tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-80802396905618255452023-11-16T07:47:20.901-08:00Apartment BiologyNatural history and other activities in the Pacific Northwest.Maxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18037151652023799197noreply@blogger.comBlogger213125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8080239690561825545.post-86735067251280591452010-01-31T20:53:00.000-08:002010-01-31T21:07:44.967-08:00We've moved!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj57cLJDWWEfPZ0VZv9JNb7-v-CJRvm9bt-4BjDJJ1oYkCbj-ZuBnrQ0qzA3nseJSRJurj79mtXkLE5f6LQTdfczlD4YfPD7q9PreEYg3uOg8DUVXKgkxqFC8hpARMpNy145OjcN5P2Cw8/s1600-h/wed+view.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj57cLJDWWEfPZ0VZv9JNb7-v-CJRvm9bt-4BjDJJ1oYkCbj-ZuBnrQ0qzA3nseJSRJurj79mtXkLE5f6LQTdfczlD4YfPD7q9PreEYg3uOg8DUVXKgkxqFC8hpARMpNy145OjcN5P2Cw8/s320/wed+view.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5433136885076978994" border="0" /></a><br />One week ago, Sarah and I closed on our new house and moved out of our apartment. This weekend, we moved into our new house with a lot of help from family and friends.<br /><br />This is therefore the last Apartment Biology post, but I will describe the plants and animals encountered in our new neighborhood in my new blog, <a href="http://villagebiophilia.blogspot.com/">Village Biophilia</a>.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDvlKv2_B6ZVRJRoC5naHqDfwzpG2xBfqy6AD9KVfoSe8RMDDs8_BuYfxUgBlS1O6Ml98xjcmNMe0EtcVEDapOUl8wX-e8Et5BLCvN_YIHs14NXe1sb0VUi5iXUuhIaX3GjdJyUbZ1IAg/s1600-h/new+hood.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDvlKv2_B6ZVRJRoC5naHqDfwzpG2xBfqy6AD9KVfoSe8RMDDs8_BuYfxUgBlS1O6Ml98xjcmNMe0EtcVEDapOUl8wX-e8Et5BLCvN_YIHs14NXe1sb0VUi5iXUuhIaX3GjdJyUbZ1IAg/s320/new+hood.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5433136881795467490" border="0" /></a><br />See you there!Maxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18037151652023799197noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8080239690561825545.post-3704314643719663152010-01-17T18:01:00.000-08:002010-01-17T18:12:31.333-08:00Leaving soon<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguPEk8eX_d4-k3PFbLdQxJOreAkoNJ-2uUQJwm2Z6Uk-DYxN4EX8-336-g4QfRomy2m0YfeXWlb-SSwOFi3b3r5S2AzFjiHm09e03Q54Hyy1WvYStvnX6t0YPjuZ0D-p1yoRN-t47JHN0/s1600-h/Frost+shadows.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 190px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguPEk8eX_d4-k3PFbLdQxJOreAkoNJ-2uUQJwm2Z6Uk-DYxN4EX8-336-g4QfRomy2m0YfeXWlb-SSwOFi3b3r5S2AzFjiHm09e03Q54Hyy1WvYStvnX6t0YPjuZ0D-p1yoRN-t47JHN0/s320/Frost+shadows.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427894600754597058" border="0" /></a><br />The end of our four-year stay in our apartment is finally approaching.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMRq2q2tZrwlqsbbSE2poVM43Oa0chwvqA36-oroEY19qr2GADuMo36eE68H7cZbdXOZbMPAfqBX0gsBIVAQF7SIWh9SZaNeA4EMBeyGo4k8YLhsR8B1_Sle4NmjOkW1I3BhlaVVqvIDA/s1600-h/packing.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMRq2q2tZrwlqsbbSE2poVM43Oa0chwvqA36-oroEY19qr2GADuMo36eE68H7cZbdXOZbMPAfqBX0gsBIVAQF7SIWh9SZaNeA4EMBeyGo4k8YLhsR8B1_Sle4NmjOkW1I3BhlaVVqvIDA/s320/packing.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427894219001071762" border="0" /></a><br />Our lease expires Thursday, so all of our non-essentials have have been boxed or delivered to Goodwill. Thanks to a certain lending process, we do not know for sure where we are moving, but we hope to have a house in Portland by the end of the month. If not, we will be staying with family until things get sorted out. Once they do, I'll start a new blog inspired by our new home. More details to come!Maxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18037151652023799197noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8080239690561825545.post-47782867493508029482009-12-29T08:33:00.000-08:002009-12-29T09:03:41.609-08:00Twelve Great MonthsAs the end of 2009 approached, I took a look at photos from the year and realized we had some great outdoor travels in new and familiar places. Below is a picture from each month.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7zIFeezOEBWuI5ANyVh1-Lu_mYHbSOnYv0JjhHHAUOikYI0MbYi7raSNTKSldoitalOWsxTn-xINwM-iea8kgq2CndM3kg52lKfdtflxLm6B06iUSrTexgz51xroAXWJkNd0bvbiTcF8/s1600-h/JAN+flood.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7zIFeezOEBWuI5ANyVh1-Lu_mYHbSOnYv0JjhHHAUOikYI0MbYi7raSNTKSldoitalOWsxTn-xINwM-iea8kgq2CndM3kg52lKfdtflxLm6B06iUSrTexgz51xroAXWJkNd0bvbiTcF8/s320/JAN+flood.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420697571766213538" border="0" /></a>January Rock Creek floods, Hillsboro, OR.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiejcXm8HyxXkIIqDXqLfFLsdIhbtxEl2f49LzljODGwRFASxRmNduSWbXmyQGeLZQUjNPIc0TeGnPbHy58zleX5AlXhgGBik_ZMR6BvwEpAs485AZHwr21qRdB16WdEdtMYi5-tXsiqpc/s1600-h/FEB+OR+BEACH.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiejcXm8HyxXkIIqDXqLfFLsdIhbtxEl2f49LzljODGwRFASxRmNduSWbXmyQGeLZQUjNPIc0TeGnPbHy58zleX5AlXhgGBik_ZMR6BvwEpAs485AZHwr21qRdB16WdEdtMYi5-tXsiqpc/s320/FEB+OR+BEACH.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420697573625838370" border="0" /></a>February snowy beach at Manzanita, OR<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHwW8WVbBRUFxHv5Km_cRSgEFPiQI6zmQz_Mue0kFjxz9XAdd4FQ-_j2tOcVpi4OSTVriMn3ZFdGGQsPQJ5KDDVG3HpU94tuDOxCSFkY-fuX6xq2Wn2A4YZiwz71RM8tZ2CjTVITmtQKk/s1600-h/MAR+ebi+beach+play.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHwW8WVbBRUFxHv5Km_cRSgEFPiQI6zmQz_Mue0kFjxz9XAdd4FQ-_j2tOcVpi4OSTVriMn3ZFdGGQsPQJ5KDDVG3HpU94tuDOxCSFkY-fuX6xq2Wn2A4YZiwz71RM8tZ2CjTVITmtQKk/s320/MAR+ebi+beach+play.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420697580239318450" border="0" /></a>Columbia River Bird Camp in March, Sauvie Island, OR<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0ff4u4bIgv2fPQyG2h-W2EtSEvKbswrORo_mNelAH78jefkBTxte5op22QJv-JZwx0vwxqfx3jjvMeXtT-IcC_TVRW0wuUWxaddGkgnzXLkiWDAbtU1dqq8sVEwY66ura7sfsFyimpqM/s1600-h/apr+sweetwater+trees.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0ff4u4bIgv2fPQyG2h-W2EtSEvKbswrORo_mNelAH78jefkBTxte5op22QJv-JZwx0vwxqfx3jjvMeXtT-IcC_TVRW0wuUWxaddGkgnzXLkiWDAbtU1dqq8sVEwY66ura7sfsFyimpqM/s320/apr+sweetwater+trees.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420697588966987394" border="0" /></a>Sweetwater Wetlands in April, Tucson, AZ<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKSfjJvlY7Mp2qw4aeOzMfHWVN9WFMXlDnJdkkNETtGGvcHo0pEeRlPPfdbxTvAFr8RYzKQkJHSdKpOndU4poMM8Xt0kGcdy61MAT_kxvWoz9mu3Q256v0kr21obVmRwVM9-QGzY0KHGk/s1600-h/MAY+Murre+the+Merrier+Haystack+Rock.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 143px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKSfjJvlY7Mp2qw4aeOzMfHWVN9WFMXlDnJdkkNETtGGvcHo0pEeRlPPfdbxTvAFr8RYzKQkJHSdKpOndU4poMM8Xt0kGcdy61MAT_kxvWoz9mu3Q256v0kr21obVmRwVM9-QGzY0KHGk/s320/MAY+Murre+the+Merrier+Haystack+Rock.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420699542283740738" border="0" /></a>Haystack Rock in May, Cannon Beach, OR<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQtFSI4U79RJBv9OeNW7zAKS2BYUEPIwvcfN4LuoW7KpMWTm79fAMAIy-xmFOX9fcd4TaZ9RpRZAfHF4UCfS3y5Mlk39tTHJAau6W0bfvO6njG0PD76ZIH7WqfaQNibxq8Q3xajD8sVfg/s1600-h/jun+killin+field.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQtFSI4U79RJBv9OeNW7zAKS2BYUEPIwvcfN4LuoW7KpMWTm79fAMAIy-xmFOX9fcd4TaZ9RpRZAfHF4UCfS3y5Mlk39tTHJAau6W0bfvO6njG0PD76ZIH7WqfaQNibxq8Q3xajD8sVfg/s320/jun+killin+field.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420702935892411234" border="0" /></a>June fieldwork at Killin Wetlands, OR<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcaEV-4nNUPldLCoZ2sqzQ2NgCVLjPyu-XfwED49-9q54as-HcGC_sVLMr005rwqzqWgARsGGwMY42sy-LCiiG9R2f8gFyzvJFVjCZwSC2GhtyHl7oKGC1OJfP92AKhZ1_Rsp-NbR2NoA/s1600-h/JUL+SEA+DOCK.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcaEV-4nNUPldLCoZ2sqzQ2NgCVLjPyu-XfwED49-9q54as-HcGC_sVLMr005rwqzqWgARsGGwMY42sy-LCiiG9R2f8gFyzvJFVjCZwSC2GhtyHl7oKGC1OJfP92AKhZ1_Rsp-NbR2NoA/s320/JUL+SEA+DOCK.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420699555243792482" border="0" /></a>Seattle waterfront in July<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3ixievK5RCsHAluWelqEIrXRwLJIdtf8fSlABg-EB6Kxk-_Po3mrWLv8FjCn6iVxlhkGuZ7_Ok6StZg8pXr2kbGdDLyv7F3n4PfiLXC74uc2UQY1MYPOLLpvtOc9LGgfQUCu_t72oSHI/s1600-h/aug+c-g.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3ixievK5RCsHAluWelqEIrXRwLJIdtf8fSlABg-EB6Kxk-_Po3mrWLv8FjCn6iVxlhkGuZ7_Ok6StZg8pXr2kbGdDLyv7F3n4PfiLXC74uc2UQY1MYPOLLpvtOc9LGgfQUCu_t72oSHI/s320/aug+c-g.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420699560984899362" border="0" /></a>August morning in the Cliff-Gila Valley, NM<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4pEW9HHGBg6sh1r0zBQQX6beH-BS1kP5Iaxkwh2WnKezXnoqIMDE8-xqp72SvHI9q6X9PysaqNoEm6WoHLRQl7Kix0Nsy08t8ekld26x4aM-LGS17ZeGitLcb7S0QqgaD7CquwkREz9k/s1600-h/SEPT+ISLAND+AND+CLOUDS.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4pEW9HHGBg6sh1r0zBQQX6beH-BS1kP5Iaxkwh2WnKezXnoqIMDE8-xqp72SvHI9q6X9PysaqNoEm6WoHLRQl7Kix0Nsy08t8ekld26x4aM-LGS17ZeGitLcb7S0QqgaD7CquwkREz9k/s320/SEPT+ISLAND+AND+CLOUDS.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420700444943464866" border="0" /></a>September islands and clouds in Discovery Passage, BC<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirQiOmK29XxxRU6Xq6okzr3MaCXLcanKku_oPHzh3SXOFW5rn-C_Ik4oAEVLEb-WCUiY7zWeTCKTF_-Bqk1G3f0Yec9hbP4yMCwD9XI-j4YfGZoNwZnHe2IZ_3ytht9kvHT2J8eZopNAE/s1600-h/OCT+WALLOWAS.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirQiOmK29XxxRU6Xq6okzr3MaCXLcanKku_oPHzh3SXOFW5rn-C_Ik4oAEVLEb-WCUiY7zWeTCKTF_-Bqk1G3f0Yec9hbP4yMCwD9XI-j4YfGZoNwZnHe2IZ_3ytht9kvHT2J8eZopNAE/s320/OCT+WALLOWAS.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420700447813922114" border="0" /></a>October afternoon in Wallowa County, OR<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrlq6l52Ep2bCmMgN-yvwIBntm1W3NITCltoQpYkhGILmaeVdW6sSyLPa36SctWS7cx1zt-KPySIXBbRhohMRqYRUwitLFqALJ0d2bDKvmFPfU6CVu7RZFKgaXYu96rTotgqIzAtPRbsY/s1600-h/NOV+CK.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrlq6l52Ep2bCmMgN-yvwIBntm1W3NITCltoQpYkhGILmaeVdW6sSyLPa36SctWS7cx1zt-KPySIXBbRhohMRqYRUwitLFqALJ0d2bDKvmFPfU6CVu7RZFKgaXYu96rTotgqIzAtPRbsY/s320/NOV+CK.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420700868651623538" border="0" /></a>Andie at Cape Kiawanda, OR in November<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7fddig2wz3j4P9R0haF3dWVapXkXzdavTP_QOl444BICgZWlYFTvUbY-G0c-EzUbb_c_ksK6xi8JL5ktBvk0jy3nXDTAed3CUS0ErRKDyU0OY1WXUy4Y8ZmxhJ-m6tQyb0lkcXe8BTXA/s1600-h/DEC+FREEZE.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7fddig2wz3j4P9R0haF3dWVapXkXzdavTP_QOl444BICgZWlYFTvUbY-G0c-EzUbb_c_ksK6xi8JL5ktBvk0jy3nXDTAed3CUS0ErRKDyU0OY1WXUy4Y8ZmxhJ-m6tQyb0lkcXe8BTXA/s320/DEC+FREEZE.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420700452813564418" border="0" /></a>December deep freeze at Dawson Creek Park, OR<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">To all friends, family, and blog-readers: thanks for stopping by in 2009 and have a great 2010!<br /></div></div>Maxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18037151652023799197noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8080239690561825545.post-81839706194829583662009-12-24T12:10:00.000-08:002009-12-24T12:22:27.395-08:00Foggy Holidays<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvBV5WBAmzUydbDuw0qs2zQtG2TrvZnJURkKwYKQ_szF_dh5iAdwaJtc-TNS8eMfnYueUvkEw3zBpnXCa265g5l0Uxmfrk0fuLHp1WcHqEY1T5bOZappV63bAP2x_3q9A9AcjoJzm4_M4/s1600-h/CE+FROST.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvBV5WBAmzUydbDuw0qs2zQtG2TrvZnJURkKwYKQ_szF_dh5iAdwaJtc-TNS8eMfnYueUvkEw3zBpnXCa265g5l0Uxmfrk0fuLHp1WcHqEY1T5bOZappV63bAP2x_3q9A9AcjoJzm4_M4/s320/CE+FROST.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418897936221746674" border="0" /></a><br />Western Oregon won't have the white Christmas it did last year, but recent days have had a nice winter feel thanks to the freezing fog. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl-TOfPc6zOApaCLRZw4q8LkxLq9bHB-e8HzK-8vUGBf2iT6jFVQcKcqcoweWElDfPRIuf2yqKptsimkGmqaxgc-iipEI44NPlYKmVBMd9bQ3mlXoYMpV3NwrVdEnia0ndWAc8oIH2Ugw/s1600-h/CE+FF.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl-TOfPc6zOApaCLRZw4q8LkxLq9bHB-e8HzK-8vUGBf2iT6jFVQcKcqcoweWElDfPRIuf2yqKptsimkGmqaxgc-iipEI44NPlYKmVBMd9bQ3mlXoYMpV3NwrVdEnia0ndWAc8oIH2Ugw/s320/CE+FF.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418897930766853858" border="0" /></a><br />Late last night, ice crystals were falling from the air and catching the glow of street lights on their way to ground. When I woke this morning, everything was dusted with fog powder.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkuJmlMSuCO8-8O06X-IRX3-yKxTCfdQhAfLIdZwOWKJymOigUUhO2bNMRL207Az8oSdxZXRj71eL0uTu4hGLtZ9vTFA7DaNNwgTDIjxIfoIishcmGTu3zqBjpuZfr0ox8dTyjiJ9hNus/s1600-h/CE+Harlequin.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkuJmlMSuCO8-8O06X-IRX3-yKxTCfdQhAfLIdZwOWKJymOigUUhO2bNMRL207Az8oSdxZXRj71eL0uTu4hGLtZ9vTFA7DaNNwgTDIjxIfoIishcmGTu3zqBjpuZfr0ox8dTyjiJ9hNus/s320/CE+Harlequin.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418897939048805586" border="0" /></a>I have added a few ornaments to our tree this year, including a Harlequin Duck<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2orkjOF4yxlOonaYBenPkJ95W2JdbCcF4ZTk9dJhDti3XdFh3zCOS45UN76M7E_1Gjn3bECVDuhNayHyENs9iNMXLllLGNd-33vdtXlxE6AJqGVHmLjPdh83Kg-RNw6wh0LAap65PWbU/s1600-h/CE+BCHU.