Peafowl Tuesday!

While at the kitchen sink this morning getting my breakfast together I saw what at first looked like a flock of turkeys down by the cabana.  I quickly realized, however, that they were peafowl who must have been on an outing from StarShine Ranch, about a third of a mile down the road.  They came up to our deck to take shelter from the rain showers, and then hung out for an hour or so.

They came up the steps, about 12 to 15 in number.

Yummy didn't know what to think.  Her attitude evolved from alarm to eventual boredom.

Gail called the ranch and spoke with their owner, Elaine, who assured us they would be fine and find their way back. She said they don't like the rain, which may explain why they were standing under the eaves and deck canopy.

 We enjoyed watching them. We were told that this group is mostly young males.

 We marvel at the surprises we encounter here on the Yachats River.

The young male on the rail shook his tail.  It takes 3 years for them to get their long tail feathers with the eye spots.

Eventually, they went around to the front yard and began picking at our flowers.  At that point, we decided to send them home, so Gail herded them down the road back to the ranch the same way she herded the cattle earlier this year.  Fun encounter!

Animal Rescue! A Story from Gail

Wow, what a morning I had!  I started out by simply getting on my bike for a quick exercise ride into town before the afternoon rain was supposed to come and I ended up rescuing a sweet, little baby lamb.  Literally!  This poor thing would definitely have died if I hadn't somehow miraculously been there just at the exact moment to see what was happening and to do something about it.  What a moment for both of us!

This fuzzy love thang is named Chocolate Drop and today was her unlucky, yet very lucky day.  So the story goes, as I was riding my bike west to town I slowed down at the iconic farm at Mile 2 where I hoped to take a picture if the sun was right.  They have cows, and sheep and goats in the large field and it is always so beautiful.  Well, as I looked down I noticed that all the animals were together as a group and heading west towards the pasture behind the barn, but there was one little black lamb left far behind in a field surrounded by a stream and dense bog on one side, blackberry vines and a fence on the other, and the forest behind.  She was trapped and didn't know what to do.

She was crying and crying, and sometimes the sheep would call back for her, but no one was waiting for her or trying to guide her to the safe path to them.  So in frightened desperation she plunged forward into the reeds and water and cattails surrounding the stream and dropped out of sight.  I could hear her calling in a panic and several times I saw her head pop up as she tried to jump through the thicket, but at some point all motion and sound stopped.  I knew she was in trouble.

With amazing fortune there was a little self-serve produce stand (Seeds of Oregon) right across the street from the farm building, and more fortunate than that when I rode up the owner (Judy) was actually in there restocking for goods for sale.  I told her about the lamb in distress and she said she would call the owner of the ranch.  So I rode back to the place where I first saw everything and waited...and waited.  I thought the owners would come quickly, but it turned out they didn't even live on the property - they just rent the land and live about 25 minutes away in Waldport north of us.  Judy had driven up to me by then and was chatting about the history of the area, but I could barely concentrate on her as the lamb was silent and that seemed bad news.  I asked her it there was water in the cattails, and Judy said yes...and I asked her if it was deep enough for the lamb to drown and he said yes.  So I went into action.

I asked if there was any way to get down to the blackberries and she told me where the fence was so I went for it.  I lifted my bike over the fence gate and ran down to the stream and just plunged in.  At that point it was like looking for a needle in a haystack - all the growth was so thick and tall, plus I thought I might get stuck myself!  I searched and searched for a long time, then unbelievably I heard a tiny splash next to my leg and I looked down and there she was! - her head barely above water!

I shouted and waved, "I found her!  I found her!", but it turned out no one even heard me as Judy had left.  I waited for a long time again and then realized I had to get this lamb out myself.  So I struggled to stand and get a strong foot hold and I reached down and managed to pull her out of the main stream and onto my lap sitting in the reeds.

The poor animal was shivering intensely with hypothermia and fear and I held her and rubbed her coat for what seemed like over 20 minutes, waving occasionally at a passing car for help, but I think no one saw me.  To hold her, and smell her, and try to comfort her was an intense experience and in my mind later I went back to moment working with oiled birds at the International Bird Rescue, or Sarah's stories about cuddling premature babies at the NICU wing of her hospital.

