed, and how quickly it goes by.
12-May-2019
Carol in the Sunshine.
I shot this photo of Carol as I faced directly into the sun. Some of her hair was washed out, so I did my amateurish best to make it better. Though it's not perfect, I do like the result. 58 years ago today she was looking forward to our wedding the next day, at least I hope so. Anyway, she is still my sunshine girl, and I hope she is up to a nice lunch at King Estates tomorrow. Don't tell her. :) (She already knows)
07-May-2019
The Red-wing Blackbirds are Singing Their Song
I always look forward to spring when the birds sing their love songs. Among the prettiest and loudest are the red-wing blackbirds. They are out in abundance now. I look for opportunities to catch them still long enough for a good picture.
06-May-2019
Angie's Goldie
Our daughter, Angie, got her beautiful Goldie from Dale in Milton-Freewater, Oregon about two years ago, and I wanted to show him Goldie as she looks today. She is such a great horse and a good companion for Cloud, who has what is similar to Macular Degeneration in horses. I will post a shot of them together later on.
05-May-2019
Lavendar Orpingtons
Our daughter, Angie, got four new chicks recently. They are growing like weeds, but still look somewhat furry instead of looking like feathers. Interesting is the coloration that develops as they grow.
Yes, the Lavendar Orpingtons are a unique breed of chicken, and have quite unusual coloration as adults. Here is what the website, "Pure Poultry", (
http://www.purelypoultry.com/lavender-orpington-chickens-p-…), says about them: "Lavender Orpingtons are a shimmering, grayish, silver color with a definite purple tone. Orpington Chickens, in general, are big, round, fluffy chickens and could arguably be the softest of all the breeds. Combine that soft fluffiness with a shimmering lavender-gray color, and Lavender Orpingtons are chickens to behold!"
"The lavender color is similar to the blue color, but is lighter in general and with purple overtones. Lavender Orpingtons are extremely rare, and not many people have actually laid eyes on a Lavender Orpington. They could be categorized as designer chickens, and are fabulous for poultry connoisseurs and collectors as well as for flock owners who want a truly special breed."
"Gray colors in chickens are always rare and exciting, but there is another reason lavender is such a sought-after color. Although Lavender Orpingtons do resemble Blue Orpingtons in their shimmering gray coloring, genetically the Lavender is very different from the Blue. When Blue Chickens are bred together, the offspring will be a variety of colors: black, splash (mostly white with gray splashes), and variations of the blue color. The Lavender Orpingtons, however, will breed true, meaning that all offspring of two Lavender Orpingtons will be Lavender."
"Lavender Orpingtons have pretty, single red combs, which are set off beautifully against the lavender feathering, which is usually a bit darker on the head. These would look especially striking combined with Buff Orpingtons - creating a flock of silver and gold big fluffy birds."
"Lavender Orpingtons have lots of feathers - the fluffiness makes them seem to have extra feathers, especially on the thighs. They are cold hardy and sound chickens."
02-May-2019
A Beautiful Honker!
"Honker" is a word sometimes used to refer to a goose, it is defined as "anything that honks." There is even a restaurant named 'Canadian Honker Restaurant that uses the Canada Goose in its ad -
http://canadianhonker.com/
The Canada Goose is native to North America. It breeds in Canada and the northern United States in a wide range of habitats. They are found year-round in the southern part of their breeding range, including most of the East and Pacific coasts. Between the southern United States and northern Mexico, Canada geese are primarily present as migrants from further north during the winter. Interestingly, they appear to be smaller the farther north one goes and their plumage darker the farther west one goes.
By the early 20th century, overhunting and loss of habitat in the late 19th century and early 20th century had resulted in a serious decline in the numbers of this bird in its native range. In more recent years, Canada goose populations in some areas have grown substantially, so that they are now found in abundance in many places.
01-May-2019
Heeling in the Wind
It was a sunny day at Fern Ridge Lake. There was a good wind blowing, which caused the sailboats to 'heel.'
"When a ship or boat leans over to one side, from the action of waves or from the centrifugal force of a turn or under wind pressure or from the amount of exposed topsides, it is said to 'heel'." - Wikipedia
30-Apr-2019
Off We Go!