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2orkjOF4yxlOonaYBenPkJ95W2JdbCcF4ZTk9dJhDti3XdFh3zCOS45UN76M7E_1Gjn3bECVDuhNayHyENs9iNMXLllLGNd-33vdtXlxE6AJqGVHmLjPdh83Kg-RNw6wh0LAap65PWbU/s320/CE+BCHU.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418897930254180562" border="0" /></a>and a female black-chinned hummingbird. Our tree is now complete, featuring many representatives of the Oregon coast and desert Southwest.Maxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18037151652023799197noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8080239690561825545.post-16374154439965964002009-12-22T07:58:00.000-08:002009-12-22T08:07:33.301-08:00Foggy Bay Birding<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR_TogX0S0fr1exjgTemWEQDbc-2YXaBWOcA-pAakTmapWZpENw1xtlba_GcN-wTP7F4OEYwuURrpQ2QM1-71dHhfUpf2-_xjoDGvTNz8o3s4AE_06q_l9_o-ZRTycx2uUqkYgH7nOz1M/s1600-h/NETARTS+POND.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR_TogX0S0fr1exjgTemWEQDbc-2YXaBWOcA-pAakTmapWZpENw1xtlba_GcN-wTP7F4OEYwuURrpQ2QM1-71dHhfUpf2-_xjoDGvTNz8o3s4AE_06q_l9_o-ZRTycx2uUqkYgH7nOz1M/s320/NETARTS+POND.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418092233375799266" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Sarah and I spent a soggy Weekend Before Solstice at Pacific City. On Saturday, we conducted out monthly bird survey of Bob Straub State Park, then drove north to Netarts Bay.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3_cH2mm5pi8YmbMBdNpkIsre0VPxTcX2i6qZckfqLTIDkJW_509fnHj5_B1CGiJ7hyphenhyphen6NaKgzHJ6QbUJPuNF8hEtiNcCvUsqrVNwklGzRpc8hgH-PhmFJ1eJqj_1cGqxNiO_GCddtmCuk/s1600-h/NETARTS+BAY.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3_cH2mm5pi8YmbMBdNpkIsre0VPxTcX2i6qZckfqLTIDkJW_509fnHj5_B1CGiJ7hyphenhyphen6NaKgzHJ6QbUJPuNF8hEtiNcCvUsqrVNwklGzRpc8hgH-PhmFJ1eJqj_1cGqxNiO_GCddtmCuk/s320/NETARTS+BAY.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418092231981076242" border="0" /></a><br />We had hoped to find a Snowy Owl that has set up shop near the end of a spit.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2sSx4uwkC-r1C-FkvcE-mqZtGzhw5qrmjpwfC8TNPSBDrHzmQNC8qxH4_3MIA4ASe66ENQuItctnISTEPOiUmrr22lhd3pN0FYX9BJFtCWN5XVppmzLgdExJUTJHFLzi8h4mSTRorS4s/s1600-h/NETARTS+WATER.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2sSx4uwkC-r1C-FkvcE-mqZtGzhw5qrmjpwfC8TNPSBDrHzmQNC8qxH4_3MIA4ASe66ENQuItctnISTEPOiUmrr22lhd3pN0FYX9BJFtCWN5XVppmzLgdExJUTJHFLzi8h4mSTRorS4s/s320/NETARTS+WATER.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418092238842330082" border="0" /></a><br />Unfortunately, the bay was socked-in by fog. There was no owl to be seen, but we did find a Peregrine Falcon and many diving birds. Maybe next month.Maxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18037151652023799197noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8080239690561825545.post-44678185865564444602009-12-09T17:18:00.000-08:002009-12-09T17:35:57.502-08:00Cold Snap Waterfowl<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihYHWkkGPDoWgEflJMUovBCpDSllPS8zkwCvnKJ9AioGwSBzAEI6q6KCyGwMmUrQ7VgppY0A0BKjwA4rn37nMEwYQyMAh8mDAdS9W3zCdXheT4j6pCuYi0wveuVb1rbT0QhZTzJoo6_0A/s1600-h/IMG_0556.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 234px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihYHWkkGPDoWgEflJMUovBCpDSllPS8zkwCvnKJ9AioGwSBzAEI6q6KCyGwMmUrQ7VgppY0A0BKjwA4rn37nMEwYQyMAh8mDAdS9W3zCdXheT4j6pCuYi0wveuVb1rbT0QhZTzJoo6_0A/s320/IMG_0556.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5413411703460638530" border="0" /></a><br />Thanks to El Nino, the Portland area is seeing its lowest temperatures in ten years. The cold, clear weather makes for great sunrises and sunsets.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZtl3kNOx-E_Q08CeO1LSZLIYfg4KBVosJbnXRVEVUJf_2grB44P_0-6V8scBASzf9AxeQPmLjZ9_QWefRxvuZ8wZAxEYn0zFq4CYsFrytmr2XAX1NtYePMO-NFb5Mezr2W2khOsQmCvU/s1600-h/IMG_0571.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZtl3kNOx-E_Q08CeO1LSZLIYfg4KBVosJbnXRVEVUJf_2grB44P_0-6V8scBASzf9AxeQPmLjZ9_QWefRxvuZ8wZAxEYn0zFq4CYsFrytmr2XAX1NtYePMO-NFb5Mezr2W2khOsQmCvU/s320/IMG_0571.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5413412019699088818" border="0" /></a><br />Most of the local ponds are iced over, so small areas of open water were popular places for waterfowl at Dawson Creek Park.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHV-Y1cAFw1KkSKaOMLncKlbN4Ojw40KzkTaJ9Bdea_7ITyYky1IFNlpqw49KRpBH2aneiM57woiAFrhF3nRRnXYBv-8rUYNWXx3GKLAJWrP97Uste6cEz6gVGqs9iMJDHQCee8xdSRG8/s1600-h/IMG_0570.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 155px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHV-Y1cAFw1KkSKaOMLncKlbN4Ojw40KzkTaJ9Bdea_7ITyYky1IFNlpqw49KRpBH2aneiM57woiAFrhF3nRRnXYBv-8rUYNWXx3GKLAJWrP97Uste6cEz6gVGqs9iMJDHQCee8xdSRG8/s320/IMG_0570.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5413412014964616338" border="0" /></a>This hole in the ice was surrounded by at least 40 Green-winged Teal, the most we have ever seen at the park. A few Wood Ducks and Mallards were mixed in as well. A pair of Pied-billed Grebes, a fixture of this pond, were floating in the center.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoatWV0HreDdlQNgwgt72pExX2zGLKQaOLh0c1bo48q_GVZ9B3_6LlrDltKqCqnhTL1x_dQzrGojJ0EnTDi8MKDPKo5xpfxkbm8hQ5Vf1JDUbbRd6J8ITgT32LalZfkgUwG6MN37jOtGE/s1600-h/IMG_0569.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoatWV0HreDdlQNgwgt72pExX2zGLKQaOLh0c1bo48q_GVZ9B3_6LlrDltKqCqnhTL1x_dQzrGojJ0EnTDi8MKDPKo5xpfxkbm8hQ5Vf1JDUbbRd6J8ITgT32LalZfkgUwG6MN37jOtGE/s320/IMG_0569.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5413412011138510098" border="0" /></a>Closer to the library, a huge flock of white-cheeked geese (Cackling and Canada Geese) occupied the grass, ice, and water.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxszAt_A004SfuN9ttRWT9NLsniihg1BAv5OfIF368LHSP3ufW8plUWijwkvqOnP5EICtR7Z6tPg9krZMIetmMasHnBFLR-hh7-WwAC0MD-m4O1ufl2io2QI6zSusYTkEpXtQw20ECMBo/s1600-h/IMG_0566.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 147px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxszAt_A004SfuN9ttRWT9NLsniihg1BAv5OfIF368LHSP3ufW8plUWijwkvqOnP5EICtR7Z6tPg9krZMIetmMasHnBFLR-hh7-WwAC0MD-m4O1ufl2io2QI6zSusYTkEpXtQw20ECMBo/s320/IMG_0566.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5413411728532733682" border="0" /></a>They kept busy by commuting from the field to the pond and back again.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Fw0A556Vy-8qM7d1pjHJim55x_-E2DKzIhqG1OSVqXNrem20XEfUK23kIVMD56lEPySzJBwQZTlBrO5uH29pFjXuMx0hRW3nhF1izNgb4vE9Y3JgoD5xIkqvaNIWXLKFPiJNbUY9HNs/s1600-h/IMG_0562.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 186px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Fw0A556Vy-8qM7d1pjHJim55x_-E2DKzIhqG1OSVqXNrem20XEfUK23kIVMD56lEPySzJBwQZTlBrO5uH29pFjXuMx0hRW3nhF1izNgb4vE9Y3JgoD5xIkqvaNIWXLKFPiJNbUY9HNs/s320/IMG_0562.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5413411716976374530" border="0" /></a>The white bird in the center is a juvenile Snow Goose, a new Dawson Creek species for us.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_xY34H7-imHlkVs57SNqFOtEyZ0hIFh4qeKBaSwMZ271vh9vc80-pHFYDEArIa0W03LIHTlVsBks9Pa9fsvnXDiwQJd9QuZqCTcTKmdFoeorvo2RL5JYrCa-tQkvw2BlBTHyK8_k4ZHI/s1600-h/IMG_0563.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 218px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_xY34H7-imHlkVs57SNqFOtEyZ0hIFh4qeKBaSwMZ271vh9vc80-pHFYDEArIa0W03LIHTlVsBks9Pa9fsvnXDiwQJd9QuZqCTcTKmdFoeorvo2RL5JYrCa-tQkvw2BlBTHyK8_k4ZHI/s320/IMG_0563.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5413411723789217010" border="0" /></a>In addition to the waterfowl, a nutria strutted atop the ice. There is plenty of beaver sign at the park, but we only see their introduced cousins during the day.<br />We expect to return to normal temperatures and rain next week, so I will enjoy the Rockies-like weather while I can.Maxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18037151652023799197noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8080239690561825545.post-12747988679418666602009-12-06T09:07:00.000-08:002009-12-06T09:24:44.067-08:00DistractionsDuring the last few weeks, a few distractions have made it difficult to focus on work. The first is the Oregon Duck football team, which won the PAC 10 championship on Thursday night.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc_JOLhzKBJ4oAN7YD8weAOFVqmsHCAGkeooGRAgfdNehhFJigQXnlBMs01xa7rJRQp5yN12xJmblij5kOQAuXRlD0jDDGiuyOsu66GRc3VRWQSoT5dtq14-qKq7TkmLAhq7N0mYY2QkE/s1600-h/go+ducks"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 217px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc_JOLhzKBJ4oAN7YD8weAOFVqmsHCAGkeooGRAgfdNehhFJigQXnlBMs01xa7rJRQp5yN12xJmblij5kOQAuXRlD0jDDGiuyOsu66GRc3VRWQSoT5dtq14-qKq7TkmLAhq7N0mYY2QkE/s320/go+ducks" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412172091102336530" border="0" /></a><br />The Ducks beat their rivals Oregon State in one of the best football games I can recall. Like many other Duck or Beaver fans, I had been thinking about little more than this game since November 21, when it became clear that the winner would go on to the Rose Bowl. The Rose Bowl is almost a month away, so hopefully I can regain some focus until then.<br /><br />The other distraction began when Sarah and I started the process of buying a house. Nothing is official yet, but we have set our sights on a small home in a great neighborhood.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBQyp9Jvo4J5Nw9m95J6X91xJYMXAlnezfPBdOVWFKGn9xwGse-ht0NABxUaA3-xhZT0myw9l_mWIXR7ORQ3EChkWq-jy7OSFL2ylo3-fXQoKTu0_hoMjps9wKaRzvM1yPO7I3NwpVyZM/s1600-h/backyard.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBQyp9Jvo4J5Nw9m95J6X91xJYMXAlnezfPBdOVWFKGn9xwGse-ht0NABxUaA3-xhZT0myw9l_mWIXR7ORQ3EChkWq-jy7OSFL2ylo3-fXQoKTu0_hoMjps9wKaRzvM1yPO7I3NwpVyZM/s320/backyard.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412172082531324450" border="0" /></a><br />The property has a lot of garden space and plenty of exotic vegetation in need of serious management. I can’t wait to get out there to pull some English ivy, cut blackberry, and plant native shrubs.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB7owpWRUEG1qArRMgWSckAxSiLIANBR6vnJ62FDGN-DpXu7cR6ZOqUsS71gpgQDFUygmrAn5ePYw_fCUptgZmyMtZlsr46s1U9t51JvQFELt0ZZLA43uYxABJBh56yAPotdLi6S89zJw/s1600-h/MRG+BCHU+2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 302px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB7owpWRUEG1qArRMgWSckAxSiLIANBR6vnJ62FDGN-DpXu7cR6ZOqUsS71gpgQDFUygmrAn5ePYw_fCUptgZmyMtZlsr46s1U9t51JvQFELt0ZZLA43uYxABJBh56yAPotdLi6S89zJw/s320/MRG+BCHU+2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412172095383280354" border="0" /></a><br />I have managed to get some work done during the last month, including a paper on Black-chinned Hummingbirds, which was published in a major bird journal. I have another stack of papers I am trying to finish, but it has not been easy. Luckily, my out-of-state employer is not expecting any products until February.Maxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18037151652023799197noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8080239690561825545.post-68142036149126835602009-11-30T09:57:00.000-08:002009-12-03T09:27:09.220-08:00Dawson Creek Field TripMy big birding weekend continued on Sunday as I led a field trip for the Audubon Society of Portland at Dawson Creek Corporate Park. At least eight participants met at the Hillsboro Library parking lot ready for a chilly but dry morning. During introductions, I announced that the bird I most hoped to find was a White-breasted Nuthatch because I regularly see or hear them among the large oaks, but I had never shown them to others on a field trip.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwEuilRW40NDTrtjvQIwZmbSM2QLAcbKZqdxiHaDVuiQofNXpB-Ds6oHmsvnEFgumh3dA3Dp_M4UCTwsWbErBmpiKBRAnk-7Pbk39FY8es3-iG4tn_kLIshljiInRU2huRpOjAumsVgNM/s1600/DAWSON+CK.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwEuilRW40NDTrtjvQIwZmbSM2QLAcbKZqdxiHaDVuiQofNXpB-Ds6oHmsvnEFgumh3dA3Dp_M4UCTwsWbErBmpiKBRAnk-7Pbk39FY8es3-iG4tn_kLIshljiInRU2huRpOjAumsVgNM/s320/DAWSON+CK.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5409965835619406754" border="0" /></a><br />We walked along the ponds and found the usual crowd-pleasing species such as Acorn Woodpeckers, Wood Ducks, and Great Blue Herons. The day's best find was probably a Wilson's Snipe resting along the edge of a pond, spotted by a sharp-eyed participant.<br /><br />As we neared the large oaks that mark the end of the loop, I heard the scream-like call of a White-breasted Nuthatch. After a little searching, we found a pair of nuthatches creeping up and down the trunks. This and other great sightings made for a successful field trip that probably will be my last at Dawson Creek, as Sarah and I plan to move to Portland at the end of the year. We have a few hurdles to clear before the move becomes a reality, but I may soon need to change this blog's title.<br /><br />Here are the birds seen and heard during the field trip.