January 2011 - Alive

I kept looking at the blog site and saying to myself...."self, you need to get some photos looked at and post one or two and write about something...anything!"

So here I am towards the end of January here in Salem and the going through our January dry streak. That means minimal rain for about a week and the ground isn't squishy under your feet. Good time to get some miles on the bike and do some yard work chores when not at work which really only leaves the weekends.

Last summer in August I did a day hike up on Coffin mountain in the Cascades outside of Detroit, OR. On my way to the trail head the I stopped a few times to take some shots such as the one included. The smoke haze had settled down into the low lying areas from a fire that was many miles away to the South/Southeast near the Three Sisters. It kind of made for a nice shot with the smoke, Mt. Jefferson, blue sky and deep green tree color. I love the smell of the smoke from a campfire and yes even a wildfire just glad that they controlled the fire a few days later.

Have a great rest of January! Hope to be posting more some time soon.

Tim -

Almost Mid-December

I'm still stuck on my Hawks that frequent the backyard for an attempt at a snack. I think I have a very consistent or should I say persistent Cooper's Hawk that comes around to check things out.

The problem with the Hawk this time is that if you sit on top of the feeders waiting for the finch's, juncos, etc., to show they never will with you being right there! Of course I have witnessed a Cooper's go flying into a shrub and come out with a bird in its talons. Pretty amazing!

I have also added in a shot of Mourning Dove taking in the late morning sun while sitting on tree just outside the kitchen window. They come in and eat up insects, etc and some of the food I put out. I haven't picked up their favorite food in a while so maybe before Christmas as a treat.

Speaking of that wonderful day....it is just around the corner and we have been watching some shows, of course classics like Charlie Brown, Rudolph and more recent movie types such as Elf, Fred Claus and just last night went back in time to catch Home Alone! Was a good time watching with the family.

Enjoy the shots, be safe and I will post hopefully before Christmas!

Tim

Busted!!!!

Wow - November is flying by as we go into Thanksgiving week! I am very thankful for my family that put up with me, that is my spouse and daughter. I am thankful for my family that I was born into and still have around albeit many different places around the United States. Plus I wish a very wonder Thanksgiving to all who may read this and a fantastic Holiday season!

So Busted?! - Well, as you may know I have a few various bird feeders in my backyard which attract a small assortment of small birds, such as Golden finches, Less golden finches, black capped chickadees some brown eyed juncos and a few others and some blue jays, Norther Flickers, etc.

But some of the most intriguing are the Cooper's Hawk and Sharp-Shinned Hawks that stop by now and then and try to drum a meal through their various ambush methods. In this shot I got a Cooper's Hawk that had just finished up a meal of one of the smaller birds and may have been looking at me, looking at him through the glass door through my lens. I had actually seen it while upstairs and made a quick dash to get my camera along with a longer lens on it as I only had a 28-75 and had to get my 70-200 at least. Well, he was eating so I had the time to get from upstairs and move to the main floor so I could get some shots and he stayed for a few.

He later came back and perched on another fence but not a single 'peep' could be heard from the small birds!

Thanks for stopping in and enjoy!

Tim

The First Big Snows are Happening....

Wow! It has been a long time since I touched this blog and probably have a lot to write about but am just busting through some thoughts for tonight. I am also having trouble typing and a having to backspace to correct my mistakes!

Anyway, it started this past weekend (10/23-24) with our weather. We basically started getting our first big storms pushing off the ocean over the coast range, across the valley and hitting up against the Cascades. Mt Hood is almost close to "3" feet of new snow at timberline lodge as of this Tuesday! Our favorite little ski area 'HooDoo' has over 25 inches in their parking lot from the past four days. Hope it keeps up and makes for some great days on the hill and doing the snowboard thing. My daughter is chomping at the bit to get back on a snowboard as she was just learning last year. I think she will put it all together this year.

All of that got me thinking of some snow shots and will start to look through my records (photo achieves) and see what I can find. Until I get some more I am posting one from a few years back looking back at Mt. Jefferson from near the Detroit Reservoir in the Eastern part of Marion County.

Enjoy, Tim

Going into Fall

This past Sunday (9/25) was spent wondering if the rain might stop so I could ride a bicycle for a few hours...It didn't until later in the day after my desire had went away.

So I ended up going out around 11 AM for a few hours in the car to some areas in Polk county where I may capture some animals with the camera. I usually go out to Basket Slough NWR area and the surrounding lands to the North of there as there are some Elk that I know of and have seen but not close enough to get shots.

Today I did happen upon an Egret and some Black Tail deer and have provided a shot of one of the does in a small group that was in a field near where I parked. This one I would say is probably between 1-2 years based on it's size from the obvious older ones and one that looked like it was probably born this past spring. Anyway, they were kind of enough to let me get some shots and just sit and watch them which was a great way to pass a little time! The Egret did't pose itself very well with me looking through some tall grass in a little drainage on the North side of the NWR. I may post it in another posting.

Enjoy and thanks for stopping in. Tim -