This Canada Goose has just taken off from the water of Fern Ridge Lake and is expressing itself in Goose language. There were three of them taking off together so perhaps they were sharing flight path information. I was pleased to get it with its beak open and its tongue sticking out. :)
27-Apr-2019
Ignoring a Showoff!
That is what it looked like anyway! My first thought was that it was doing the two step! When the White Pelican did some stretching, the Cormorant turned its head as if to ignore. I learned that Cormorants and Pelicans can often be found together. Several times I have seen them together singly, but have also seen a lone Cormorant accompanying a group of Pelicans. There has to be something to their companionship. These two were at Kirk Pond.
26-Apr-2019
What To Do On A Summer-like Day
We have had some beautiful days with summer-like weather. People were relaxing on benches, the ground or in chairs they brought. But these two came up with a novel thing to do on such a day, and it looks like at least one of them could sleep in a cocoon.
23-Apr-2019
Taking a Break
This gentleman stopped at the boat ramp by Fern Ridge Dam to take in the view of the lake. His pure white hair and beard drew my attention. I guess someone with a bald head might be a bit jealous of all that hair. :) It was a good day for riding, which I enjoyed doing back in the day.
22-Apr-2019
Smooth Sailing?
Well, it looks like it is smooth sailing today. The water is smooth and there was a mild breeze. The day started out sunny but ended up cloudy, a nice day overall. Whenever I have to make an errand run, I try to go home by way of the north side of the lake. That way I can look for good subjects. Today I did see some, and enjoyed seeing the occupants of the sailboat in action on Fern Ridge Lake.
20-Apr-2019
California Scrub Jay
The California Scrub Jay can be found from Washington State to Baja California. These birds are common to dry shrublands, oak woodlands, and backyards of the Pacific Coastal states. They are beautiful in their colors of radiant blue, white and reddish gray.
"Look closely, and you'll see an intriguing difference between the California Scrub-Jay and its close relative, Woodhouse's Scrub-Jay. The bill of a California Scrub-Jay is stout and hooked, giving it extra power and grip as the birds hammer open acorns in their oak woodland habitats. By comparison, Woodhouse's have thinner, more pointed bills that nimbly reach deep into pinyon pine cones to pull out the pine nuts inside."
18-Apr-2019
NO BLOSSOMS YET!
Not sure just what the trees in this orchard are, but I don't see any evidence of blossoms yet. This late in April I would think some would be showing by now. Maybe we haven't had enough sunshine yet. Wait! It does look like a bit of color among the trees. Perhaps some blossoms show after all!
17-Apr-2019
Restored 1950 Chevrolet Pickup
I saw this wonderful old pickup in the BiMart parking lot in Veneta. The 1950 Chevy pickup has been fully restored and is better than new! It has a new, more powerful 305 engine, new undercarriage and running gear, as well as an updated transmission. New wheels and tires add to the improvements, as do new interior upholstery and exterior paint job. The result is impressive for a 69 year old vehicle. I was able to talk a bit with the owner's wife. She loves to drive it, and looks like the dog loves to also!
16-Apr-2019
Magnolia Blossoms
Magnolia trees are so beautiful when in bloom. The blossoms look so much like a tulip that we sometimes called the trees, 'tulip trees'. Feast your eyes on these gorgeous blossoms!
10-Apr-2019
Green Pastures
I found this scene not far from Fern Ridge Lake and felt it has real appeal! A break in the weather made it possible to get some blue in the sky, and the old style fence adds character.
09-Apr-2019
Water, Water Everywhere!
The last week has seen a wet one, with some real downpours. There is standing water in most of the local fields, and rivers have been over flood stage. Fern Ridge Lake is at capacity and all spillways are open. Parks near the lake or local rivers are flooded, as is this one near the Long Tom River, which flows into the lake. I have walked the trails in this park, but not today!
08-Apr-2019
Common Bedfellows
It is interesting how often one will see American White Pelicans and Double-crested Cormorants together, either in the water or perched together on logs, or in other locations. I saw these companions at Kirk Pond.
A 'Cool Fact' about pelicans and cormorants is found in the "All About Birds" website:
"American White Pelicans and Double-crested Cormorants are often found together. They sometimes forage together (though they mainly hunt different fish and at different depths). Cormorants even nest individually or in groups within pelican colonies."