<br /><br />Pied-billed Grebe<br />Great Blue Heron<br />Canada Goose<br />Cackling Goose<br />Mallard<br />Gadwall<br />American Wigeon<br />Green-winged Teal<br />Wood Duck<br />Bufflehead<br />American Kestrel<br />Wilson's Snipe<br />Mourning Dove<br />Anna's Hummingbird<br />Northern Flicker<br />Acorn Woodpecker<br />Downy Woodpecker<br />Western Scrub Jay<br />Black-capped Chickadee<br />Bushtit<br />Bewick's Wren<br />Winter Wren<br />American Robin<br />White-breasted Nuthatch<br />Spotted Towhee<br />Song Sparrow<br />Golden-crowned Sparrow<br />Brewer's Blackbird<br />Red-winged BlackbirdMaxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18037151652023799197noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8080239690561825545.post-63014530220431900452009-11-29T13:33:00.000-08:002009-11-29T14:09:47.582-08:00Birding WashingtonOn the Saturday after Thanksgiving, Sarah and I met with two birding friends and crossed the Columbia to visit two wildlife refuges in Washington.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVx2Lz5sRzUcT1YvHYs2yOc6HW5I9bbMJvLbI6pyxVchdoDhRxzRZRVdGNfg7-_ODy0zGTsKFyTfdrPbrO-X18yAJ84XhQ2HzeHrWLJRBgqqr_JBXHvtwruWnjaDTYMx20qGKgE7OHDG8/s1600/RIDGFIELD.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVx2Lz5sRzUcT1YvHYs2yOc6HW5I9bbMJvLbI6pyxVchdoDhRxzRZRVdGNfg7-_ODy0zGTsKFyTfdrPbrO-X18yAJ84XhQ2HzeHrWLJRBgqqr_JBXHvtwruWnjaDTYMx20qGKgE7OHDG8/s320/RIDGFIELD.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5409642836323419154" border="0" /></a><br />Our first stop was Steigerwald Lake National Wildlife Refuge, which was recently opened to the public.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwNWOQRiyAPPONmUTXiyH0MJXL5rudGj3z_PXobfk0-i1IZ0_RvmozttAtvAFSY3Aa0opbC8yuxCDJBV_R-AwmHLqFCsoO5sMNKwOVyLsBuuZh-idBvnJIARKiwwN9z2Omk83_HOss2uM/s1600/SLWF+SLOUGH.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwNWOQRiyAPPONmUTXiyH0MJXL5rudGj3z_PXobfk0-i1IZ0_RvmozttAtvAFSY3Aa0opbC8yuxCDJBV_R-AwmHLqFCsoO5sMNKwOVyLsBuuZh-idBvnJIARKiwwN9z2Omk83_HOss2uM/s320/SLWF+SLOUGH.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5409642826927340402" border="0" /></a>We took the Gibbons Creek Trail to a slough where we quickly found the best bird of the day.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ13fnTDQWRKWq_0bOwiJ2Kis1x2uHrsopZFDsEX2AESyiqrByvYQDJHDBt0LX9oCwsm9BRFMq7T7q8vdU4qXTfvNIb7b1D6I9nNIvDhJ8RwSrarK-TxBoTdZuYdzFbP9IAYVffsP4pcM/s1600/SLWF+BITTERN.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 243px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ13fnTDQWRKWq_0bOwiJ2Kis1x2uHrsopZFDsEX2AESyiqrByvYQDJHDBt0LX9oCwsm9BRFMq7T7q8vdU4qXTfvNIb7b1D6I9nNIvDhJ8RwSrarK-TxBoTdZuYdzFbP9IAYVffsP4pcM/s320/SLWF+BITTERN.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5409642824890513554" border="0" /></a>It was an American Bittern, hunting frogs or other animals in the canary grass. We had seen and heard plenty of bitterns before, but this was the first time we had an unobstructed view of bittern behavior. As the bittern moved slowly and silently through the water, we saw its tail protract past the primary tips of its folded wings, then quickly retract and disappear. We had never seen this strange tail behavior before, perhaps it helps maintain bittern balance.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3_prK-aQ2MkLdlxRvKbKmt3KBYzkYsDq3nwPLiyqTGszhaJ2PE_UYOQb3ykbfuuOWRVVOgTqya_2IRJfXeBy9XmfQQUP7vschbSVmihJe39uUxwNAeqh9RO-pwIYrOc8X5UDtlEVV5Fw/s1600/SLWF+BITTERN+2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 247px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3_prK-aQ2MkLdlxRvKbKmt3KBYzkYsDq3nwPLiyqTGszhaJ2PE_UYOQb3ykbfuuOWRVVOgTqya_2IRJfXeBy9XmfQQUP7vschbSVmihJe39uUxwNAeqh9RO-pwIYrOc8X5UDtlEVV5Fw/s320/SLWF+BITTERN+2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5409642815810576274" border="0" /></a>The bittern's legs were yellowish-green and nicely matched the lower blades of canary grass. The brown streaks on its neck matched the dried upper portions of grass.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1EU_4n5k1tT7XtL39Aq-7TDvOr7a3LaIAQr2RglvuHWwrOxwCU_gxO_u6ciiXmMPYW4dSHV74G1jZJ6CUV3r-p9T2jvvkAZ6jNmUoilGXE2flU_ydYXDtKqkGKTCeikp9iMaIsISDUGc/s1600/SLWF.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1EU_4n5k1tT7XtL39Aq-7TDvOr7a3LaIAQr2RglvuHWwrOxwCU_gxO_u6ciiXmMPYW4dSHV74G1jZJ6CUV3r-p9T2jvvkAZ6jNmUoilGXE2flU_ydYXDtKqkGKTCeikp9iMaIsISDUGc/s320/SLWF.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5409642833545605842" border="0" /></a>We ended the day at Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge. As usual, we saw plenty of Tundra Swans and Red-tailed Hawks, a pair of Rough-legged Hawks, and a few Bald Eagles. As we approached the end of the auto loop, one of the eagles plucked a bird (a duck or coot) right out of the main pond and carried off to a tree. The view of the predation event was a great way to end an excellent birding trip.Maxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18037151652023799197noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8080239690561825545.post-89328133032517253962009-11-19T11:18:00.000-08:002009-11-19T11:34:23.009-08:00Killin Wetlands in FallYesterday I visited my summer Willow Flycatcher study sites to record some GPS data and see the wetlands in their fall colors.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNw_Hpula6SEGgoys_qhHWBocxR7BEx8GO0CaHErvQsrrebS0nB9arV1tlqomHJXX4PWFC5gFLdowQcjBA36BuILilrWBSbx3RAm8KTUiPgb7jsxRIdkly3g-njD5ju1Yc6ligPaAavlo/s1600/killin+view.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNw_Hpula6SEGgoys_qhHWBocxR7BEx8GO0CaHErvQsrrebS0nB9arV1tlqomHJXX4PWFC5gFLdowQcjBA36BuILilrWBSbx3RAm8KTUiPgb7jsxRIdkly3g-njD5ju1Yc6ligPaAavlo/s320/killin+view.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405897217357069874" border="0" /></a>Recent rains have added plenty of water to the basin.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHQZkbyGqGr3axqR-ude_dA3vnSAE4cl9XGsh9309XkFZ2YbqNKsaG2S6t4l7PmtEsIhrt3mVCQikpaGr272fvb0iqbWvpLlbyjQe1dFAQ0Nshmw1GZwB6T2OvoUW2gttBX5LxtrmAoMg/s1600/stream.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHQZkbyGqGr3axqR-ude_dA3vnSAE4cl9XGsh9309XkFZ2YbqNKsaG2S6t4l7PmtEsIhrt3mVCQikpaGr272fvb0iqbWvpLlbyjQe1dFAQ0Nshmw1GZwB6T2OvoUW2gttBX5LxtrmAoMg/s320/stream.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405897384377588418" border="0" /></a>A stream was flowing through an area that is usually dry.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9NS4gA7m1YDwPzDoelp-bHnx0doCQEtOOT1RZC6ab26_JKYh34g5IS84eDIMfZ45LUy7Qfv0xMnCX4O1LakrIlqlG_ucxxD4nnI9_Ln1x2YCvfFrgI6sxRxksVJS0_-9eHi8c3xJijdU/s1600/wetlands.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9NS4gA7m1YDwPzDoelp-bHnx0doCQEtOOT1RZC6ab26_JKYh34g5IS84eDIMfZ45LUy7Qfv0xMnCX4O1LakrIlqlG_ucxxD4nnI9_Ln1x2YCvfFrgI6sxRxksVJS0_-9eHi8c3xJijdU/s320/wetlands.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405897388525909842" border="0" /></a>The invasive reed canary grass (foreground) does not grow well when flooded, so this extra water could help the native species compete.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFFdYiYzdzkz0lEtHEIKNS3hx97HmYEk2CaC6EZu0epEr4YnjtUHmPba9fkM9bTorpnU36xeBes-_ae6tJB5SxzjV9K0WLKbbI79aJCTo2DyJUEIRyvlcCmqy2_OO5R_SyTV5fjvTC9kI/s1600/geyer.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFFdYiYzdzkz0lEtHEIKNS3hx97HmYEk2CaC6EZu0epEr4YnjtUHmPba9fkM9bTorpnU36xeBes-_ae6tJB5SxzjV9K0WLKbbI79aJCTo2DyJUEIRyvlcCmqy2_OO5R_SyTV5fjvTC9kI/s320/geyer.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405897210694112690" border="0" /></a>This Geyer willow sapling still has a few yellow leaves attached.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGrNwmQchh0prTOAI92YcacN9lZZA0MQWP_1IE-G2LtJcYdFe8csc5MppyojdKDQxOOOEtoWlJaEpkMiLNgf3jjdl5UdF_QeUKGjW0dhEdGBiEA5zz7Od6aygV5wB1qz-X0G9iQDhYBx8/s1600/madron.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGrNwmQchh0prTOAI92YcacN9lZZA0MQWP_1IE-G2LtJcYdFe8csc5MppyojdKDQxOOOEtoWlJaEpkMiLNgf3jjdl5UdF_QeUKGjW0dhEdGBiEA5zz7Od6aygV5wB1qz-X0G9iQDhYBx8/s320/madron.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405897224428886434" border="0" /></a>Most of the other shrubs and trees have lost their leaves, revealing things I had not noticed during the summer such as the smooth, tan bark of these madrone trunks.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkJXfMlioDt-wpM_NC8rGLJ8vjiF2a_i0GbPH9XuzSqJoJc7fkFcdeEjDX1iJeY5OH-N0rEB7pBWRr30_iMKD9PtDJ1MyyNCtol4oiSNeX9PnNj4bv2179ddCX5GM4p5O-ir6hkl1s31A/s1600/catkins.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkJXfMlioDt-wpM_NC8rGLJ8vjiF2a_i0GbPH9XuzSqJoJc7fkFcdeEjDX1iJeY5OH-N0rEB7pBWRr30_iMKD9PtDJ1MyyNCtol4oiSNeX9PnNj4bv2179ddCX5GM4p5O-ir6hkl1s31A/s320/catkins.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405897209001777410" border="0" /></a>Beaked hazels still had green leaves and catkins. In a few months, the catkins will open up and add some bright yellow color to the wintry landscape. I will definitely return to the wetland to see what is going on then.Maxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18037151652023799197noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8080239690561825545.post-2254125604831981622009-11-09T09:15:00.000-08:002009-11-09T09:35:50.840-08:00Beach Storms and Birds<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ_d_jvbNxwrHv9sxSzrbWI44dVWpLApqd1bHS-VGI9dSiBghJTVvbsLf87nF9PnA1nwMnHrYmDXIoQQsZ2RIWAvfx8XR7bh2CaIaPNYTFHKHd2q7-cUakNJaOLU1lBJko9wK3RVCeUuE/s1600-h/IMG_0483.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ_d_jvbNxwrHv9sxSzrbWI44dVWpLApqd1bHS-VGI9dSiBghJTVvbsLf87nF9PnA1nwMnHrYmDXIoQQsZ2RIWAvfx8XR7bh2CaIaPNYTFHKHd2q7-cUakNJaOLU1lBJko9wK3RVCeUuE/s320/IMG_0483.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402154642288157682" border="0" /></a><br />Sarah and I spent a long weekend at the beach, which was getting hammered by storms each day. On Friday the skies were mostly sunny, but heavy surf battered Cape Kiawanda and covered the beach with a thick foam that wiggled in the wind.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMm9XWEcsPtOcVFAGcr6_v97Vms3wbC32sq7_XWh2dIYv-N3mpFWMHLMsOOM_iaFtoZagOMa8371s95VN1Tcnm99GfzMldK3y968EN5oq1DQdtRXKU9qMZRT1CLXg0QF-2QNJi33gfe_w/s1600-h/IMG_0487.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMm9XWEcsPtOcVFAGcr6_v97Vms3wbC32sq7_XWh2dIYv-N3mpFWMHLMsOOM_iaFtoZagOMa8371s95VN1Tcnm99GfzMldK3y968EN5oq1DQdtRXKU9qMZRT1CLXg0QF-2QNJi33gfe_w/s320/IMG_0487.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402154647598635186" border="0" /></a>With all the foam, surf, and fog, it was hard to see the boundaries between the sand, water, and sky.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsIoyCNzvIo8-_AMtsMIYoDmBIibPfTq1Lcx4dMqiAbH-uKuhxUakU6bzIolvIh9SY1-G_dgKWAfzS58LaL8EGAfesm8-xxIBrQ7Jzol2vNo1wBbtwpJq8luqQSmiY1l5LJLutFSzGhJg/s1600-h/IMG_0509.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 319px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsIoyCNzvIo8-_AMtsMIYoDmBIibPfTq1Lcx4dMqiAbH-uKuhxUakU6bzIolvIh9SY1-G_dgKWAfzS58LaL8EGAfesm8-xxIBrQ7Jzol2vNo1wBbtwpJq8luqQSmiY1l5LJLutFSzGhJg/s320/IMG_0509.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402154888906433378" border="0" /></a><br />On Sunday, we left for home reluctantly as always. Along the way, we stopped at the Nehalem Treatment Plant to look for some birds. Upon arriving, Sarah spotted a Black Phoebe, a rare coastal flycatcher.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV3U3DLjuTFwgN4LoT1GDh5AIT_klBv0hpfIwIYIHZLjzskJzWzSoLioykBcjxF4_yVUeaCimPdvIr7Sv8e73M1N0_Qs_8gDHrG4BitTQcGkchaSyWOtkTGOYQXDHO5P0yUlK9V9_sRVk/s1600-h/NOMO.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 302px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV3U3DLjuTFwgN4LoT1GDh5AIT_klBv0hpfIwIYIHZLjzskJzWzSoLioykBcjxF4_yVUeaCimPdvIr7Sv8e73M1N0_Qs_8gDHrG4BitTQcGkchaSyWOtkTGOYQXDHO5P0yUlK9V9_sRVk/s320/NOMO.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402154873594775234" border="0" /></a>A well-known Portland birder was visiting the area as well. He pointed us to a Northern Mockingbird perched on the sprinkler above. The coast is frequently visited by birds, such as this mockingbird, that venture out of there normal range. I rarely see these rarities myself, however, so it was nice to have a little help.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio6J548gVSBoNN5ixsadc4aeYGgXjVFARze9LxuxHcgmh0xL0PUBd8HXcAkEFg5JC64_6_GQbAUrN8OOIhshMkzx2Nuq0jSav5RvuYp4U0D5r6zYI1-6EpNilTt5iimQqiPlC4Cr5L0WY/s1600-h/EAGLES.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 272px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio6J548gVSBoNN5ixsadc4aeYGgXjVFARze9LxuxHcgmh0xL0PUBd8HXcAkEFg5JC64_6_GQbAUrN8OOIhshMkzx2Nuq0jSav5RvuYp4U0D5r6zYI1-6EpNilTt5iimQqiPlC4Cr5L0WY/s320/EAGLES.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402154878510974578" border="0" /></a>We also found pairs of White-tailed Kites, Northern Harriers, and Bald Eagles. Once again, the Nehalem Plant did not disapoint.Maxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18037151652023799197noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8080239690561825545.post-42029670993867070862009-11-04T09:15:00.000-08:002009-11-04T09:31:47.368-08:00Painting AgainDuring the last few days, I worked on some painting projects.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7yxJquzB8FNiHwSohX6nAzHbvG-3XomHKHkHaY57fOWTWkE2fMFm7tOADYwXrswxE88MdhfFWL0y31ZXvI9znKlvhlWuFMNe7Wa2g39KUgnxNBE_70W53fVPWAN6gSHDIzN-GmOD7QCg/s1600-h/go+ducks.