Again I realized I had to get her out myself so I pushed to get myself standing, and knowing that I would never probably cross the stream with her in my arms I carried her back to where she started.  I spent some more time there warming her and looking for a place where I might try crossing.  Quite a ways down to the east it seemed like there were less reeds and cattails and so I thought the bog would be less challenging.  So I carried her there and went in, and made it!  I was so relieved!

From there I just had to carry here back to her herd, resting every couple hundred feet or so to catch my breath.  She was a big baby!  When I finally got close I met another obstacle.  The cows!

They were intent on me and upset by my presence and twice came loping and rushing towards me.  I worried they might want to trample me in defense, so I got as close as I dared and put the lamb down and backed off to the side.  Still the cows came at me so I climbed through the barbed wire fence.  The cows then all surrounded the little lamb and gave her a good sniffing over and I wondered about her safety, but it turns out they were just curious, and with great relief finally I saw two women arrive onto the field and head to my shaking lamb.

The owner's name was Tiffany and though in the mayhem I didn't get introduced I think the young girl was her daughter.  They tethered up Chocolate Drop's mom, named Tootsie Roll, and pulled her and Chocolate's sister, Brownie, together to bring to the barn for warming and nurturing.  It looked like Chocolate may have even suckled for a moment which was a good sign.

I got a warm thank you from Tiffany, curious goats nibbling at my jacket, and an opportunity to shoot a few photographs which made my day.  Ironically, she asked me in gratitude if she could give me any lamb or goat meat to take home, but oh my goodness, after this personal experience how could I ever think of that!  She laughed and waved good-bye. 

Good luck little Chocolate Drop - 

it was a delight to have met you!

John Day Fossil Beds National Monument - A Different World

Last Monday, we headed off for eastern/central Oregon to the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument. We returned late Friday. Bob and Mary from Salem house sat for us and took care of the girls.  John Day is composed of three separate units that are one to two hours apart.

The first unit we visited was the Sheep Rock Unit.

The Sheep Rock Unit is home to the Thomas Condon Paleontology Center which had a video overview, fossil exhibits, an observable laboratory, rangers to answer questions, and gift shop.  From here, we drove another 45 minutes to our motel in the "town" of Spray.

On the beams of the entryway was this nest of Say's Phoebes.

Spray has a population of 150, one tiny market with a gas pump and cafe, and a school. It is best known as "home of the best small town rodeo in The West".

The River's Bend Motel.

Our room for four nights..

We had the Moose Room, although moose are not found in the area.

We took a walk down to the park along the river. Unfortunately, the park had been wiped out by the John Day River about 10 days earlier. The restroom was undermined and off kilter.

Gail prodded me to show her my rock skipping prowess.

Old Packard in a yard. So many rural homes in Oregon have collections of old cars, machinery, and farm equipment.  Sad to see some classics rusting beyond the point of no return.

 Tuesday we hiked around the trails of the Sheep Unit.  Looks like a California Ground Squirrel to me.

 Oregon Swallowtail Butterfly.

 Lupine.

 Tuff with a harder cap of ignimbrite on top which is the pyroclastic flow from an ancient volcano.  I learned just enough geology to sound like an idiot to a geologist.

 Getting a little wind-whipped, but enjoying being on the trail.

 Open vistas and big skies are a nice change of pace.

 Gail's dream come true!  Ha, ha.

Cushion Phlox.

 As we climbed higher the different land forms contrasted beautifully.

 Layers of tuff exposed by erosion.  The layers are the result of the powerful volcanic explosions and lava flows over the past 50 million years.

 The view from the high point of Blue Basin Trail.  The light blue-green earth is volcanic ash.

We saw several Chukars in the area.  Originally from the Mideast, they are doing well in much of the western U.S.

The Cant Ranch was originally homesteaded in 1890.  Now it is headquarters for the monument and a ranching museum.

 There are some very old apple trees and other trees in the orchard.

The Cant's ranch truck has steering and controls facing both directions.

 Late in the afternoon, we headed back to Spray along the John Day River.  Since there are so few cars, it is easy to stop for wildlife.  You might see one car every 10 or 15 minutes during the day on the area's highways.  We watched this Osprey kiting in its search for fish.

 This large raptor nest near the top of Castle Rock seemed to be built on thin air.

 Looks like it is built around a rocky knob sticking out of the cliff.


We were told by a ranger that there was a Great Blue Heron rookery at a certain point along the highway.  When we got there, a drama unfolded before our eyes.