VLR4427a
06-Apr-2019
Color in the orchard
Fern View Farms has an attractive produce stand along Territorial Highway that is very popular in the Veneta area. They sell a wide variety of produce there. This is a scene of a small orchard found next to the produce stand. The colors are more beautiful each time I go by.
04-Apr-2019
Coyote Canoe Access
This spot is where one can launch their canoe to explore the ponds in the Fern Ridge Wildlife Area. I thought it made a pretty scene. There is also a trail that starts nearby, which I have walked a few times. The debris in the creek was caused by a wind storm we had not too long ago that brought lots of trees down, and also resulted in loss of electricity to many homes.
25-Jan-2018
A Gray Day at the Lake
Inclement weather can sometimes add an extra touch to our photography, such as more dramatic lighting. Being still limited as to how much I can get out and about, my recent photography has included more landscape scenes than usual. I like the change, but long to get to other subject matter. In the meantime, our changeable weather has given me more varied results. This gray day scene at Fern Ridge Lake is an example.
01-Apr-2019
WHAT DO YOU DO ON A RAINY DAY?
I had to go to the post office today. The weather was not so conducive to photography. I just wanted to show what kind of day it was! More of the same tomorrow! Looks like we will have April showers for several days. But that brings May flowers.
30-Mar-2019
PELICAN AT KIRK POND
Often, when I need to go to the store, I will go on to the north side of Fern Ridge Lake to see if there are any birds there. In the last couple months I have watched for a group of White Pelicans that hang out in Kirk Park. This one was posing for me on a lot in the middle of the pond, so I felt obligated to take some shots of it. I liked the light and color.
27-Mar-2019
Got Something!
This is a Great Blue Heron fishing in the Fern Ridge Wildlife Area. It looks like it caught something, even if it is small. I am not sure what it got, it looks like a small fish. Such a large bird does need to hunt often to satisfy its need for food. Herons and egrets fascinate me.
26-Mar-2019
On the Lake
It was a pretty nice day with sun and clouds. The sky worked like a giant reflector and brightened the water. The boat skimming over the water was dark in contrast. This made the boat stand out against the water. I reduced contrast slightly to show detail in the boat. It got the effect I had visualized when I made the exposure.
23-Mar-2019
The Worm Moon of March 20th
I knew we were going to have a super moon with the beginning of spring. But I learned some new things at 'space.com'. -
https://www.space.com/34515-supermoon-guide.html, such as that the moon I photographed the evening of the 21st was called a 'worm moon', don't ask me why. Below is a quote from the 'space.com' website:
("This year skywatchers will get to witness three supermoons in a row on Jan. 21, Feb. 19 and March 20."
"A supermoon occurs when a full moon coincides with the moon's perigee, or the point in its elliptical orbit at which it is closest to Earth. This makes the moon appear up to 14 percent larger and 30 percent brighter than usual."
"The first supermoon of 2019 was the Super Blood Wolf Moon on Jan. 20-21, which coincided with a total lunar eclipse, also known as a "blood moon." A second supermoon of 2019 will follow on Tuesday, Feb. 19, during the Snow Moon, which will be the closest full moon of the year. Then on March 20 at 9:43 p.m. EDT (0143 GMT March 21) , the Worm Moon will reach full phase about 29 hours after the moon reaches perigee. ['Supermoon' Photos: The Closest Full Moon Until 2034 in Pictures].")
23-Mar-2019
Colorful Sky Over Fern Ridge Lake
The late afternoon sun colors the sky, and beautifies the lake in this view from the north side of the lake. It makes for an enjoyable scene, one I just sat and enjoyed for a while.
21-Mar-2019
Flying Mighty Low!
It was fun stopping this low flying Great Egret in its tracks! They are so beautiful in flight and their wings have been called 'angel wings'. I was fortunate to capture it in late afternoon directional lighting, which helped a great deal to backlight the right wing.
11-Mar-2019
The Face in the Tree
Can you see it, the face in the tree? It's not quite halfway up the tree. You can see the eyes, nose and cheek. Well, yes, I have a good imagination!