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7yxJquzB8FNiHwSohX6nAzHbvG-3XomHKHkHaY57fOWTWkE2fMFm7tOADYwXrswxE88MdhfFWL0y31ZXvI9znKlvhlWuFMNe7Wa2g39KUgnxNBE_70W53fVPWAN6gSHDIzN-GmOD7QCg/s320/go+ducks.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400298571272248834" border="0" /></a>On Halloween Day, I woke up and painted the University of Oregon logo on a small green pumpkin. I became a Duck fan through marriage, so I had spent much of the week looking forward to the Oregon-USC football game that night. Oregon won the game easily, so we will keep the pumpkin around as a good-luck charm.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe3Q5oTKHfGHmHcCk0JK9_br34kITMt3W-aw8Pa4d_3mV1CXASrEyrVg1ApyEQ91gcOHJ44qogh1Kj7nXoG10OVT9_m5sHjFq9XSMqdvftRWoexdEsbmTmFrbvYkr8-EAmpH9lwpfTGK8/s1600-h/bloy.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe3Q5oTKHfGHmHcCk0JK9_br34kITMt3W-aw8Pa4d_3mV1CXASrEyrVg1ApyEQ91gcOHJ44qogh1Kj7nXoG10OVT9_m5sHjFq9XSMqdvftRWoexdEsbmTmFrbvYkr8-EAmpH9lwpfTGK8/s320/bloy.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400298581584777186" border="0" /></a>Yesterday I finished my annual contribution to the Wild Arts Festival, a fundraiser for the Audubon Society of Portland. We have seen a lot of Black Oystercatchers during our beach trips this year, so I was inspired to put one on a 6 x 6 canvas.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6Pjhyphenhyphen595-6fpZotkEfR2btmhB3LLkLKq51nh8gK0_QwxXxm5X5NmCi5-GYlWcVpxCau_B44nwdBI8XjU3tk4HrvRWzDfWzsYTPSqVithiVUD_PyvUwLNzqQcMkFV1aWrHkB_zbKYlndM/s1600-h/bloy+2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6Pjhyphenhyphen595-6fpZotkEfR2btmhB3LLkLKq51nh8gK0_QwxXxm5X5NmCi5-GYlWcVpxCau_B44nwdBI8XjU3tk4HrvRWzDfWzsYTPSqVithiVUD_PyvUwLNzqQcMkFV1aWrHkB_zbKYlndM/s320/bloy+2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400301359279329234" border="0" /></a>This oystercatcher is contemplating a limpet, one of their favorite foods.<br />Soon it will be time to carve and paint holiday ornaments!Maxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18037151652023799197noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8080239690561825545.post-43173172263941035742009-10-27T09:05:00.000-07:002009-10-27T09:16:02.357-07:00Rainy Days and PumpkinsAfter a particularly dry summer and early fall, western Oregon is finally getting the rain it needs.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDtH4fPodcT0YyI1bb_rv0PwN6x39OcjZGG40SjuNY8ZmNwiNSu8mKe6zOTU4U4efoP93RSefj6mr5MkK7A1a3_mp2KEyHXDAzq-SIX4q9jsOP2KD5R1l1Cm8cMYcCCmjqG2jhKvXXCok/s1600-h/leaves.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDtH4fPodcT0YyI1bb_rv0PwN6x39OcjZGG40SjuNY8ZmNwiNSu8mKe6zOTU4U4efoP93RSefj6mr5MkK7A1a3_mp2KEyHXDAzq-SIX4q9jsOP2KD5R1l1Cm8cMYcCCmjqG2jhKvXXCok/s320/leaves.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397311861272304338" border="0" /></a>The ornamental trees in the neighborhood are reaching their peak of brightness, as are the well-manicured lawns.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBX6ATmN3KFKfOT5tt-gXrKD96rMJuFxmt-o8wXn2VfjuP-CCBn-mSHc7de6klqY1SvvrlgdNRSONVNE3rRoF1L3_fQX1iiNShEuYeEAA0hZYJnHej2-um-DAZnc6uoUl9_0KdJ-LFPBc/s1600-h/Jacko.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBX6ATmN3KFKfOT5tt-gXrKD96rMJuFxmt-o8wXn2VfjuP-CCBn-mSHc7de6klqY1SvvrlgdNRSONVNE3rRoF1L3_fQX1iiNShEuYeEAA0hZYJnHej2-um-DAZnc6uoUl9_0KdJ-LFPBc/s320/Jacko.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397311856195299906" border="0" /></a>The dark, cool weather inspired me to carve a pumpkin in celebration of the season. This is the first home-grown Jack O' Lantern I've carved. I gave him acorn horns and a leafy beard to help him fit into the neighborhood. We have a smaller pumpkin in the apartment that we will bake into a pie next week.Maxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18037151652023799197noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8080239690561825545.post-50273197941377411452009-10-20T10:16:00.000-07:002009-10-20T10:29:48.613-07:00Wallowa Lake<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizXxYo4rCebvHtWoQLtq2huVISxltspcLRqEaLTqXoyyM9FJcxUvgHT54AbDD1jfc4ENa9luJUYkhRq8bBtK4PaS-RfUWftH3IYS6dZ8QAN35J23C7ztPm0zSarqzkS6jFAfIgJQK6X5k/s1600-h/wall+lake+and+mtn.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizXxYo4rCebvHtWoQLtq2huVISxltspcLRqEaLTqXoyyM9FJcxUvgHT54AbDD1jfc4ENa9luJUYkhRq8bBtK4PaS-RfUWftH3IYS6dZ8QAN35J23C7ztPm0zSarqzkS6jFAfIgJQK6X5k/s320/wall+lake+and+mtn.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5394732727989891746" border="0" /></a><br />Before driving home from Wallowa County on Sunday, Sarah and I took a quick drive around Wallowa Lake. It felt like winter was on its way, but we still found plenty of birds in the water including Mallards, Western Grebes, American Coots, and Common Loons.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVvA7M1Ah2-HRISScdkb0bCvEO87L9muCU-QkzVPcPt5CYjk-xHNtI8qMPUZiHgrrDolNTouPEtDvEZniylkQyXNmFtqKwjjdx_QDY29Isrv7IwXUxpC7IFUgw9pbcvxBHN7ah2CQw86I/s1600-h/morain.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVvA7M1Ah2-HRISScdkb0bCvEO87L9muCU-QkzVPcPt5CYjk-xHNtI8qMPUZiHgrrDolNTouPEtDvEZniylkQyXNmFtqKwjjdx_QDY29Isrv7IwXUxpC7IFUgw9pbcvxBHN7ah2CQw86I/s320/morain.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5394732711412921874" border="0" /></a>The lake bed was carved by huge glaciers that left many large moraines like the one above. Some say this is the best example of a glacial moraine in the country.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK6ftokxH1HihT4VHQhVrmeUEhmTREF9_PXTfJnNgFuXV1VjZ8lllxRkUg-nkIXQ74avgukN_iP9pK00NeQkO0Hv3JsEQSA4XMAYYjK1njMvF6xS01w8iQWrFLnAK4amZTcx-QUpy7DRM/s1600-h/poderosas.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK6ftokxH1HihT4VHQhVrmeUEhmTREF9_PXTfJnNgFuXV1VjZ8lllxRkUg-nkIXQ74avgukN_iP9pK00NeQkO0Hv3JsEQSA4XMAYYjK1njMvF6xS01w8iQWrFLnAK4amZTcx-QUpy7DRM/s320/poderosas.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5394732718113004082" border="0" /></a>We walked among some large ponderosa pines and other conifers. The pale green trees in the background are western larches that are transitioning from green to yellow before their needles drop for the winter.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrCpV2rv3hSW23K6bODtHuwJ_947eInlzi1wd-bzLjSPPLT0D3W9JOsWI_6dYVkqhN2UIpQq1HhVfoh0iJ8Ba8KwV0esmJNELGxTT2APVhSZpWZC8rYMdQyPJFN7dQUNBZGYccZR1PacA/s1600-h/larch.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrCpV2rv3hSW23K6bODtHuwJ_947eInlzi1wd-bzLjSPPLT0D3W9JOsWI_6dYVkqhN2UIpQq1HhVfoh0iJ8Ba8KwV0esmJNELGxTT2APVhSZpWZC8rYMdQyPJFN7dQUNBZGYccZR1PacA/s320/larch.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5394732699199800802" border="0" /></a>Some larch branches had recently blown down. This branch had landed on top of another engraved by beetles.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFkx9WMIChAvKH5iWBljoSKCGZ-IK8V0Yfw4msRfUn5qcEb2RzqumK6MORoRCCXMpzWxl6fZ4i9rR4AUKOG1y4YzcqwED3eBSwg_MwcifqCrI-KSnIuvuYPn-tbnKn0t4pIulIiq2XaTg/s1600-h/forest.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFkx9WMIChAvKH5iWBljoSKCGZ-IK8V0Yfw4msRfUn5qcEb2RzqumK6MORoRCCXMpzWxl6fZ4i9rR4AUKOG1y4YzcqwED3eBSwg_MwcifqCrI-KSnIuvuYPn-tbnKn0t4pIulIiq2XaTg/s320/forest.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5394732908100251170" border="0" /></a>We could have hiked around the lake all day, but we had to return to the real world. This part of Oregon is not as far from Portland as I had previously thought, so we will return soon.Maxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18037151652023799197noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8080239690561825545.post-59843974724372422462009-10-19T09:46:00.000-07:002009-10-19T10:10:38.386-07:00Wallowa Country<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzewnyVHWrae8yzJ-8ndto0S9nCIIY0Zdof35Z4BrS5805rJ81kq6tP3QNyAjC5Si-ytpHNX2oS7O5zOqXGxwsOGL-9X1wAOjpKL2lX0vV4Wgto-6VrNnXkG9J3rp6M5yXkEuFFdXCsd0/s1600-h/barn+and+mountains.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 190px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzewnyVHWrae8yzJ-8ndto0S9nCIIY0Zdof35Z4BrS5805rJ81kq6tP3QNyAjC5Si-ytpHNX2oS7O5zOqXGxwsOGL-9X1wAOjpKL2lX0vV4Wgto-6VrNnXkG9J3rp6M5yXkEuFFdXCsd0/s320/barn+and+mountains.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5394355215401042450" border="0" /></a><br />This weekend, Sarah and I traveled to the northeast corner of Oregon, a region of the state that we had not yet explored.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8k1-6bhITo4rB3kxvT5pAPQ2GkA8bXaJbd4sAPISdXP1m5izpFnFukYTpR_K9khPk0d_VWAe78zOJGlR8VHgsgGVTzpaE6G2bpyGnB1bw1cZc51UFECP1ATnmdtNPDLQmoQFFmpqByXQ/s1600-h/idaho+canyons.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8k1-6bhITo4rB3kxvT5pAPQ2GkA8bXaJbd4sAPISdXP1m5izpFnFukYTpR_K9khPk0d_VWAe78zOJGlR8VHgsgGVTzpaE6G2bpyGnB1bw1cZc51UFECP1ATnmdtNPDLQmoQFFmpqByXQ/s320/idaho+canyons.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5394355222650711762" border="0" /></a><br />On Friday, we escaped the rain in Portland and arrived in drier Wallowa County.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjghYTBGiwCH5IsbzK8b3qfNJVACSQugTilBkP1qRCx5BQWyUu4H1CcgFDKsSlFHz-ljp8Gp1f29MVmLVOZN0hybGiyY4K-eztMe3BfjJmFTLyxmj9O9lF-YlkDTpPd7UzVWxiQPKfXYVs/s1600-h/IMG_0422.JPG.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjghYTBGiwCH5IsbzK8b3qfNJVACSQugTilBkP1qRCx5BQWyUu4H1CcgFDKsSlFHz-ljp8Gp1f29MVmLVOZN0hybGiyY4K-eztMe3BfjJmFTLyxmj9O9lF-YlkDTpPd7UzVWxiQPKfXYVs/s320/IMG_0422.JPG.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5394358385554261186" border="0" /></a><br />Wallowa County borders Idaho and Washington, contains many cows, and has no traffic lights.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWXL09_KETqhN3YkDq5CJWopooIGjwaj7aLDGcvn-gJP-TpDGYx6U0v1wR91mk4fpLhmZ5g6Kw9s8Nbg4pE5zJkIvfhdLHB3BKajIFFwghIZCArtf1ohYN2Q1sd7jsAX_cfELOyznKaRc/s1600-h/joseph+view.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWXL09_KETqhN3YkDq5CJWopooIGjwaj7aLDGcvn-gJP-TpDGYx6U0v1wR91mk4fpLhmZ5g6Kw9s8Nbg4pE5zJkIvfhdLHB3BKajIFFwghIZCArtf1ohYN2Q1sd7jsAX_cfELOyznKaRc/s320/joseph+view.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5394355241536787890" border="0" /></a><br />The Wallowa Mountains resemble the Rockies of Montana and contain the same plants and birds that are found in my home state.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGWN-0eY8wBEaaEe9wx2Ucn_ChsuXWpu8tCl9krQaS3EdddSc9x7PQ5uaOJwxyZnjI4XK-sd0XKx8imjW4nAZAyyv71WsPvaOnVAvLrDQlF-GeorXKJZzKjOxQMyyXkG_8bRXJSGNyU2g/s1600-h/jos+bronze+cowboy.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGWN-0eY8wBEaaEe9wx2Ucn_ChsuXWpu8tCl9krQaS3EdddSc9x7PQ5uaOJwxyZnjI4XK-sd0XKx8imjW4nAZAyyv71WsPvaOnVAvLrDQlF-GeorXKJZzKjOxQMyyXkG_8bRXJSGNyU2g/s320/jos+bronze+cowboy.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5394355230653175378" border="0" /></a>We stayed in a nice bed and breakfast near the small town of Joesph, the bronze sculpture capital of Oregon.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6LNjTR8NRDW2gxE8SI_GXTsU972cODcgd3U6Ln8DX1N0ruHc0FjP8IIjsWsPkLTIYuyuBMI-rMqIFQEsVOovg-rhdaaWIgGFsnWw5hepH7Iz_s7lZza5ZFs2_W6WxwejaslVQjpVPOZA/s1600-h/jos+stream.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6LNjTR8NRDW2gxE8SI_GXTsU972cODcgd3U6Ln8DX1N0ruHc0FjP8IIjsWsPkLTIYuyuBMI-rMqIFQEsVOovg-rhdaaWIgGFsnWw5hepH7Iz_s7lZza5ZFs2_W6WxwejaslVQjpVPOZA/s320/jos+stream.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5394356803502611106" border="0" /></a><br />On Saturday morning, we drove through ranchland and the Zumwalt Prairie Reserve in search of raptors. We had been looking forward to visiting Zumwalt Prairie and its famous density of hawks and eagles.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8qH6yH6fdTO-O35KAPtfzF0V_cNINb2Jt8AznSQ1rnjNvdh_cZuiys2ed9rE5GaM8Vj5JRph_MmvbOA_7qENypD4zFYW3JIB0IWRYf_QSMv7RZORLoZb87nLWaZzhMnHHIDsZdvZ2qdU/s1600-h/jos+mtns+and+grass.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8qH6yH6fdTO-O35KAPtfzF0V_cNINb2Jt8AznSQ1rnjNvdh_cZuiys2ed9rE5GaM8Vj5JRph_MmvbOA_7qENypD4zFYW3JIB0IWRYf_QSMv7RZORLoZb87nLWaZzhMnHHIDsZdvZ2qdU/s320/jos+mtns+and+grass.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5394356784341169458" border="0" /></a><br />Unfortunately, the Belding's ground squirrels, a favorite meal of raptors, appeared to be hibernating, so we did not see the Golden Eagles or Ferruginous Hawks we hoped for.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjJQoN30laxVoURkVmPENbuQEEyMLFij5BETrTwDyI3Cejowtg6JQe7A8HhmPzAFlNaUwBlMbpMMNbg__rNdhwuwaW4e9BDTBBsSuoQ1TBH2Bt45cAtJyam3I2AT8WpjlbNWaOq4YpMd0/s1600-h/tractor.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjJQoN30laxVoURkVmPENbuQEEyMLFij5BETrTwDyI3Cejowtg6JQe7A8HhmPzAFlNaUwBlMbpMMNbg__rNdhwuwaW4e9BDTBBsSuoQ1TBH2Bt45cAtJyam3I2AT8WpjlbNWaOq4YpMd0/s320/tractor.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5394356793209827842" border="0" /></a><br />We saw plenty of nice scenery, red-tailed hawks, and mountain bluebirds, however, so the drive was a success.Maxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18037151652023799197noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8080239690561825545.post-89869266452858283422009-10-13T14:12:00.000-07:002009-10-13T14:23:07.607-07:00Squash HarvestToday, in what has become an annual tradition, I helped harvest winter squash at our local farm.