 Two Bald Eagles swooped in and drove out the two remaining herons from their nests.

 One eagle perched a few feet from a nest while the other eagle circled above, apparently harassing the two herons to keep them away from their nests.  This went on for about 15 minutes before one of the herons came back and landed a few feet above the eagle in the tree.

 The heron is fairly well camouflaged.  When we came back two days later, there were no herons to be seen.  We think the eagles raided the nests and destroyed the rookery.

 Further down the river we spotted a group of Pronghorn in a field.

Life is good - we have time to rest!

The next morning, on the edge of town (Spray), we had some good bird sightings.

 A pheasant in the grass.

A Western Kingbird.

 And, unbelievably, high on cliff ledges were hundreds of nesting Canada Geese.  The honking was non-stop!

Wednesday, we drove to Mitchell before heading to the Painted Hills Unit.

 You could buy this place for $135,000!  Mitchell is a very small town, but the market next door had some real food, not just frozen chicken pies like in Spray.  There was a flood through town a few days before that left mud on the streets and in some of the stores and homes.

Mitchell looking rather brown after the flood.  We were told that the water on the street was two feet deep in places.

 We met the owner of this rock shop/museum/assemblage - a friendly talkative character.  The scene reminded us of the folks who live around Desert Tower 60 miles east of San Diego.

Inside the museum.


Well, it was time to head off to the Painted Hills.

On the road into Painted Hills we came head on with a cattle drive.  We stopped, and countless cows went by the car before we eventually ever saw any cowboys bringing up the rear.

 The Painted Hills Unit has no visitor center, and you drive around on dirt roads.  This is the most visited unit.  We only saw a few people at the Sheep Rock Unit, and at the Clarno Unit.

 The red is caused by iron in the volcanic soils.

 The view most often depicted for the Painted Hills.

We hiked up to a ridge for an overview.

 The manager of the Tiger Town Brewing Company in Mitchell recommended this route back to Spray.  We drove for about 25 miles through scenic hills and a deep gorge. I don't remember seeing another car.

 When we reconnected with the John Day river, I spotted this male Common Merganser.

Entering Spray we spotted a couple pheasants.

Thursday morning, we struck out for the Clarno Unit, a lengthy drive through beautiful landscapes.

 We passed by this house at the edge of Spray that had this unique display.

 The Clarno Palisades have public trails and kiosks.  The fossil beds here are the most species rich area of fossilized wood of any age in the world - 77 species!

 Once you see one fossilized leaf, you start seeing them all over.

A trail led to this dry waterfall below The Arch.

Reflecting on the past and what it might have been like with all the volcanic activity from 39 to 54 million years ago.

Our next destination was to drive north to the town of Fossil, about an hour's drive.  We hoped to dig for our very own fossils right in town!

In the town park is an authentic shepherd's wagon and forge.

 The inside pretty much has everything a modern mobile home has, albeit old school.

 The public is allowed (encouraged?) to dig for fossils in that bare bank at the end of the high school football field. What was amazing in this day and age is that we just parked in the school parking lot while school was in session, picked up some digging tools at a little kiosk, and walked out to the hillside.  After awhile of digging, we were joined by a middle school class that was digging all around us.  It truly seemed like going back in time when life was more innocent.

Bob, the paleontologist!

Some of the fossils I found.  I believe these are mostly metasequoia leaf fossils (dawn redwood) which is Oregon's state fossil.

Friday morning, and it was time to start heading home.

 Leaving Spray, we passed a flock of wild turkeys out in a field.

 We also caught an osprey on a nest along the river.  I've noticed how ospreys use found rope to seemingly tie their nests together.

 Good thing we didn't get caught misbehaving in Spray!  This jail looks darned cold and uncomfortable.

 Looking towards Spray from a bridge over the John Day River.  This river is the longest wild river this side of the Rockies at 280 miles long.

 We had one last little hike back at the Cant Ranch.   The National Park Service actually has a paid farmer to work that green field to keep the Cant Ranch as original as possible.

On our drive home, we stopped for lunch at Smith Rock near Redmond which draws climbers from around the world.  There were some neat looking trails going up and around these formations, but we had to save them for another trip.  Our time in eastern Oregon opened our eyes to a wonderful new area to explore.

Well, thanks to Bob and Mary, all was ship shape when we returned home.  They said we had a turkey visit the Cabana, and sure enough, it showed up on a trail camera.