17-Mar-2019
Optical Illusion?
This picture of a scene along the shore of Fern Ridge Lake seems illusionary to me. It almost seems as though one could fall off the edge, even though the rocks run right down to the shore line. Maybe it is just my eyes, but that is what appeals to me about it.
14-Mar-2019
Oregon Junco
"A hundred years ago, many birds carried the name of “Oregon,” including Oregon Jays, Oregon Chickadees, Oregon Titmice, and Oregon Towhees. One by one, those names fell into disuse or were discarded. The last bird bearing the state's name is the Oregon Junco." (
https://oregonencyclopedia.org/articles/oregon_junco/) This is a photo of an Oregon Junco that landed in front of me on our front porch. I only had time for a quick shot, not top-notch but satisfactory.
Juncos are found throughout the US, as well as other places. At first, many North American Juncos were treated as separate species> Since then, the Slate-colored Junco of the East, the Gray-headed Junco of the Southwest, the White-winged Junco of the Black Hills of South Dakota, and the Oregon Junco have been combined into a single species, the Dark-eyed Junco.
12-Mar-2019
Sticky Snow
Our recent snowstorm brought very wet snow that stuck to everything. This photo was taken during the first night of the snowfall. The only light I had was the porch light, not a really bright one either. The snow continued for a couple days, the most snow we have got here for a few years. In the Willamette Valley, we are about 500 feet above sea level, so snow is not an annual happening. The weather now seems to be changing to more spring like temperatures.
10-Mar-2019
Kirk Pond Scene
There are still colors at Kirk Pond, so it isn't drab scenery. The light nicely lit up the trees and filtered into the background, making a pretty scene, at least to my way of thinking.
09-Mar-2019
Backlit Clouds
It was a good day at Fern Ridge Lake. The billowing clouds were beautified by the sun as it created dramatic back-light. It also appears that the wind was strong up there as thin clouds above seemed to be blown in a northerly direction. And the trees in the park below made fine silhouettes. The scene appealed to me.
07-Mar-2019
Carol's Pond and Our Pet Heron
I discovered that I am not quite burned out on snow scenes yet, and couldn't pass up this scene of Carol's tiny pond in our front yard. This photo was made on Feb 25th, the first day of snow. It continued overnight and on during the next day or so. At times, the snow was really coming down. Anyway, by the time the snowfall quit Carol's pond was pretty much covered over. There have been only brief flurries since then, but we still have more than enough snow on the ground. I will show her this photo next summer when it is hot! :)
06-Mar-2019
Great Egret at Kirk Pond
I am a big fan of contrast properly used in a photo. An example is this photo of a Great Egret. The image was made in late afternoon when winter days can be dark in the shadows. And to assure proper proper exposure I chose manual exposure settings. That way I could be sure that the egret was not over-exposed. A white egret against a background in the shadows created the contrast I wanted. I was using a manual focus 500mm mirror lens, which made the shot more challenging for my old eyes, so used the 'focus peaking' feature to assist me.
Another great feature I used was BBAF (back button autofocus). What is great about it is that it combines both AF-S and AF-C autofocus modes with this button. Press the button in and release it for locking focus on a still subject, but all you have to do with moving subjects, like this egret, is continue to hold the button in and it will follow focus, staying with the subject as it moves. To get this, you simply set the camera to AF-C mode and focusing with the AF-ON button only. Works like a charm for me.
04-MAR-2019
GNARLED LOG IN KIRK POND
I tried to find a word to best describe this old log. The word that kept coming to mind was 'gnarled'. It means 'knobbly, rough, and twisted, especially with age.' That fits, so I am going with it. The golden light on the log and the contrasts between it, the water, and the shoreline attracted me. I find it appealing.
02-Mar-2019
American Kestrel
The American Kestrel weights a little less than 6 ounces, and is the smallest in the falcon family in North America. It is similar in size to a dove. It can be found from central Mexico to Alaska and across the U.S. and Canada. It can be difficult to photograph them because they quick take to flight if one very close. This one was on a wire and took off when I stopped my car for a shot. I got it!
Kestrels can be seen year-round in Oregon, especially in open areas around the Klamath Basin. They like grasslands, farm fields and meadows. However, they can also be found in parks and cities.