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLlej5Kps-SGNyDMdNxurKwHDrTlfltszY8Nj39MR0bFXxYpiZnjRw8uh2pj8v-U3W6zSXFdd32G6rkIx4yHKkI8w1WudogpwLpoIO0mCunOCaBloszDBGTJtJlZVn0YMqdHiT6IKo9j8/s1600-h/squash+field.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLlej5Kps-SGNyDMdNxurKwHDrTlfltszY8Nj39MR0bFXxYpiZnjRw8uh2pj8v-U3W6zSXFdd32G6rkIx4yHKkI8w1WudogpwLpoIO0mCunOCaBloszDBGTJtJlZVn0YMqdHiT6IKo9j8/s320/squash+field.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392196042929263170" border="0" /></a>It was also the first day of the Oregon rainy season, though it did not fall hard enough to slow us down.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEA1lRL53J5MBMxixZdmpVcSnIQ16re4hj4tTt7ghps8y7b_y5Z2CsaQit46ndjmSTGbbIqwvDN2vVReVpTxu7hbH2j6EWV-o_9rLEPqfbz9O5VQFP0-1iNJRdCfraKfwrYhbegkMJ4tg/s1600-h/Squash+pile.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEA1lRL53J5MBMxixZdmpVcSnIQ16re4hj4tTt7ghps8y7b_y5Z2CsaQit46ndjmSTGbbIqwvDN2vVReVpTxu7hbH2j6EWV-o_9rLEPqfbz9O5VQFP0-1iNJRdCfraKfwrYhbegkMJ4tg/s320/Squash+pile.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392196053017222786" border="0" /></a>In three and a half hours, we moved three tons of squash from the field to the greenhouse, where they will be washed later. Eventually most will go to CSA families and local restaurants. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq7Pt-PMVhNaXIUEAdj5zOyO7NbHEbhzC3iJnqd673ii2P0rkhcjgTz6j9OZHhTMqvwnavF1B201Ic9NjSmI7aCokSHuTdO4PbxwnXPOlhW0kl3G0Y5nEsWfaqqMe74_oq7pV279Uh0Nw/s1600-h/rouge+stacks.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq7Pt-PMVhNaXIUEAdj5zOyO7NbHEbhzC3iJnqd673ii2P0rkhcjgTz6j9OZHhTMqvwnavF1B201Ic9NjSmI7aCokSHuTdO4PbxwnXPOlhW0kl3G0Y5nEsWfaqqMe74_oq7pV279Uh0Nw/s320/rouge+stacks.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392196036059331218" border="0" /></a><br />Of the thirteen varieties, the greatest mass belonged to the Rouge Vif dEtampes, above. These red beauties weighed in at 850 total pounds, up to 35 pounds each. I brought a small one home that will be our centerpiece until we make a dinner out of it.Maxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18037151652023799197noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8080239690561825545.post-85285974478606273162009-10-12T08:52:00.000-07:002009-10-12T09:27:43.481-07:00Mushroom Hikes<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioxDfwFV9oqRuMiqP5n6ugPxOyKQ-HMGtUVCJwGy7EGFeuNiK7Rw6JsiVQsjHLJAjBX70ZZ_WUsK_jpnRodg6yib53hXQSCw1aEtElYps5Kxg13nCnQCSPBXYoZbTJ1LkapXi85ekuiJg/s1600-h/shelf+fungi.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioxDfwFV9oqRuMiqP5n6ugPxOyKQ-HMGtUVCJwGy7EGFeuNiK7Rw6JsiVQsjHLJAjBX70ZZ_WUsK_jpnRodg6yib53hXQSCw1aEtElYps5Kxg13nCnQCSPBXYoZbTJ1LkapXi85ekuiJg/s320/shelf+fungi.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391745576264104882" border="0" /></a><br />During the last two weekends, Sarah and I hiked some forests near the coast with our eyes focused on the ground. Sarah was preparing a presentation on mushrooms for her Audubon volunteers, so we were seeking fungi to help he prepare.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdkFZ5weD9M7da5d8AucSBe9G_ClsYa-rXIUCrYEtsuXD5MPaScEwAL9nFP_CxeqGJxLdxTP3xZg7KNI628sOHfw0eXBAIuHb5tCi1noqlMsuS787S-6qFewi-qxmM8ud5OdfouYsl4iQ/s1600-h/Whalen+Island.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdkFZ5weD9M7da5d8AucSBe9G_ClsYa-rXIUCrYEtsuXD5MPaScEwAL9nFP_CxeqGJxLdxTP3xZg7KNI628sOHfw0eXBAIuHb5tCi1noqlMsuS787S-6qFewi-qxmM8ud5OdfouYsl4iQ/s320/Whalen+Island.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391745298672955186" border="0" /></a><br />Our first hike was around Whalen Island State Park. We are in the middle of the Oregon mushroom season, so we had no trouble finding fungi, but since we did not have a permit to pick on State land, we did not bring any home to eat.<br /><br />A week later, we walked through Oswald West State Park near Cannon Beach. In addition to mushrooms, we found many trees growing out of nurse logs.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJyJTaUDyYvptgH5kGKud9DlO9fYy117oCKTSfCBV4Ho7bjbvXuBS5MITfHRgRkVNlZ5-j0LdvBBUtEEumTaQYBqlkphWO-eRlOEF8hDcmF0C-SNZYtkU_U9wP0V6PkXJalcxR6ZL-S0g/s1600-h/nurse+logs.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJyJTaUDyYvptgH5kGKud9DlO9fYy117oCKTSfCBV4Ho7bjbvXuBS5MITfHRgRkVNlZ5-j0LdvBBUtEEumTaQYBqlkphWO-eRlOEF8hDcmF0C-SNZYtkU_U9wP0V6PkXJalcxR6ZL-S0g/s320/nurse+logs.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391745280189653282" border="0" /></a><br />The western hemlock above looks like it is trying to lift an old log off the ground.<br /><br />Here are a few of the mushrooms we found and tried to identify:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRCplhC8SBgjbSF4njWXfv1YckTzP06DqbyidVJxAOilVkeyFjVzTDx-bckj1ZaMiG2DuPDRl0Foze1L0KFgRDhD3V0MXzYKw5DgS1hyphenhypheno52DmM7mDNZHj2a0lXsSxS5DV5J8QtVuXQfBA/s1600-h/gilled+mushroom.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRCplhC8SBgjbSF4njWXfv1YckTzP06DqbyidVJxAOilVkeyFjVzTDx-bckj1ZaMiG2DuPDRl0Foze1L0KFgRDhD3V0MXzYKw5DgS1hyphenhypheno52DmM7mDNZHj2a0lXsSxS5DV5J8QtVuXQfBA/s320/gilled+mushroom.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391744561637123858" border="0" /></a>A large gilled mushroom<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_qydRTLpZViud5e81cLR_OeAfutTnnweBHTOtHsCauMsr0DkGlgIBazfCcPq8yDL_lGir3GmJ0ZbiQBRFxdQDoOf8phGZSokW1BORrocwP1dNArw_wDYjFhrMJQ7D0ZnxT5BGnl5f2-0/s1600-h/mushrooms+on+alder.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_qydRTLpZViud5e81cLR_OeAfutTnnweBHTOtHsCauMsr0DkGlgIBazfCcPq8yDL_lGir3GmJ0ZbiQBRFxdQDoOf8phGZSokW1BORrocwP1dNArw_wDYjFhrMJQ7D0ZnxT5BGnl5f2-0/s320/mushrooms+on+alder.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391745273709267138" border="0" /></a>Small gilled mushrooms growing out of an alder log<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7vG-ftXS6hIaidcw7ivsCvOezBxduxen0cfmAg8ONxm3fzBzth2eRxP9ZDXX1tq4D50cAD2YxmbTUGbborez94_Pxhyphenhyphen4nid7wcCEX11CzFvyNFJigZqomr8IKRngvjBufoMBt4wKICjc/s1600-h/false+chantrel.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7vG-ftXS6hIaidcw7ivsCvOezBxduxen0cfmAg8ONxm3fzBzth2eRxP9ZDXX1tq4D50cAD2YxmbTUGbborez94_Pxhyphenhyphen4nid7wcCEX11CzFvyNFJigZqomr8IKRngvjBufoMBt4wKICjc/s320/false+chantrel.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391744553943713810" border="0" /></a>A false chantrel<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglgQOJotZd9E7NRDQgGXhZj2919ScWJNi_dKQH7cYBCe_0bi72hVsgmXA2-b_XQJIS_WEzeqQLMk3hpgcSx94uKuKC1QwDYEnYHLx-t0xE9oSIJ7nZjIirVCIRsuZKo4hJ-Vz602x1dmc/s1600-h/lobster+mushroom.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglgQOJotZd9E7NRDQgGXhZj2919ScWJNi_dKQH7cYBCe_0bi72hVsgmXA2-b_XQJIS_WEzeqQLMk3hpgcSx94uKuKC1QwDYEnYHLx-t0xE9oSIJ7nZjIirVCIRsuZKo4hJ-Vz602x1dmc/s320/lobster+mushroom.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391744564553816466" border="0" /></a>A lobster mushroom, actually two species in one - a large white mushroom covered by a second, red fungus which lends it a distinctive flavor.<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigflZCX8L06NmcsgwIRe_NKcMngzxTeSfLj5-hLQaNkhNu0Z_w4IerKk6bcqywQC8PrcY0HQy6-xCeZ456IueA2vMKIlIRu96TDafDo6q7yDkkjv1GA-AhDIUhOfBajpwuUabVsGYi-D8/s1600-h/bolete.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigflZCX8L06NmcsgwIRe_NKcMngzxTeSfLj5-hLQaNkhNu0Z_w4IerKk6bcqywQC8PrcY0HQy6-xCeZ456IueA2vMKIlIRu96TDafDo6q7yDkkjv1GA-AhDIUhOfBajpwuUabVsGYi-D8/s320/bolete.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391744538958224002" border="0" /></a>We also found non-gilled species such as this large bolete that has spongy tissue on the underside of the cap.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMgwSdH4okqG5U-s8gRWcg0kEFBVB7fK9m7yNIClolY19womPmQsU3zwh3qtdfrtC-JyogTSZ2vTC2YtHXPN9wnQaeAbbgoNtiwJAxSP2efJHApjPvYj5hoxJDIeuTA11kdwjvdYJAOmg/s1600-h/Poly+pore+fungus.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMgwSdH4okqG5U-s8gRWcg0kEFBVB7fK9m7yNIClolY19womPmQsU3zwh3qtdfrtC-JyogTSZ2vTC2YtHXPN9wnQaeAbbgoNtiwJAxSP2efJHApjPvYj5hoxJDIeuTA11kdwjvdYJAOmg/s320/Poly+pore+fungus.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391745285111066866" border="0" /></a>Polypore fungi were growing on nearly every snag.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgALvjdOSbWMwXw_5zcE9ELDVoP_315DS4LA0XGyxbMeqyk7rh8Wfd9R1TBMIsABNyz9bE6u5mzRLAx3HAcgXbYQwhI_MauPwlMb3CbrAKX23FCJ0CXbuJAtSVZE7l3BknApdDQKM_1cks/s1600-h/coral+funfus.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 307px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgALvjdOSbWMwXw_5zcE9ELDVoP_315DS4LA0XGyxbMeqyk7rh8Wfd9R1TBMIsABNyz9bE6u5mzRLAx3HAcgXbYQwhI_MauPwlMb3CbrAKX23FCJ0CXbuJAtSVZE7l3BknApdDQKM_1cks/s320/coral+funfus.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391744547197187234" border="0" /></a>We found numerous coral fungi on the forest floor as well.<br /><br />Now that we know a little more about mushrooms than before, we are eager to return to the forest and harvest a meal.Maxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18037151652023799197noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8080239690561825545.post-29414169937648785492009-10-05T09:04:00.000-07:002009-10-05T09:27:00.900-07:00Kelp on the Beach<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNgw9BI3Zh6RGzPlIbDrmpoR2E3c_Zma7vVJCwq0YDvHOlruglrRlN3ue0VRafxNxlWKi_cvfc1PLwCXG7YYQldN9kViv4pYRCisR5P5cHhgZBcAlmMX7XVi_C3T_jxrjBL55Jv8EgqEc/s1600-h/BS+ROCK.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNgw9BI3Zh6RGzPlIbDrmpoR2E3c_Zma7vVJCwq0YDvHOlruglrRlN3ue0VRafxNxlWKi_cvfc1PLwCXG7YYQldN9kViv4pYRCisR5P5cHhgZBcAlmMX7XVi_C3T_jxrjBL55Jv8EgqEc/s320/BS+ROCK.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389147784191931154" border="0" /></a><br />On Friday, Sarah and I packed our laptops and took our work to the beach. Around noon, we took a break and walked the stretch of beach in front of Pacific City.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSAHcmWy7zP4DtFga7fVJG4jz8tjNB-Whwk9ZenSZK5trC3Q9eepfEggFYr_FZ2Tf22HTgG2JzNuB2JCf9R7WQJ6XXUug2mtPXZKz_EWCTSWwZZaNuwt6CKhmYF2fcFnblVlEN8BhvKok/s1600-h/BS+KELP+BEACH.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSAHcmWy7zP4DtFga7fVJG4jz8tjNB-Whwk9ZenSZK5trC3Q9eepfEggFYr_FZ2Tf22HTgG2JzNuB2JCf9R7WQJ6XXUug2mtPXZKz_EWCTSWwZZaNuwt6CKhmYF2fcFnblVlEN8BhvKok/s320/BS+KELP+BEACH.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389147634154589810" border="0" /></a><br />We quickly noticed that stormy seas had washed piles of kelp onto the beach.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTA7C1w5qmxTa7z4hdFP09glMWRTf-Aqzw7MKmJwH7bkWyU6Ml_ZJ_8dCmx7fuaMBm917ibigHaFymM3GfPbIHnpchVRcDRbfRJP6iQTV2BSt3LHRaDIwuy-RaUeH-lHGhNgyM7C5Re8A/s1600-h/bs+big+kelp.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTA7C1w5qmxTa7z4hdFP09glMWRTf-Aqzw7MKmJwH7bkWyU6Ml_ZJ_8dCmx7fuaMBm917ibigHaFymM3GfPbIHnpchVRcDRbfRJP6iQTV2BSt3LHRaDIwuy-RaUeH-lHGhNgyM7C5Re8A/s320/bs+big+kelp.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389149373334699954" border="0" /></a>Bull kelp individuals grow from the size of a spore to dozens-of-feet-long in less than a year. Eventually, the waves carry the kelp ashore, where countless tiny beach creatures feed on the decaying masses. Larger creatures, such as Sanderlings and other shorebirds, feed on the invertebrate kelp-eaters during migration and winter.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0aiYkXfBIYm0aRgyjLdTBkjFLpXuZWA9v_f5cUVzLcJjH9SQI4Vll1PmXMiiaeECYRuRg0xDukBJH1I9fkdJf2fO65uEImCe32mWcC1IbJ9WkhINA04H7pXSHwLZMzBq6bQhEbwduc9s/s1600-h/BS+KELP+ROCK.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 170px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0aiYkXfBIYm0aRgyjLdTBkjFLpXuZWA9v_f5cUVzLcJjH9SQI4Vll1PmXMiiaeECYRuRg0xDukBJH1I9fkdJf2fO65uEImCe32mWcC1IbJ9WkhINA04H7pXSHwLZMzBq6bQhEbwduc9s/s320/BS+KELP+ROCK.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389147642225318018" border="0" /></a>Bull kelps are anchored to rocks on the seashore by their rubbery holdfasts. Many interesting anchor rocks, and other organisms attached to them were tugged onto the beach.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQIOCt-SAlZfH3Ji07bv-Lppxob1bBSouc_TANb7-EMLP3ZFdg_IOA4zx7N1-AISTtzBqsyg1u1RZMDSMEOfgApdc65r2gEW5kcZSaq6xKHBJOyiY4MpjIgzX1c9sn8deQdbPMlRZXzvA/s1600-h/BS+EIGHT+KELPS.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 190px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQIOCt-SAlZfH3Ji07bv-Lppxob1bBSouc_TANb7-EMLP3ZFdg_IOA4zx7N1-AISTtzBqsyg1u1RZMDSMEOfgApdc65r2gEW5kcZSaq6xKHBJOyiY4MpjIgzX1c9sn8deQdbPMlRZXzvA/s320/BS+EIGHT+KELPS.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389147619144362754" border="0" /></a>This rock had anchored at least 8 individual bull kelps.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnJoeLGBcKwnrRytnvV9GctLDGhUDNxwy5DNX7yxVGk8Z1yND9ZsPjUYW25Lpi3eGs3_0AhHoaMGSiJ-jngDg90DUXUd6FXB2T5YkryKduN03un1eZ2w7Nqrea13QG8ZZKGVd6GTZ-_hc/s1600-h/BS+KELP+TANGLE.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnJoeLGBcKwnrRytnvV9GctLDGhUDNxwy5DNX7yxVGk8Z1yND9ZsPjUYW25Lpi3eGs3_0AhHoaMGSiJ-jngDg90DUXUd6FXB2T5YkryKduN03un1eZ2w7Nqrea13QG8ZZKGVd6GTZ-_hc/s320/BS+KELP+TANGLE.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389147777160466850" border="0" /></a>Their stipes had coiled into a think, heavy rope.