Half the Year - Gone!

Welcome to July! Can not believe the pace at which the year is going by and not getting much done it seems like. Actually things probably get done, just do not realize how much is as compared to how much is not.

Back in late March we took spring break down in Reno, NV. My family and two other families and also spent a day around the Lake Tahoe area. But the travels to and from Reno I think were the best as we went through what I would call "The forgotten California". The landscapes to me were awesome! Some were open wide expanses and others in tall forest land. The forest there was not like the forest in Oregon where it is dense and thick. These forests were more open and seemed spacious. This whole area is in the N/NE portion of California by the way, using highways 139, 299, 395, 44, 89 and even parts of I-5!

The shot is from a state park we stopped at to use the facilities at as the park itself was not quite fully open for the season yet. It is located at McArthur-Burney Falls Memorial SP along Hwy 89 south of the Mt. Shasta area.

It was a really beautiful area and would like to go back and spend some time camping and shooting photos. Have a great day!

Tim

A Full Circle?

If you haven't figured out some things about me is that I like feeding the little birds that hang out near the house. We get a variety of Finches, sparrows, dark eye junco's, some chickadees and of course a crow or two, some western scrub jays, Northern Flickers, etc. They feed off the bird seed I put in the containers and the suet, and of course bugs and such on the ground, that is kind of nice.

And though I feed them and enjoy their songs and flying around they pretty much don't have much to worry about as long as we keep the neighbor cats at bay. They have even accepted our dog when he is out laying on the back steps.

This evening though the circle came closed more/less. I was working on one of the water heads in the backyard and while I was correcting the spray a bird flew threw the yard but out of the corner of my eye I noticed something different, especially the tail feathers. It landed on the fence across the yard and I could only watch it looking for birds, the cameras were inside and if I moved it would be gone that quick. What was it? I am pretty sure it was a Sharp Shinned Hawk as it was much smaller then the Cooper's Hawks I have seen around here. It had missed a bird in flight so was searching for another. It was quite awesome to sit there and watch it looking around, and being a predator with some great skills.

I know it sounds horrible that I basically am inviting potential food chain activity in my backyard, but the Hawk has more misses then hits and it is part of the circle. I expected this much sooner but now will probably have to wait along time before it happens again. Of course it will take place when I don't have a camera handy!

Sorry no shots this time, but will post out some if a Hawk comes around and I have a camera.

Thanks for reading!

Tim -

Early June - Birds

Well here we are working our way to the summer solstice and I thought I would post out a shot of some of my friends that come around for free breakfast, lunch and dinner most of the time. They only provide me and others with the enjoyment of watching them fly around, occasionally chirp some songs and of course poop on the feeders so I can clean them now and then.

This shot was taken in the backyard of our previous house back in February of 2008. I believe I have some 'Golden Finches' and some of the 'Lesser Golden Finch' taking part in the feast. I actually managed to catch one coming in looking for space. I must have gotten lucky on that one.

I am also trying to work out a system of photo management so I know what I have and where it is stored. Sure there is software out there to help me, but might as well try on my own first!

Any suggestions on storage, bird shooting (non-lethal), etc. please shoot me an e-mail!

Tim

Maybe a thought in May

Well I see that I am well over a month since a post has occurred! I will apologize for that as I just do not make the time to do this blog, but will get better. I have been busy with family, work, facebook, etc. Going into this memorial day weekend it appears that our whole weekend is not booked with activities! Sleep in time?

I am going to post a photo of the capital in Salem that I took in haste back in December when it was cold out! The snow had been pretty messed up by the time I got down there but it was still pretty neat to see. Over in the upper right behind the capital you an see the outlines (in lights) of the 'Star Trees' on the Willamette University campus. They light them up every year and it is very nice during the holidays. Oh yeah, the snow! We do not get that much in this valley but this past December of 2008 we got around 30 inches at our house and we only live at 500 feet of elevation.

I am going to try to update this more often and I have said this a few times before but I mean it this time!

Thanks for checking in.

Tim

Squirreling Around

Thought I better post something out before I go a whole month without. I might do a few this week depends on how I feel. At the moment pretty burned out from being outside most all the weekend. Yes the Willamette Valley was enjoying 60 and 70 degree temps all this past weekend 4/18-19. Truly great weather, and maybe to be in the 80's on Monday so that will start the locals bitching about the heat.

Got in a really good ride today out on the East side of Salem working my out and cruising along Howell Prairie rd along with many others to get there and back home. Going by this one field and I had a familiar scent waft by me and that was the smell of Onions! Yes Onions! Damn they smelled good growing in the ground and all I could think about was a nice juicy burger with some onion, tomato, pickles and blue cheese dressing on it! But all I had were some chewy shot blocks so they had to do.

Not much else going on and as the title says here is a shot of a squirrel from the Capital grounds here in Salem. These critters have to brave some traffic as they cross streets to other locals to get the acorns in the fall them bring them back and store them in various caches. It is kind of squirrel gauntlet, but if you stop and sit at a bench they will come by you thinking you might have a little something for them. They are sort of conditioned I guess.

Well, Let's hope for more continued good weather and maybe a shower or two so I don't have to water my lawn.

Til the next time - Tim