01-Mar-2019
Pretty Sky Reflected in the Lake
The ever changing sky provides a wonderful opportunity for reflections on Fern Ridge Lake. I found this scene to be so pretty, and hope you do too! :) I especially liked the pastel colors, and the wet shoreline in the foreground.
28-Feb-2019
Knot a Problem, Like the Snow Has Been!
This knot on a bridge railing in Orchard Point Park is a nice study in contrasts and tones. It caught my eye, so hopefully will catch yours too. I thought I would get away from snow scenes. Though we still have a lot of snow and it is staying cold, it can eventually become a tiring subject, so on to other subjects!
27-FEB-2019
Pretty snow scene.
Even though snow can work hardship for people, especially where they get a lot of it, it is still such a beautiful thing when it covers the landscape with a white blanket. The snow got a lot deeper than this. It snowed again last night and we got about five more inches. So we ended up with at least 15 inches on the ground. It is beginning to melt now and will for several hours before the temperature dips way down again.
I didn't really want the small tree in the foreground to be in the center of the picture. But we are confined to the house because the snow is so deep in the yard. I shot this from our front porch toward the neighbors'. So the tree is where it is! :)
25-FEB-2019
They Told Us to Expect up to 4", We Got a Foot!
Sunday's weather forecast was for snow, at first calling for 2" in the valley floor. Before the day was over they were predicting up to 4". The snow started that evening and continued most of the day Monday. We ended up with 12" of snow on the valley floor, at least here where we live. On top of that, the electricity went off about 4 AM on Monday morning and we have been in the cold until the lights went back on this morning at 8:20 AM. I know, because it made my day. :) The temperature here in the house was down to 50 or less. So we were dressed in layers of clothes to stay warm. This is a view of our daughter's house from our front porch early in the day on Monday.
The electricity was off close to 29 hours, but it seemed like days. And to top it off, none of the vehicles here could make it out. Finally, when the snow stopped yesterday, our son-in-law, Mike, tried it with my 4 wheel drive Explorer and he and our daughter went to town to get something for us to eat. We learned a lot about what to have on hand in emergencies from this brief experience, and it was a mere taste of what some Back East have gone through for extended periods. It certainly helps one to have more fellow feeling for others.
17-Feb-2019
Horses on a Hillside
The light was right, the hill in shades of green red and gray; and the scene was pleasing to my eye. So I shot it! :)
17-Feb-2019
I tried a Shot of the Super Moon
I wanted to get a shot of the super moon and used my Nikkor 500mm Reflex mirror lens with a Nikon Z6 for the photo. Mirror lenses are not the sharpest ones to use, especially at long range like the moon! So the quality isn't as good as it would have been with my long range zoom, but it will do! :)
19-Feb-2019
Just a Bit of Snow
How do you show the snowfall, especially when it is just a little bit of snowfall? I tried different options but none seemed to work, except this one. To me, it conveys the idea of something falling, something white, and the white in the small area to the right is a further suggestion. Our snowfall this year was not much to speak of. One day, the ground was covered when I got up, and I posted a shot showing the snow on our car. But here the snow on the ground was as little as that falling. So this ending up being my evidence that we had some snow falling on this day. :)
18-Feb-2019
On a Frosty Morning
On a frosty morning, the directional sunlight creates interesting back-light for this bird feeder. In the background, a group of wild turkeys feeds.
17-Feb-2019
Enjoying the View
I photographed these two trees and the scene beyond last month but, as much as I wished for a few people to show up, I was forced to do without human interest. Late this afternoon, I was pleased to find quite a few people enjoying a sunny day in the park. Also, it was great to see these two relaxing on the bench under the trees, while beyond them two others are walking their dog. It was a beautiful day in the neighborhood.
04-Feb-2019
The Exquisitely Elegant Egret
I can't think of any words, other than exquisite and elegant, that describe the Great Egret so well! Exquisite means 'extremely beautiful and delicate', while elegant means 'graceful and stylish in appearance'. How better could one be described?