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmXa_RgIEpaLuiWsuNFIGjB0NNFUoC7QY26smA8W5piifBDBWE_3Xj2yhSXHO7rGObIvhGWEcG2gU6hns9JjRLFG7PGgh3F6mg-NtExA27qFmetIptOOIR8Z7LpANiMKP_pEprKQ2bASQ/s1600-h/BS+FEATHER+KELP.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmXa_RgIEpaLuiWsuNFIGjB0NNFUoC7QY26smA8W5piifBDBWE_3Xj2yhSXHO7rGObIvhGWEcG2gU6hns9JjRLFG7PGgh3F6mg-NtExA27qFmetIptOOIR8Z7LpANiMKP_pEprKQ2bASQ/s320/BS+FEATHER+KELP.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389147626389856594" border="0" /></a>We also found this interesting species of brown kelp, <span style="font-style: italic;">Egregia menziesii</span>.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg37lYzcBH7l_YYq8_oFtWeIRmvzP0zvU-aVKLyfLTkG8urk1GRep8850-1TCo0oOPSUbjXjWWgYzMDDpivL_n2d6iQdSSnssYzTXoBpfHNSSfGJPkf4bZIHkuGzjKH8Ju3jYrDcT3mn4E/s1600-h/bs+broown+kelp.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 229px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg37lYzcBH7l_YYq8_oFtWeIRmvzP0zvU-aVKLyfLTkG8urk1GRep8850-1TCo0oOPSUbjXjWWgYzMDDpivL_n2d6iQdSSnssYzTXoBpfHNSSfGJPkf4bZIHkuGzjKH8Ju3jYrDcT3mn4E/s320/bs+broown+kelp.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389152451902735138" border="0" /></a>Up close, it resembles several brown leather belts decorated with fringes.<br />With our beach needs satisfied, we returned to the house to continue our work.Maxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18037151652023799197noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8080239690561825545.post-32315639719713490642009-09-30T11:17:00.000-07:002009-09-30T11:33:32.082-07:00The Wait is OverFall has finally arrived!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9_uhKaDR4wF0A6k8ooi2BdjBXr0FMCpXHtc3rk9kaVIzG55Ayev8YoLtNjU_ElrJD0iRUQimFGpwAImO4dGPoNbnn87frJQogHzbWrfqeakWbFx-FgevOiaXXlIPoGma2B1jRFT5fV1Y/s1600-h/sept+street.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9_uhKaDR4wF0A6k8ooi2BdjBXr0FMCpXHtc3rk9kaVIzG55Ayev8YoLtNjU_ElrJD0iRUQimFGpwAImO4dGPoNbnn87frJQogHzbWrfqeakWbFx-FgevOiaXXlIPoGma2B1jRFT5fV1Y/s320/sept+street.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5387327349245373250" border="0" /></a><br />Several chilly rainstorms have come through, putting an end to our unseasonably warm weather, at least for now. Some of the trees are losing their leaves and wintering birds such as cackling geese and glaucous-winged gulls have arrived in the metro area, further indicating a change in seasons.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh8DtPw1SlO9skScPg_vtGZUt_etY8zUpu3MUTdHS_ZJe75GESCTsHmXY8GbKC3LfXxrIybpNx5f7n6krRsi43bbpUfVu2bqNXML0dvkcf1YHMeuZ_w75uBhCLQDJb97L56psO8gU4YOU/s1600-h/sept+squashes.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh8DtPw1SlO9skScPg_vtGZUt_etY8zUpu3MUTdHS_ZJe75GESCTsHmXY8GbKC3LfXxrIybpNx5f7n6krRsi43bbpUfVu2bqNXML0dvkcf1YHMeuZ_w75uBhCLQDJb97L56psO8gU4YOU/s320/sept+squashes.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5387327343655229906" border="0" /></a><br />We humans have responded as well. I have been stocking up on winter squash and Sarah has been collecting yarn.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-1HLJ_0SLZwYyLOjp5KjeVMmlpTQ_TAjYWJB5q-K5QWnSm7BIkDB-cD70FLinCZKRylKGYfh8ox5w4J0DJNSXrAMzvtM0gImPqzh4Sux-6IRNBVrI1SLvHXYFiyP0GG99VBgMgS-sWH4/s1600-h/sept+yarn.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-1HLJ_0SLZwYyLOjp5KjeVMmlpTQ_TAjYWJB5q-K5QWnSm7BIkDB-cD70FLinCZKRylKGYfh8ox5w4J0DJNSXrAMzvtM0gImPqzh4Sux-6IRNBVrI1SLvHXYFiyP0GG99VBgMgS-sWH4/s320/sept+yarn.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5387327354926375714" border="0" /></a>I need to put in an order for woolly gloves.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Cx053h5-hz90KdR5rerTVhac64AybjSEvmOtrK4DdshirDIuGIjm2eJWWXp0vm17cOYSDpGgeH2a2VJhSIR8X-dD_BkRp1sNXCZmhCr19IiItYMNBWUYRhW_54ikSqcuUhni-fAbrEs/s1600-h/sept+garden.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Cx053h5-hz90KdR5rerTVhac64AybjSEvmOtrK4DdshirDIuGIjm2eJWWXp0vm17cOYSDpGgeH2a2VJhSIR8X-dD_BkRp1sNXCZmhCr19IiItYMNBWUYRhW_54ikSqcuUhni-fAbrEs/s320/sept+garden.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5387327138975662130" border="0" /></a>Our tomato crop is winding down, but our freezer is full of sauce. We are just about ready to eat well during the soggy winter months.Maxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18037151652023799197noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8080239690561825545.post-6138720174876332152009-09-27T12:04:00.000-07:002009-09-27T12:20:53.265-07:00Canadian Clouds<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyvHpueBk5VgyrQN42vMQ63eqsZaCk48HZbmHCT2BGnSi25KsDdu2TOcTceGlXZifdIOy0fWx6AkciqPD99tzQSjOZskGacp-caaoPMbQtIebMqIEspDlu4E_1J1VnDUOXSOjvM02X5zM/s1600-h/VI+BEACH.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyvHpueBk5VgyrQN42vMQ63eqsZaCk48HZbmHCT2BGnSi25KsDdu2TOcTceGlXZifdIOy0fWx6AkciqPD99tzQSjOZskGacp-caaoPMbQtIebMqIEspDlu4E_1J1VnDUOXSOjvM02X5zM/s320/VI+BEACH.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5386225473931869058" border="0" /></a>Two weeks ago, we had a great cloud show above Vancouver Island.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqAEv5Le9VhzG5G03h8e5nB3ARUt_TxIT1OR0_EaelNSjzu7Wzcwx1qVuP9h7bgV4WpyxRO6CIua49561QDQQCOVoRBTbjuA6bfaqgGcngJnK95QOlt-pYPuEsTnwyObHsClmiUc5Cqm4/s1600-h/VI+CR+BEACH.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqAEv5Le9VhzG5G03h8e5nB3ARUt_TxIT1OR0_EaelNSjzu7Wzcwx1qVuP9h7bgV4WpyxRO6CIua49561QDQQCOVoRBTbjuA6bfaqgGcngJnK95QOlt-pYPuEsTnwyObHsClmiUc5Cqm4/s320/VI+CR+BEACH.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5386225484717908674" border="0" /></a><br />I find cloudy skies more interesting than blue ones, so I thoroughly enjoyed the break from our sunny weather.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ3hayCDTZqjWoQWfkWpLcn_AIRK-P_Zw8jn-hpKxkGFeA_FTLY7j8i5fTLY4lE-gPCcYHAVxKfeMASn-TqCr5J9szv1BK_3XmfxpirEKfjjO8yp7s0B9xtwL0eadbu8NoN3GGTfA88Fw/s1600-h/VI+GRAY+CLOUDS.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ3hayCDTZqjWoQWfkWpLcn_AIRK-P_Zw8jn-hpKxkGFeA_FTLY7j8i5fTLY4lE-gPCcYHAVxKfeMASn-TqCr5J9szv1BK_3XmfxpirEKfjjO8yp7s0B9xtwL0eadbu8NoN3GGTfA88Fw/s320/VI+GRAY+CLOUDS.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5386225497415442114" border="0" /></a>It rained all morning on Wednesday, so we stayed inside to take in views of the straight from our cozy bed and breakfast room.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDbnA4ssH_crj1aoFGbv3p55XJEV7zsIn-2eP09xDy5quejH10PgaavWkJucnKTzMuzD90hvkIUyJjfKX9ewtuX07HoehSCBjxDNYqQfqGYpr6nt8p0GMIxOJ55xJQnQjSw5wkyveeYxQ/s1600-h/VI+MORE+CLOUDS.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 202px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDbnA4ssH_crj1aoFGbv3p55XJEV7zsIn-2eP09xDy5quejH10PgaavWkJucnKTzMuzD90hvkIUyJjfKX9ewtuX07HoehSCBjxDNYqQfqGYpr6nt8p0GMIxOJ55xJQnQjSw5wkyveeYxQ/s320/VI+MORE+CLOUDS.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5386227982691895682" border="0" /></a><br />The white lighthouse and other buildings at the tip of the island were illuminated when the sun emerged in the afternoon.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjawJ6Tku1FFIt8_i0WWGnnyLzeHiv13kFZBltVvJmEfaPo_ZCRq5xlwHd2RFmZLVp7ZQgCdrucFxgtNpH7uGcXVSnjpgw9odLLGRmrP6yblh2xCFBHpbDYPxTF2N4aglVxIfHc9j50WVk/s1600-h/VI+STORM.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjawJ6Tku1FFIt8_i0WWGnnyLzeHiv13kFZBltVvJmEfaPo_ZCRq5xlwHd2RFmZLVp7ZQgCdrucFxgtNpH7uGcXVSnjpgw9odLLGRmrP6yblh2xCFBHpbDYPxTF2N4aglVxIfHc9j50WVk/s320/VI+STORM.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5386225594424801202" border="0" /></a>The rain let up, but the peaks of Vancouver Island remained hidden.<br />A few storms are expected to hit the Portland area next week. Call me crazy, but I can hardly waitMaxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18037151652023799197noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8080239690561825545.post-53107051421772882932009-09-25T12:26:00.000-07:002009-09-25T20:01:03.565-07:00Waiting for Fall<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGtVW-CCv7n8Lb0ceGjPMgGMaIZwit0yF3bckeGBrYFnSKIMybtOukE1iAbxomsEptmPc5Sx2CrUnTjQ14aKrbi5VnK9W-wW8zZXTOldEUvTf-LObUiH0Vxte5gsTeoheUFaeFv8ExKi8/s1600-h/SEP+PITT+VIEW.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGtVW-CCv7n8Lb0ceGjPMgGMaIZwit0yF3bckeGBrYFnSKIMybtOukE1iAbxomsEptmPc5Sx2CrUnTjQ14aKrbi5VnK9W-wW8zZXTOldEUvTf-LObUiH0Vxte5gsTeoheUFaeFv8ExKi8/s320/SEP+PITT+VIEW.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385492264534960274" border="0" /></a><br />When Sarah and I returned from our Canadian trip last week, we were greeted by unseasonably high temperatures and a sense that summer will never end, despite the official beginning of fall earlier this week. It has been an eventful summer with a lot of travel and good times, but I look forward to cooler temperatures and a return to a more relaxed routine.<br /><br />Earlier this week my fishing buddy Bill came to visit from Minnesota. On Tuesday, we sought relief from the sunny weather by hiking in shady Forest Park.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGJdIgcLX6cmw_i8mLI3GKiUS8I4O8diEbR_OlynDxmvdluN3AB6eEddvcI6e3TTYgf8CyUSPDaVtvMJS8CgT4CD3zlfThPyzzM_t5eZAoKTV6y1LJiB1Alh6LCS_HWMongfFKrbowaGA/s1600-h/SEP+CYN+MILL.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGJdIgcLX6cmw_i8mLI3GKiUS8I4O8diEbR_OlynDxmvdluN3AB6eEddvcI6e3TTYgf8CyUSPDaVtvMJS8CgT4CD3zlfThPyzzM_t5eZAoKTV6y1LJiB1Alh6LCS_HWMongfFKrbowaGA/s320/SEP+CYN+MILL.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385492276095552018" border="0" /></a>The birds were quiet, but we found some interesting animals near the stream including this cyanide millipede and some salamanders hiding under rocks.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTFhvbSPgSJ9jFch0lE8UC9gnXkobTWnfxXOOCHGi0MLSTe7VdE3TlPMm7mBoc0V6p-GIk7MuZbZaYvzhMi_Cl2iYphVdOtyrF9HYfvR6To0_IoUdWLHhCQddfdVZKgs8VS2kWqk9XlKk/s1600-h/SEP+COL+GORGE.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTFhvbSPgSJ9jFch0lE8UC9gnXkobTWnfxXOOCHGi0MLSTe7VdE3TlPMm7mBoc0V6p-GIk7MuZbZaYvzhMi_Cl2iYphVdOtyrF9HYfvR6To0_IoUdWLHhCQddfdVZKgs8VS2kWqk9XlKk/s320/SEP+COL+GORGE.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385493169396993202" border="0" /></a><br />A day later, we crossed the Columbia River to fish the Wind River of southwestern Washington.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmho-arVNjzGdEpecMoDdXN2-ksy26Y1Tuf3V72qnRgqWzAgnCXoaT7xOveR1tomGUIkJNPc7xyqsJZcObjWL8G8nEZXxBpeL1L1WVfdvTWbcnToCVZNxhVdDdaAjOhxvZNUO0L-L5QO4/s1600-h/SEP+BILL+AND+WINF.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmho-arVNjzGdEpecMoDdXN2-ksy26Y1Tuf3V72qnRgqWzAgnCXoaT7xOveR1tomGUIkJNPc7xyqsJZcObjWL8G8nEZXxBpeL1L1WVfdvTWbcnToCVZNxhVdDdaAjOhxvZNUO0L-L5QO4/s320/SEP+BILL+AND+WINF.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385492247967251458" border="0" /></a>Bill spotted some steelhead, but they were uninterested in the flies we offered them.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxmufmKMh37NlCwCX92hFzK-BUBtvpTeyHXn6JYLmtxqxbGX4LARmu4kASY5t5OFGp3E6xikfpzBXJfHSLqLZbjCqkXq_j38k5XhJ7v2HOJz-hz22f9J1RUBE2Wav1XmscZmTx308cdy4/s1600-h/SEP+BILL+FISHING.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxmufmKMh37NlCwCX92hFzK-BUBtvpTeyHXn6JYLmtxqxbGX4LARmu4kASY5t5OFGp3E6xikfpzBXJfHSLqLZbjCqkXq_j38k5XhJ7v2HOJz-hz22f9J1RUBE2Wav1XmscZmTx308cdy4/s320/SEP+BILL+FISHING.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385492257131978034" border="0" /></a>Despite our lack of steelhead success, we had a great time fishing a beautiful stretch of river.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioKmYfc6tV48GKNVvNJj87w8RgRy0iLr_Aq0WW5WVVbnYxfnaa13S9A_5zt3gh8KzibENOcYUtYRcfWcGP42I5ur49N7QGCSu8WolSeaGb6BxyK4iY-QYqe7M2Ivch6OBCS_tB46iEWMw/s1600-h/SEP+WR.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioKmYfc6tV48GKNVvNJj87w8RgRy0iLr_Aq0WW5WVVbnYxfnaa13S9A_5zt3gh8KzibENOcYUtYRcfWcGP42I5ur49N7QGCSu8WolSeaGb6BxyK4iY-QYqe7M2Ivch6OBCS_tB46iEWMw/s320/SEP+WR.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385494260133871538" border="0" /></a><br />After a while, I switched gears and caught a few small rainbows on dry flies. I had not been fishing in over two years (sad!), so it was a great day.<br /><br />Each morning feels cooler than the last, so fall weather may be approaching after all.Maxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18037151652023799197noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8080239690561825545.post-71464381465046032162009-09-20T14:46:00.000-07:002009-09-20T15:27:06.761-07:00Vancouver Island Getaway<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4uwU8mTGuqcYwDiOmm0QL0HGT-WDN-RdC7gkgepsVptEcYUkMu7Unn_yHPILoUACcwfbjP7kN5hNX_-jCo1qu3o2b1tB8LrZ_-Jfz0hsz7H37_Y0k_vwdBqNXbx_27k106OXN8yUaiJE/s1600-h/VI+ESQUI+LAGOON.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4uwU8mTGuqcYwDiOmm0QL0HGT-WDN-RdC7gkgepsVptEcYUkMu7Unn_yHPILoUACcwfbjP7kN5hNX_-jCo1qu3o2b1tB8LrZ_-Jfz0hsz7H37_Y0k_vwdBqNXbx_27k106OXN8yUaiJE/s320/VI+ESQUI+LAGOON.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383674108683464722" border="0" /></a><br />Last week, with our respective busy seasons behind us, Sarah and I took our annual end-of-summer vacation. We spent seven days exploring the east side of Vancouver Island, British Columbia. The Island's east side has much milder weather and calmer seas that the west side, which more closely resembles the Oregon coast. We were therefore able to explore territory different from what we are used to.