New Link!

Under the "Links" heading in the right hand column of this page, I have added "Nick's Time-Travel Tributaries".  This allows you to enjoy the fascinating world of my son, Nick.  You will see examples of his discoveries in nature, which are often the little amazing things that are overlooked by most.  You will also relish his trips to iconic sites in California and meeting his eclectic group of friends. Enjoy!

October, 2018

Pre and Post Isolation - the Past 25 Days

On February 26, we met up with Bob and Mary from Salem for a hike and picnic at Beaver Creek State Park.  It was a fine sunny day as we hiked the trails along the creek and up the adjoining hillside.

 This Common Garter Snake, sub-species Red-spotted Garter Snake, was on the trail.  This is an uncommonly beautiful garter snake, I think!

 We saw a couple Bald Eagles and this Red-tailed Hawk.

 At the top of the hill are these striking dead trees.

Happy birthday, Mary! Bob and Mary are friends of mine going back to the seventies when we worked at Napa State Hospital.


On to some more recent random shots from around the area.

 We saw these bird tracks next to some bloody patches on the sand at the beach next to Yachats.  I think they are Bald Eagle, but could possibly be Great Blue Heron, also.

 I lied, this is an older shot from February 22.  Our front yard is coming to life, and now the swallows have returned, as well as bumblebees and Rufus Hummingbirds.

Yummy, thermoregulating in a new favorite spot.

For several weeks we have had several Bald Eagles hanging out around the property as they feed on a cow or elk carcass across the river.  This juvenile is probably about 3 years old.

The following pictures are from the past 8 days.  We have been taking precautions to isolate ourselves for the past 2 weeks.  We have had to go to the grocery store and to Yachats restaurants for take out food a couple times.  We are fortunate to have deserted beaches to go to, and our own resort setting at home - not a bad place to self-isolate.

 I put the hummingbird feeder up, and presto, we had hummers within minutes.

 A male Rufous Hummingbird.

 Flashing his red gorget.

 We have had Dark-eyed Juncos on our seed feeder.

 Yummy Delicous in the midst of one of her "crazies" on a post above the hot tub.

 Raucous Steller's Jays were the first birds to arrive at the seed feeders.  We discovered that they do an excellent mimic of a Bald Eagle call to scare away other birds.  We were both fooled by a jay for a few days until we saw it making the call.  These are smart corvids!

 I love those eyebrows!

We are so lucky to have expansive, unpopulated beaches during these times. Daisy gets to run free, and we have an ever changing environment to explore.

 Gail found this agate formed in a pocket of a basaltic rock.  This is where they form before eventually being freed when the surrounding rock breaks apart.

 This area of the coast is a marine reserve.

Break time!

Cougar!

When I checked our trail cams this morning, I saw that we had a cougar stroll by the house early last Wednesday morning.  It was caught on one of our two trail cams about 100 feet from the house by the bocce ball deck, at 1:32 A.M.  This was our first "sighting" since moving to Oregon.  Wow, what a feeling to have a cougar on your very own property!