Confirming my appraisal, 'All About Birds' (
http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Great_Egret/overview ) says about the Great Egret, "The elegant Great Egret is a dazzling sight in many a North American wetland. Slightly smaller and more svelte than a Great Blue Heron, these are still large birds with impressive wingspans."
15-Feb-2019
Sharing The Pond
After a trip to the store today, I went by Kirk Pond to see if the White Pelicans were there. Sure enough they were. They have been there every day that I checked by the last couple weeks. Much of the time, they are tightly grouped and in unison bobbing their heads under water feeding. After watching a while, I concluded they do that as a group to sort of herd the fish into a group that they can then catch. Alas, the feeding group has been too far away to get a good shot of, so for today I photographed a beautiful white pelican and a cormorant sharing the pond.
"American White Pelicans and Double-crested Cormorants are often found together. They sometimes forage together (though they mainly hunt different fish and at different depths). Cormorants even nest individually or in groups within pelican colonies."
05-Apr-2017
White Crowned Sparrow
When people see sparrows, they usually dismiss them as common and nondescript ("lacking distinctive or interesting features or characteristics"). It is true sparrows are probably one of the most common of birds, yet the White Crowned Sparrow, like the Golden Crowned Sparrow, have distinctive contrasts in colors and are quite pretty. One's eye immediately goes to the black-and-white stripes on the head and the yellow bill. I find them quite attractive.
"Regional Differences" - "White-crowned Sparrows that breed along the Pacific Coast tend to have yellow bills and duller white head stripes. Birds that breed from Alaska to Hudson Bay tend to have orange bills and white or gray lores. Birds that breed east of Hudson Bay and in the Rockies tend to have pink bills with black lores that merge with the black head stripes."
"Habitat" - "Look for White-crowned Sparrows in places where safe tangles of brush mix with open or grassy ground for foraging. For much of the United States, White-crowned Sparrows are most likely in winter (although two races live year round in the West, along the coast and in the mountains)."
12-Feb-2019
White Pelicans at Kirk Pond
I always looked forward to seeing the White Pelicans in the wildlife area along Fern Ridge Lake, thinking that they migrated into the area. But I learned from friends with the local Audubon Society that there is a group of White Pelicans that remain here all year long. Sure enough, during the winter I have seen them in areas where I haven't seen them in other parts of the year, such as in Kirk Pond. It was raining, of course.
29-Jan-2019
Gone Fishing
It seems that quite a few older folks go fishing along Fern Ridge Lake. I liked this gentleman's pose as he prepared to cast.
09-FEB-2019
Decaying Log in Winter
It tried very hard to snow today here, but it only stuck around a short time. I thought this small, old decaying log was dressed up a bit by being edged by some white stuff.
I am sure that the nearby hills got their share of snow and are white. Now the temperatures are going to drop tonight by a good bit and we will have wet surfaces with ice on top. If so, I may not venture out in the morning, giving in to wisdom rather than valor. Used to be that at the first sign of snow, I would like to head to the hills, just to drive in the snow and take pictures. But, alas, one's perspective changes over time and as circumstances change.
08-FEB-2019
He's There Again!
On my way home from the store today, I looked for my friend, the Red-shouldered Hawk at his favorite spot on a wire along the road. Sure enough, he was there! It has to be a good spot for hunting! I was able to maneuver the car around to get a close shot, and was pleased with the result. So, here you are, another hawk photo. I can't help it, I never get tired of seeing them. It is always a thrill. This time of year the hawks seem to show up, in late fall and early winter. And this was a favorite spot for a hawk last year. Could it be the same one?
07-FEB-2019
Orchard in Winter
This is what the Filbert orchards around here look like in winter. But spring is coming. There are some bud pods visible on the trees. We do have things we can depend on; the seasons, water cycles, migrations, and many other things found in nature! Too bad we can't always depend on each other. :)
04-FEB-2019
Well, We Can Say We Got Some Snow!
Yes, I know! Compared with what the rest of the country has suffered through, this is hardly worth mentioning. But now we can say we got some snow this year.
Truth be told, it isn't that surprising to get snow in February, or even March or April.
The biggest snowfalls we have ever had came during January/February of 1969 when we ended up with 4 feet of snow on the ground. That was far from normal. Some years we have no snow at all. So when even a little bit ends up on the ground around here we do notice. And it is a real surprise to see snow on the Oregon Coast. But this week the beaches over there were covered with snow. Now that would have been a sight to see!