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4XwkJyQdNTAikKLP8o_0wWW8jo2KZ30bGbR9_oZCZIwtUGnDeQeijerh0atMoyDdfzpWPcXs708j4wVE9ft4osUYnwV98bDvRoEdBVO0-s7qBUCBb2jqnMjWsDdNA2YsIoRylhZOoWaw/s1600-h/VI+SHIP.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4XwkJyQdNTAikKLP8o_0wWW8jo2KZ30bGbR9_oZCZIwtUGnDeQeijerh0atMoyDdfzpWPcXs708j4wVE9ft4osUYnwV98bDvRoEdBVO0-s7qBUCBb2jqnMjWsDdNA2YsIoRylhZOoWaw/s320/VI+SHIP.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383676455799394866" border="0" /></a><br />We began the trip on a large ferry from Port Angeles, Washington to Victoria, BC. As the ferry crossed the Straight of Georgia, we found four species of sea bird that were new to us: Sooty Shearwater, Pink-footed Shearwater, Parasitic Jager, and Pomarine Jager. A great start to the week!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_A3RmbbrfCLNsNF2f_Ikt_s6_Gc5-wBDy-ZCRP6HpFSfI5ca6-BlC9G0JKWLlQg6BXr9qRF4YpquZF7WWtRpoAkATcNWRJIsL1PvZFErQIZfuF96vzfvPNIlHTaLduX_9-esst8T1sPI/s1600-h/VI+VIC+HARB.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_A3RmbbrfCLNsNF2f_Ikt_s6_Gc5-wBDy-ZCRP6HpFSfI5ca6-BlC9G0JKWLlQg6BXr9qRF4YpquZF7WWtRpoAkATcNWRJIsL1PvZFErQIZfuF96vzfvPNIlHTaLduX_9-esst8T1sPI/s320/VI+VIC+HARB.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383676602531066194" border="0" /></a><br />We spent two nights in Victoria, above, then drove north to the fishing community of Campbell River.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1aIrDnjpurgKbXd4pJFH8Z2jz0S8BqR8r8v6Jb2Q7rSW4D1CzZvMMUPmuTR4GhczOMXqN00m6fWcKoVKCOneJh7uEXySR73JumRq69G5NjqWM_N-GrRbD7UQQTACoFX3hAoA7hKZ4wwo/s1600-h/VI+CAMP+RIV.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1aIrDnjpurgKbXd4pJFH8Z2jz0S8BqR8r8v6Jb2Q7rSW4D1CzZvMMUPmuTR4GhczOMXqN00m6fWcKoVKCOneJh7uEXySR73JumRq69G5NjqWM_N-GrRbD7UQQTACoFX3hAoA7hKZ4wwo/s320/VI+CAMP+RIV.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383674088115223090" border="0" /></a><br />Along one of the river's tributaries, the air smelled strongly of rotting salmon and the stream boiled with pink salmon waiting their turn to enter a hatchery.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ_hBnWsBBJemzhFpXGBg9ocFkXrdMlpBiFH5YvfGFDWnTHSGBHtMvnYBpwv3LQYI2V_F3cFN6T8TgsomJNg5n5dTUU5igpdz1nkmLhrWYyq1y_pVBqGPF5nqeQmYHiqyutVcigpVMQFI/s1600-h/VI+SALMON.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ_hBnWsBBJemzhFpXGBg9ocFkXrdMlpBiFH5YvfGFDWnTHSGBHtMvnYBpwv3LQYI2V_F3cFN6T8TgsomJNg5n5dTUU5igpdz1nkmLhrWYyq1y_pVBqGPF5nqeQmYHiqyutVcigpVMQFI/s320/VI+SALMON.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383676451456248402" border="0" /></a>The tall humps of the males stuck out of the water as they fought the current. Glaucous-winged gulls, Turkey Vultures, and Common Ravens waited above to clean up the fish whose life cycles were completed.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnnBifif0r44IL8wM1XzUpta0_nIXdd8sbpjf59ESWb4BWAS6d0LbrI11w_DgcmUOrheum5rlsbFlR1wk7Q_hrrrr2COhElLNqgm5EpOKM7bOIu2AWb620-Vgdz8QCQSyT1okdtWsWOkM/s1600-h/VI+RAINBOW.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnnBifif0r44IL8wM1XzUpta0_nIXdd8sbpjf59ESWb4BWAS6d0LbrI11w_DgcmUOrheum5rlsbFlR1wk7Q_hrrrr2COhElLNqgm5EpOKM7bOIu2AWb620-Vgdz8QCQSyT1okdtWsWOkM/s320/VI+RAINBOW.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383675373820744562" border="0" /></a><br />Our motel room in Campbell River looked over the Discovery Passage, a narrow body of water separating Vancouver Island from other islands and the BC mainland.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHpB6Vxxx80HBVaAfCVfx4mpE61o_8sDSdVXvG4GKxSSEKWS9WTX1r-IgTNc9EzhxqhtkfCMiF9rxHXN7OLdYYsGLNhXhP-T6O1EYI-MsflSiIIti3xmX-9m8w40TRvwyy2F2HrN0lotg/s1600-h/VI+BOGUS.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHpB6Vxxx80HBVaAfCVfx4mpE61o_8sDSdVXvG4GKxSSEKWS9WTX1r-IgTNc9EzhxqhtkfCMiF9rxHXN7OLdYYsGLNhXhP-T6O1EYI-MsflSiIIti3xmX-9m8w40TRvwyy2F2HrN0lotg/s320/VI+BOGUS.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383674080298353378" border="0" /></a><br />While watching the passage, we spotted mainy birds, including the migrating Bonaparte's Gulls above. We also saw a small group of orcas and plenty of fishing boats, yaughts, and cruise ships.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6K5vr_zHARn8kUG57nc42YLbFk8LaJ6RpDP5Gy0UMUvAZAb833CmBnRfojNpeGrVVVqxhsf5D0urHmNT2IU19cK2wTmWRakF5_G6yqUWCrLACJVal1MLYic7EV2nAa5iUqsZF3w6W78o/s1600-h/VI+CRABBY+BRAB.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6K5vr_zHARn8kUG57nc42YLbFk8LaJ6RpDP5Gy0UMUvAZAb833CmBnRfojNpeGrVVVqxhsf5D0urHmNT2IU19cK2wTmWRakF5_G6yqUWCrLACJVal1MLYic7EV2nAa5iUqsZF3w6W78o/s320/VI+CRABBY+BRAB.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383674098218977634" border="0" /></a><br />The tide pooling near our motel was great as well.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnzq3VuXpj6HDcmXvi4J2iNalbaT3UKfKPi3kyKynbXBjHmn62lBn18K3puwzqltjT9-w-5v-dnM33Db3LhsAv4AW_HNLW76SN6YGW_6pZLn-FEeaxkRevwFuhCD7FPwCHcxHTRdQ90Q0/s1600-h/VI+ROCKY+BEACH.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnzq3VuXpj6HDcmXvi4J2iNalbaT3UKfKPi3kyKynbXBjHmn62lBn18K3puwzqltjT9-w-5v-dnM33Db3LhsAv4AW_HNLW76SN6YGW_6pZLn-FEeaxkRevwFuhCD7FPwCHcxHTRdQ90Q0/s320/VI+ROCKY+BEACH.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383675383874096034" border="0" /></a><br />A few meters from our room, we had access to a cobly beach full of sea creatures at low tide.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5QRL5Wu0TMKoYHtowmQZgUVzTHqgiiop1qACkvsGUu6K2_Ni9wJglmKXUBBMx_y0Z3kwtnWNx4KX10I_Uo23rRC8Vx-eh0PktbBlFWk7_Stg8TJWxRYNTnWLQOSh2YssXa1s1z9YDnoQ/s1600-h/VI+SUN+STAR+UW.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5QRL5Wu0TMKoYHtowmQZgUVzTHqgiiop1qACkvsGUu6K2_Ni9wJglmKXUBBMx_y0Z3kwtnWNx4KX10I_Uo23rRC8Vx-eh0PktbBlFWk7_Stg8TJWxRYNTnWLQOSh2YssXa1s1z9YDnoQ/s320/VI+SUN+STAR+UW.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383676469097561506" border="0" /></a><br />In addition to crabs, we found many sunflower stars, which are multi-rayed, voracious predators of other aquatic invertebrates.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPp15dfKThCK-JsZIZvPONW4R2Dc85QfRuGlDqpZAvkQI3rCDVzmRkXJVrR6tjjAAkwy4uKVesnHhmB3bWjjYRzjkiotI8TjqZqw8xztvXpwpxLNx_gr0R1p8dWzHkF20GmmbprWCDqMA/s1600-h/VI+ORANGE+SUN+STAR.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPp15dfKThCK-JsZIZvPONW4R2Dc85QfRuGlDqpZAvkQI3rCDVzmRkXJVrR6tjjAAkwy4uKVesnHhmB3bWjjYRzjkiotI8TjqZqw8xztvXpwpxLNx_gr0R1p8dWzHkF20GmmbprWCDqMA/s320/VI+ORANGE+SUN+STAR.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383675365970044274" border="0" /></a><br />Though they look pretty much dead at low tide, sunflower stars move a lot faster than the more familiar five-rayed seastars.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiU0Arp_R0WSvjnAzp6Py-NSKjwcx1bgEuNCRQs1Vf7ju6RSKeVZQUbA7-LAuT7VQ7UUusnfkMSS0UdLut8NQE3WqWYTC6wpQIR5NwsbbjSnGn5PpgaCWkTewLO2tRP7t47Q9FmBgozcA/s1600-h/VI+SUN+STAR.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiU0Arp_R0WSvjnAzp6Py-NSKjwcx1bgEuNCRQs1Vf7ju6RSKeVZQUbA7-LAuT7VQ7UUusnfkMSS0UdLut8NQE3WqWYTC6wpQIR5NwsbbjSnGn5PpgaCWkTewLO2tRP7t47Q9FmBgozcA/s320/VI+SUN+STAR.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383676464556590114" border="0" /></a><br />The sunflower stars came in a variety of colors including purple, orange, and a combination of the two.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMjmxpREFEHvFbvIPCCdO4xnoRbfRf7zlIpoNz35884vYNlUZtlda10_KfMSZZW_bQiH79KitACq4-xmxy5iPmuRmWx1s3dBnOUJNrAESbgceaTccv0QmAG8psS_c49tbeS9ZRbwolz6E/s1600-h/VI+DINNER.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMjmxpREFEHvFbvIPCCdO4xnoRbfRf7zlIpoNz35884vYNlUZtlda10_KfMSZZW_bQiH79KitACq4-xmxy5iPmuRmWx1s3dBnOUJNrAESbgceaTccv0QmAG8psS_c49tbeS9ZRbwolz6E/s320/VI+DINNER.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383675355910249794" border="0" /></a><br />We spent our last two nights in Canada at a great bed and breakfast, also in proximity to a beach. We enjoyed a few picnic dinners while keeping an eye on the straight. We returned to Oregon Saturday afternoon, eager to get back to our usual routines.Maxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18037151652023799197noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8080239690561825545.post-88819753184456940992009-09-09T10:09:00.001-07:002009-09-10T08:33:10.389-07:00Sand Lake Conclusion<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDNc4yHxq1SJ2ys3oxIKn157HC5tC6fiv7HmanAp3VKa53fp5TamjUvKV6MDZHpbMFr_rMpyapHZYh77nE32H8begkBYy2ZMcWO-fd9zoyQ47UEnTiZ8hCA8tSqrl12J2W0x2uKXnNLPQ/s1600-h/sand+lake.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDNc4yHxq1SJ2ys3oxIKn157HC5tC6fiv7HmanAp3VKa53fp5TamjUvKV6MDZHpbMFr_rMpyapHZYh77nE32H8begkBYy2ZMcWO-fd9zoyQ47UEnTiZ8hCA8tSqrl12J2W0x2uKXnNLPQ/s320/sand+lake.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379516988852308258" border="0" /></a><br />With numerous commitments piling up, Sarah and I decided to end our monthly surveys of dead birds at the beach north of Sand Lake. We will continue surveying the beach at Bob Straub, however, which will ensure us at least twelve trips to the coast per year.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbr_5qYeyKRuYhgMqhwg856o0Z9hhiVRRDWNNDWr6F_vJlMnbj-mo8tAzG0GaUMEHnVLX8Y-U4uHGjpeZEvNuXIBATKuL5JQIEHyrxwTNy-C5PUR-2RoZFelsxhT8JLhcc6sHe_6l_YGo/s1600-h/DOG+AND+MAX.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbr_5qYeyKRuYhgMqhwg856o0Z9hhiVRRDWNNDWr6F_vJlMnbj-mo8tAzG0GaUMEHnVLX8Y-U4uHGjpeZEvNuXIBATKuL5JQIEHyrxwTNy-C5PUR-2RoZFelsxhT8JLhcc6sHe_6l_YGo/s320/DOG+AND+MAX.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379516980568291090" border="0" /></a>The mouth of Sand Lake forms a nice broad beach that is lightly visited by humans for much of the year, perfect for excercising the dog.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxL8S2OjgdaiD8bYMWGsNZymdGGTIEfs5t-of0V6syE58T5_FxGXmAn8lYF5fGnf0VlwgpAoDLta9ySiYhMp4_mRShr_UKTzam_Y6YWzG1pNXqu2XUE-2QraI7GKE7auT3D5Razxk67_g/s1600-h/pelicans+and+gulls.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxL8S2OjgdaiD8bYMWGsNZymdGGTIEfs5t-of0V6syE58T5_FxGXmAn8lYF5fGnf0VlwgpAoDLta9ySiYhMp4_mRShr_UKTzam_Y6YWzG1pNXqu2XUE-2QraI7GKE7auT3D5Razxk67_g/s320/pelicans+and+gulls.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379518013198265634" border="0" /></a><br />We have found many interesting dead and live birds in this area, so we will return as often as possible.Now that our Sand Lake surveys are finished, I have organized data from the sites and found some interesting trends.<br /><br />We conducted 40 surveys on the beach between May 2006 and August 2009.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4myuy1Bw411yJmEsriNQ5lZnUYprLDgdYFaO6b1mZvJM443-ZHFrMv6oNYm6zaWVyDUfm2AN9zBmlaPlGxUsKIOTKoG9NA3abGMGstlTUQWfuNIcjnhlZBJTG5YtkyKKWkIJnWLxTc5M/s1600-h/graph+1.001.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4myuy1Bw411yJmEsriNQ5lZnUYprLDgdYFaO6b1mZvJM443-ZHFrMv6oNYm6zaWVyDUfm2AN9zBmlaPlGxUsKIOTKoG9NA3abGMGstlTUQWfuNIcjnhlZBJTG5YtkyKKWkIJnWLxTc5M/s320/graph+1.001.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379577608744669554" border="0" /></a><br />Number of birds found per mile varied from zero to 18, with August and September being the busiest months.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8nQMvmxYeBX5YKtYK6pHTZgE-J4ySe97fFOjYsbKRwywCkUwJcAqFIFPuSmZiKwlzfAUJfQ4CqgOe7vHjtnC7p4I2C0MIXcXAda91H8mQ0O35lXPFO-NlYE3MjCZiexJyFPo6rUkL8Bc/s1600-h/graph+2.001.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8nQMvmxYeBX5YKtYK6pHTZgE-J4ySe97fFOjYsbKRwywCkUwJcAqFIFPuSmZiKwlzfAUJfQ4CqgOe7vHjtnC7p4I2C0MIXcXAda91H8mQ0O35lXPFO-NlYE3MjCZiexJyFPo6rUkL8Bc/s320/graph+2.001.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379577616681166674" border="0" /></a><br />We found 29 species of birds on the beach, but the birds we encountered most often were Common Murres and Northern Fulmars, two species that differ in their seasonal patterns.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYZtvNyM9LpqYA0-FPW9IkGCheoOVtugjmxjfr4FlmnqvBXbzk3C7kRXrNfaocO9z5ZGEWY-vZGqKY-Lp3FLsWt1mT6b0iqPmQIsNzncGNZMj_g6Gx9y0KqBoWfLvvAavD402PJ6uG65c/s1600-h/graph+3.001.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYZtvNyM9LpqYA0-FPW9IkGCheoOVtugjmxjfr4FlmnqvBXbzk3C7kRXrNfaocO9z5ZGEWY-vZGqKY-Lp3FLsWt1mT6b0iqPmQIsNzncGNZMj_g6Gx9y0KqBoWfLvvAavD402PJ6uG65c/s320/graph+3.001.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379577624513768130" border="0" /></a>We found most Common Murres, like the juvenile below, in late summer during the end of the breeding season.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj27WiYMoXE1UNqHHBvMOX8t8V35z0KFfHhLPkobazoWll814tH_1jEkL3nb2syYhGH8dyu4sXupmaluT3SaWbB6p8qWFUABOk8RkORvxaBH6MTvi-LyvEx9qMncKx3g_6tfThAU_loE40/s1600-h/ML26620090725COMU934B.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj27WiYMoXE1UNqHHBvMOX8t8V35z0KFfHhLPkobazoWll814tH_1jEkL3nb2syYhGH8dyu4sXupmaluT3SaWbB6p8qWFUABOk8RkORvxaBH6MTvi-LyvEx9qMncKx3g_6tfThAU_loE40/s320/ML26620090725COMU934B.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379551230090295362" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Unlike murres, Northern Fulmars do not breed on the Oregon coast. Instead, they nest off of Alaska and Canada.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimctpE7ZobqtpU0QT0XLEGJOALK5dkAzZm3SAcNkd6TmDTFQuSjhzZe6wJVu_jO2lJQuRIOetugbW04cYU1S-adj28YeMdyj3qglOEiMPPWaG3IToVoJNZZLwApdcyFM0OBCKn1_3TtKk/s1600-h/ML26620090328NOFU930LIGU931B.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 243px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimctpE7ZobqtpU0QT0XLEGJOALK5dkAzZm3SAcNkd6TmDTFQuSjhzZe6wJVu_jO2lJQuRIOetugbW04cYU1S-adj28YeMdyj3qglOEiMPPWaG3IToVoJNZZLwApdcyFM0OBCKn1_3TtKk/s320/ML26620090328NOFU930LIGU931B.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379551219498951458" border="0" /></a>We found the most fulmars during fall, late winter, and spring.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLUoPNKD6d-G4VCcluezTQqRGHcSFc3Eg-H4zSjdt_e7bb8vxDWtqz3ChapxKH7_Ko_iByHvaFh2IlK-f_Lmq6lpOUPUAEA25Z2uiQLu2iGAv5V_FlOowdFDSd8nIgd5t1HSVuohhYc8Q/s1600-h/ML26620081018BLOY921C.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLUoPNKD6d-G4VCcluezTQqRGHcSFc3Eg-H4zSjdt_e7bb8vxDWtqz3ChapxKH7_Ko_iByHvaFh2IlK-f_Lmq6lpOUPUAEA25Z2uiQLu2iGAv5V_FlOowdFDSd8nIgd5t1HSVuohhYc8Q/s320/ML26620081018BLOY921C.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379551212405827698" border="0" /></a><br />We encountered several interesting species such as a Pacific Slope Flycatcher, a Short-eared Owl, and the Black Oystercatcher above. Though would rather see live than dead birds, we appreciate the opportunity to closely examine species that we would not otherwise see.Maxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18037151652023799197noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8080239690561825545.post-15738837734637495232009-09-02T19:39:00.001-07:002009-09-02T20:00:01.611-07:00New Mexico CreaturesAs always, I found many interesting animals during last week's trip to New Mexico. Here are some that I was able to photograph.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimlfpeGGGaumDktCl4YSioEywLSc4N8kfs_Lq_rIjD_ryqApELt4gVCa9SM1ZnSiRu9tmNqZgVFh2_eOLF0smH8KxTmQ5c0Nf0zouw-1-NwlVFa0mqA0G-CRlAe6ye4z1_WJX_QDPnTyg/s1600-h/Bee+on+Bee+Flower.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 297px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimlfpeGGGaumDktCl4YSioEywLSc4N8kfs_Lq_rIjD_ryqApELt4gVCa9SM1ZnSiRu9tmNqZgVFh2_eOLF0smH8KxTmQ5c0Nf0zouw-1-NwlVFa0mqA0G-CRlAe6ye4z1_WJX_QDPnTyg/s320/Bee+on+Bee+Flower.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377065432301098626" border="0" /></a>A Rocky Mountain bee plant was attracting several species of hummingbirds and, of course, bees like the one above and the large, black one below<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg41wAHBgxQtvFWJpgZcm-eBTRQfWH5bXX43w9HuzRZko7XQd7gv5WsLakqOeQw92LQ4srlcbDd8z49kgxTuIS-9y2OGV-Iw3S50I5cbajO8cvyMSu7R257_0t_5jbHVCGVNOAuT7pm-gg/s1600-h/GILA+BEE+FLOWER.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg41wAHBgxQtvFWJpgZcm-eBTRQfWH5bXX43w9HuzRZko7XQd7gv5WsLakqOeQw92LQ4srlcbDd8z49kgxTuIS-9y2OGV-Iw3S50I5cbajO8cvyMSu7R257_0t_5jbHVCGVNOAuT7pm-gg/s320/GILA+BEE+FLOWER.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377065449535266018" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdWncuI39pYIbTJZOI2WOakTedJpXn-ScgUmhUlvoICdjkJr5480ZicERskTvC83l0FlLq8wllp2vLiyJM9ZTBARL0DEqGkeqRwiNKQoEulN_5LnviB8lFJw13CX7NeAT87EYyqVjlF3A/s1600-h/GILA+BEETLE.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdWncuI39pYIbTJZOI2WOakTedJpXn-ScgUmhUlvoICdjkJr5480ZicERskTvC83l0FlLq8wllp2vLiyJM9ZTBARL0DEqGkeqRwiNKQoEulN_5LnviB8lFJw13CX7NeAT87EYyqVjlF3A/s320/GILA+BEETLE.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377065455806813586" border="0" /></a>I found this large scarab beetle along the upper Gila River.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-xcKuhebdtBrTMKtzIw0rNPNtrsxKXgODrJ-eCQWZ_8VDB5igW_UYLDL1jxPs4-VLsb3IoBQtsTyp7bAlebh5boYUQFchYeitQ_scWSlfK_R6D0_asj1a6O45FMkNqR32etWDdlC5ydE/s1600-h/GBA+ANTHILL.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-xcKuhebdtBrTMKtzIw0rNPNtrsxKXgODrJ-eCQWZ_8VDB5igW_UYLDL1jxPs4-VLsb3IoBQtsTyp7bAlebh5boYUQFchYeitQ_scWSlfK_R6D0_asj1a6O45FMkNqR32etWDdlC5ydE/s320/GBA+ANTHILL.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377065439321717010" border="0" /></a>The industrious harvester ants below this mound had cleared a large area of all vegetation, with the exception of a low-growing forb.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFm4-yP0svK5xjmSA9MlIw9g948hmFt1fkmUSDwLNxQSeUg1knhTKbPV5s_de-Rz1p2Zj0U2S06Sn0sUNeuKurAOshw88C9PWSLz1HUqqgWHPREQY5OqcRjnTBaiYfn9eQxhyphenhyphend49I_6Tg/s1600-h/gila+ant+plant.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFm4-yP0svK5xjmSA9MlIw9g948hmFt1fkmUSDwLNxQSeUg1knhTKbPV5s_de-Rz1p2Zj0U2S06Sn0sUNeuKurAOshw88C9PWSLz1HUqqgWHPREQY5OqcRjnTBaiYfn9eQxhyphenhyphend49I_6Tg/s320/gila+ant+plant.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377070395036733138" border="0" /></a><br />I wonder if these plants resist the ants or if they provide a resource that encourages the ants to keep them around.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV7wu0AW1TnlHiVIfu2r8o2Fp88GW-6gz3JXGwPpLEx28BzlJCsFToMTpG4zWfJHrYBadGEQ4LYZ6dgl0bXPFwqffM5nXXcT5dh_QrQo-WH16AjFFzkqGnN-Ssamsd7fbcBkdObNYpPGc/s1600-h/GILA+TOAD+CHIN.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV7wu0AW1TnlHiVIfu2r8o2Fp88GW-6gz3JXGwPpLEx28BzlJCsFToMTpG4zWfJHrYBadGEQ4LYZ6dgl0bXPFwqffM5nXXcT5dh_QrQo-WH16AjFFzkqGnN-Ssamsd7fbcBkdObNYpPGc/s320/GILA+TOAD+CHIN.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377065731230387986" border="0" /></a>I think this is a young Woodhouse's toad.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvX7oKCOn9wipIoFR3v6Q45HnU7QN4tovD9oULiNMYt5-k1QVw_vaT2piJ-j19WFPq82bbCcgIScu8hCwY-J1OIWfAoOLe5PIXICTIBoBLoz7IQH812ENrZ7lpJE0-rewCqcrRY-ZmVe0/s1600-h/GILA+DEER.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 253px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvX7oKCOn9wipIoFR3v6Q45HnU7QN4tovD9oULiNMYt5-k1QVw_vaT2piJ-j19WFPq82bbCcgIScu8hCwY-J1OIWfAoOLe5PIXICTIBoBLoz7IQH812ENrZ7lpJE0-rewCqcrRY-ZmVe0/s320/GILA+DEER.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377065727112303170" border="0" /></a>Here are some large, out-of focus mule deer with antlers in velvet in the Gila uplands.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIaPcV_0TJG74yBFhcTHCxLgMW-MPvM0YXRtDEoNZ7mIv0UVX0a3-V7jhNM9amKLCar5UeCw0qjMZeVFJvzrWe7uLaXgviayceFQb5JJ8PadRnxAGLY-5cfPxykzDh3utpAUaPnSxiESE/s1600-h/MRG+BCHU.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 305px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIaPcV_0TJG74yBFhcTHCxLgMW-MPvM0YXRtDEoNZ7mIv0UVX0a3-V7jhNM9amKLCar5UeCw0qjMZeVFJvzrWe7uLaXgviayceFQb5JJ8PadRnxAGLY-5cfPxykzDh3utpAUaPnSxiESE/s320/MRG+BCHU.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377065739359417570" border="0" /></a>And, one of my favorite animal species, a female Black-chinned Hummingbird perched in my favorite tree species, Rio Grande cottonwood.Maxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18037151652023799197noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8080239690561825545.post-77322258681950241112009-09-01T13:03:00.000-07:002009-09-01T17:11:13.447-07:00Along the Middle Rio Grande<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF2BV_FvxBKR3aW5j0YnnPnZHyfcEgGsUG-hQVvXVv1Zf_o-nKaO1OvPaw9GB5xJnb4mZqBPDYXPMLkDyTAZahrHLEtsOgkeLahyphenhyphenRtbYnP8C60u6qaPvFrnMNsQMYsFX1LoE-hL1RuSh8/s1600-h/MRG.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF2BV_FvxBKR3aW5j0YnnPnZHyfcEgGsUG-hQVvXVv1Zf_o-nKaO1OvPaw9GB5xJnb4mZqBPDYXPMLkDyTAZahrHLEtsOgkeLahyphenhyphenRtbYnP8C60u6qaPvFrnMNsQMYsFX1LoE-hL1RuSh8/s320/MRG.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376592941311418370" border="0" /></a><br />After spending two days in the Gila country of southwestern New Mexico, I returned to the Middle Rio Grande, south of Albuquerque, where I have been studying birds, trees, and arthropods for the last six years.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqHAu55DYC0fbsue0ccMePre1GTG3sGlQnPLFsgPw8bPt6ww97KDEVzvTa8wfDBViL8M5OGvy-5pgXmcDw35tJoUx0QXnNx1k7xJ9lp21Akh9pe7XqkuPI5edMXGIxGIM8rB1GFDQKNJU/s1600-h/HT+SID.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqHAu55DYC0fbsue0ccMePre1GTG3sGlQnPLFsgPw8bPt6ww97KDEVzvTa8wfDBViL8M5OGvy-5pgXmcDw35tJoUx0QXnNx1k7xJ9lp21Akh9pe7XqkuPI5edMXGIxGIM8rB1GFDQKNJU/s320/HT+SID.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376592722720429426" border="0" /></a>As usual, I stayed with my artist/herpetologist/river guide-friend Geoff at his eclectic residence known as "Herp Tech".<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz0uEaKfbGUDTln0Igg9kyL7bw5uIePFzs-D992ww4UlOyf8oFyPvLO7xqrUMvrT-QS3-2EOM0mPHhj5RJNu6sen9ik9NPSf1qRhtxOPuoH5fXwgE3cDV2IrJdAzi1Ftvof1HmzkXk7NQ/s1600-h/HT+DARTBOARD.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz0uEaKfbGUDTln0Igg9kyL7bw5uIePFzs-D992ww4UlOyf8oFyPvLO7xqrUMvrT-QS3-2EOM0mPHhj5RJNu6sen9ik9NPSf1qRhtxOPuoH5fXwgE3cDV2IrJdAzi1Ftvof1HmzkXk7NQ/s320/HT+DARTBOARD.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376592714229843026" border="0" /></a>At night we played darts on his very interesting board.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRTea2O_XJupEXYmniEDI8KFOYvPLfknuK6KAMU6RBnWB5vdWpN3Eq1SzBG6IO6brSmAqZyj-y9nYp5VexNEAVBQlJfbhioeUggsb00C56pspSi3onbTyLoPCqtzNFTQy9SeJfu3s3Ti8/s1600-h/SGF+BURNED+AREA.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRTea2O_XJupEXYmniEDI8KFOYvPLfknuK6KAMU6RBnWB5vdWpN3Eq1SzBG6IO6brSmAqZyj-y9nYp5VexNEAVBQlJfbhioeUggsb00C56pspSi3onbTyLoPCqtzNFTQy9SeJfu3s3Ti8/s320/SGF+BURNED+AREA.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376594770769335314" border="0" /></a>On Thursday, I visited several sites, including this small fire that burned last year.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis1CXWfBNrhK6DQFQaRjwZSgAv5nL3yrEvGDQx5eHS0SC6FyYXXrOYIsfRRVbHqlNTiCDgvL2WWnwQFME81wuUIpdkkyxjcZCB28a8Bp5kKtHwXqPqys6B1ihYof6hqgKBe2DzkDZTksg/s1600-h/SGF+TALL+SEEDLINGS.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis1CXWfBNrhK6DQFQaRjwZSgAv5nL3yrEvGDQx5eHS0SC6FyYXXrOYIsfRRVbHqlNTiCDgvL2WWnwQFME81wuUIpdkkyxjcZCB28a8Bp5kKtHwXqPqys6B1ihYof6hqgKBe2DzkDZTksg/s320/SGF+TALL+SEEDLINGS.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376592936078324450" border="0" /></a>As I had expected, several cottonwood seedlings sprouted in an area of the burn that had flooded last summer. I hope to use this observation in a paper I have been working on dealing with post-fire cottonwood reproduction.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMHs9xhKpqqNJ5abHoDA2Q33VNugvwVrVyHsh-aXOmyzbgCfIaIe8P379GKW9j6cPKzM4c1LaNQ_XP6JOfmMl-Ba3d3ZkdlWOL1ho7wg454l9K6Fe40AahuMcoXHx2tTBtUcDnsIYbnN8/s1600-h/MRG+BRANCHES+AND+CLOUDS.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMHs9xhKpqqNJ5abHoDA2Q33VNugvwVrVyHsh-aXOmyzbgCfIaIe8P379GKW9j6cPKzM4c1LaNQ_XP6JOfmMl-Ba3d3ZkdlWOL1ho7wg454l9K6Fe40AahuMcoXHx2tTBtUcDnsIYbnN8/s320/MRG+BRANCHES+AND+CLOUDS.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376594785398437522" border="0" /></a>I also checked in on older burns, like the one above with snags still standing against the clouds.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMsJQieKySh6maGVdgDnrqDAQHtBqDCLbvh3jZ2ciiDGDeH7uf_BGM_qksJuFhE3SkxFbFwkDgi1Nbxv2xwNmZVMkSojewQn9Y2sBw3RAiNChzf7zLrJ09zsg5sTPREx4BKH6v8gZKcpY/s1600-h/BE+BAD+PODE+RECOVERY.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMsJQieKySh6maGVdgDnrqDAQHtBqDCLbvh3jZ2ciiDGDeH7uf_BGM_qksJuFhE3SkxFbFwkDgi1Nbxv2xwNmZVMkSojewQn9Y2sBw3RAiNChzf7zLrJ09zsg5sTPREx4BKH6v8gZKcpY/s320/BE+BAD+PODE+RECOVERY.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376592711407798658" border="0" /></a>This burn has been colonized by invasive saltcedar, which often replaces cottonwoods and other native species<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpUt7sNYXQl0HzjrsP32of_T7zO_eZdoo-aoNurlJmHtNNNzUJWZa0gE4zaBzKwJdmCd7F2lBxusBnGD5_uQieAduJluHEt6lWtOLIUkuwC_1iYOmwpxhDQ-zPz9eVG2QSZYN4m8Lg7oE/s1600-h/bchu+at+feeder.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpUt7sNYXQl0HzjrsP32of_T7zO_eZdoo-aoNurlJmHtNNNzUJWZa0gE4zaBzKwJdmCd7F2lBxusBnGD5_uQieAduJluHEt6lWtOLIUkuwC_1iYOmwpxhDQ-zPz9eVG2QSZYN4m8Lg7oE/s320/bchu+at+feeder.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376592703840904178" border="0" /></a>I stopped at a wildfire refuge headquarters to photograph some Black-chinned Hummingbirds, probably the most abundant bird species along the Middle Rio Grande. I used the above photo to paint a watercolor I put in the sidebar.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxOFssj1CPyjfQ7JDPWUJbyQDcf1y1oN4oy7yAF92nkxAe2vuGCpFuGnwRo_bD26JJQmzoOm3FkhOIC7zlQ2ynVQlwAxM5YVnjtG_BAJ2T_Np7tuYIZu_PWq38kZfKVqKPsJu5wIb9VSM/s1600-h/MRG+MI1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxOFssj1CPyjfQ7JDPWUJbyQDcf1y1oN4oy7yAF92nkxAe2vuGCpFuGnwRo_bD26JJQmzoOm3FkhOIC7zlQ2ynVQlwAxM5YVnjtG_BAJ2T_Np7tuYIZu_PWq38kZfKVqKPsJu5wIb9VSM/s320/MRG+MI1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376594776120153426" border="0" /></a>On Friday, I woke early for some birding at sunrise, met with some friends in Albuquerque, then flew back to Oregon. It's nice to be home, but I look forward to my next trip to the Southwest, whenever that may be.Maxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18037151652023799197noreply@blogger.com0