04-Feb-2019
Egret Getting Dressed Up
It must be getting close to breeding season for the egrets we see here. I saw some today with plumage beginning to show. Egrets belong to the heron family and develop fine plumage during the breeding season.
"The pristinely white Great Egret gets even more dressed up for the breeding season. A
patch of skin on its face turns neon green, and long plumes grow from its back. Called
aigrettes, those plumes were the bane of egrets in the late nineteenth century, when such
adornments were prized for ladies’ hats."
03-FEB-2019
Tree Swallow, Sitting Still for a Change!
The energy of the Tree Swallow is amazing to me. They hardly ever sit still, instead they are usually zooming through the air catching bugs to eat. It was great to catch one such beautiful little bundle of energy at rest.
01-FEB-2019
The Beautiful American Widgeon
I saw this great looking specimen at Alton Baker Park and never posted the photograph. I love the shot so decided it isn't too late to post. :)
31-JAN-2019
How Little We Are!
This lone figure along the shore of Fern Ridge Lake helps to put things in perspective. We humans can sometimes see ourselves as big and important, while this helps us see ourselves as small and insignificant, especially in relation to the earth and, even more so, the universe. Not that we should feel little self-worth, because we are important to those who love us. But some could learn a lesson from this. :)
29-JAN-2019
Great Spot for a Picnic!
On this sunny day at Orchard Point Park, I thought this would be an ideal place to have a picnic. But now, in the midst of winter, the park is mostly deserted. The ground was white with frost earlier this morning. So I guess the picnics will wait a few months.
28-JAN-2019
American Kestrel, Fierce Predator in a Small Package
To me, the American Kestrel is a most beautiful bird. I saw my first one several years ago in Montana. Since then, I have always been thrilled to see them. So it was great to see one at Kirk Park. The image has been cropped.
I learned a lot about these marvelous predators of the falcon family by reading about them at All About Birds.com. Following is a quote from their Overview page:
"BASIC DESCRIPTION
North America’s littlest falcon, the American Kestrel packs a predator’s fierce intensity into its small body. It's one of the most colorful of all raptors: the male’s slate-blue head and wings contrast elegantly with his rusty-red back and tail; the female has the same warm reddish on her wings, back, and tail. Hunting for insects and other small prey in open territory, kestrels perch on wires or poles, or hover facing into the wind, flapping and adjusting their long tails to stay in place. Kestrels are declining in parts of their range; you can help them by putting up nest boxes."
27-JAN-2019
Turkey Vulture Taking Flight
I spotted this vulture at the top of a light pole and shot a few pictures of it as it sat there. When it suddenly decided to take off (was it something I said?), I only had time for one shot. The lens I was using is manual focus only, and my old eyes really need Autofocus. Also, I was using a mirrorless camera and DSLR's are still tops in my book when it comes to birds in flight. So I was fortunate that the one shot turned out good enough.
26-JAN-2019
Shapely Tree on a Foggy Day!
I have always admired the trees in this orchard, considering them to be so shapely in their barest winter form. This one was marred by a wire through the top of the picture, so I worked long and hard on eliminating it. It would have been easier for me to have gone out and cut the wires down. :) My software doesn't automatically remove wires. I just had to try, because I remember posting another tree on this property and the requests I got to remove the wires. I just had to make the effort. Anyway, I do like the result.
23-JAN-2019
Heron On The Rocks!
Since I had therapy today, I decided to drive on to the north side of Fern Ridge Lake just to see what I could see. I am glad I did, for I saw this Great Blue Heron on some rocks on the edge of the lake. I love herons and thought it made a pretty picture.
21-JAN-2019
Lamp Light
Sometimes lamp light can be so lovely, especially if the lamp itself is beautiful and the tassels are as attractive as these. Good subjects for photography are everywhere.
20-JAN-2019
A Very Wet White Crowned Sparrow
I felt sorry for this little fellow. He looked soaked and uncomfortable, but maybe it is just another day to a white crowned sparrow. We don't live in the out of doors, so I guess we can't understand how they feel. It's probably true that it is nothing unusual to them. Anyway, it was nice to get a brief break in the weather today.
19-JAN-2019
Cloud in the Pasture
Carol and Angie's horse, Cloud, is a handsome fellow, I think. Even though he has impaired vision, he gets around well. But he likes to roll in the grass, which causes his blanket to come off. Angie usually puts blankets on both horses before putting them out to pasture, especially if it rains or is cold. But I often see him without his. Maybe he gets hot! :)
17-JAN-2019
Light Brings Out the Color of leaves
Lately, I have noticed the way that light, particularly backlight, can make the color of leaves stand out. This is an example.
Z6-101419-195
16-JAN-2019
Spin Me a Web!
Spider webs are awesome examples of the ability to construct unbelievably strong structures! I love to photograph them and am in awe of this marvel of nature.
Thought not as strong as steel, the webs are very strong. Consider this information from Wikipedia - "Spider silk is a protein fibre spun by spiders. Spiders use their silk to make webs or other structures, which function as sticky nets to catch other animals, or as nests or cocoons to protect their offspring, or to wrap up prey. They can also use their silk to suspend themselves, to float through the air, or to glide away from predators. Most spiders vary the thickness and stickiness of their silk for different uses."
How did the spider get the wisdom and ability to do this? Food for thought! Intelligence cannot just happen.
15-JAN-2019
Frosted Leaves
Back-lighting on these shrubbery leaves can be attention getting, at least for me! That is why I was attracted to them while walking for exercise in our yard. The frost makes them look delicious, like frosting does for a cake. :) Those oval shapes in the background are more leaves outlined with frost, too much to be cloned out. After all, this is a hedge!
14-JAN-2019
Into The Morning Sun
As I looked out my front door this morning toward the neighbor's property behind us, I was greeted by nice back-lighting on the trees and bushes along the property line. I thought the warm sunshine on a cold frosty morning make for nice contrasts.
13-JAN-2019
The Red-shouldered Hawks Are Back!
I have been seeing Red-shouldered Hawks in our area again. They seem to show up in late fall/early winter and stay through the spring. Then they must move on till fall again. I have seen one hawk in the very same spot as last year. Whether it is the same hawk or not, I am not sure. But it seems so because it is the exact spot one frequented often last year. Then I saw this larger hawk in another spot while on the way home from the store.
12-JAN-2019
Great Egret at Kirk Pond
I got to see some bird activity on my visit to Kirk Pond and was glad to see this Great Egret on the bank of the pond. They do stand out from their surroundings! :)
11-JAN-2019
Candy-striped Barn
This interesting barn is located on Territorial Road and sits along Fern Ridge Lake. The mountain in the background is either the North or Middle Sister in the Oregon Cascades, probably the Middle Sister.
10-JAN-2019
Layered Hills
I don't know the name of this range of hills to the south of Fern Ridge Lake, so I guess I can call them 'layered hills.' Anyway, with the colorful sky and clouds above, I thought it made for a pretty scene. I was using my Reflex-Nikkor C mirror lens with adapter on a Nikon Z6.
08-JAN-2019
Bird on a Wire
Had to run an errand today and took the camera along. I didn't have much hope for any photos as the weather conditions will be dark and cloudy for the next week. But on one road I go on to get to the store I always watch for a Red-shouldered Hawk to be sitting on a wire. It was there last winter, so I wondered if it would be back this year. Sure enough, either it or one like it was in the same place this morning. I saw it as I passed going the other way. I turned around and pulled up as close as I dared, getting several good shots of it. Then I went on not wanting to be responsible for it flying away. It was a good moment.
03-Jan-2019
One Last Shot of The Young Buck.
Here is one last shot of the young Blacktail forked-horn that hung around our yard for a while. We haven't seen him since. In this photo he is standing on the other side of our porch, so only six feet or so from the door. I think he is a beauty!
01-Jan-2019
How to Start the Day!
January 1st, 2019 began with a cold start, frost on the ground and a chill in the air. But our weather is mild compared with much of what is happening across the country. Since can be a bit slippery out there, it is a good morning to stay in and enjoy a cup of coffee. This cup has a good message for how we should greet every morning.