Mountain Beaver

A couple weeks ago, I placed my StealthCam on a tree aimed at a burrow hole.  This was on an abandoned logging road going up a steep hill about a 20 minute walk from our house.  It was the same location where I captured the coyote pup noted in the previous post.  When I checked the camera today, there was a mystery animal that came out of the hole.  It looked like a very large guinea pig.  I searched the internet and discovered that it is a Mountain Beaver. I'd never heard of a Mountain Beaver, and apparently I was not alone.

The Mountain Beaver is a rodent, but not closely related to the much larger North American Beaver.  It has a tiny tail, and adults weigh 2 to 3 pounds.  It is termed the world's most primitive rodent and is considered a living fossil, as it is practically unchanged over its existence of some 40 to 50 million years.

The Mountain Beaver is only found in the Pacific Northwest.  It is solitary, but its tunnels and openings can cover up to a quarter acre.  It eats mainly sword and bracken ferns, tree seedlings, red alder leaves, and bark, all of which are very abundant here. It is mainly nocturnal, but in these videos, was out of its tunnels at 6:48 PM.  Mountain Beaver have never been observed mating.  I think I will locate the camera on a stake closer to the hole for a better view of this secretive creature.

This bull elk also made an appearance.

An elk cow was close behind.

Trail Cam Youngins

I placed this cam facing a hole in the ground on an old logging road above the house. It captured this coyote pup investigating it. I don't think it came out of the hole.  I have put the camera back up there and will check it again in about a week.

We've been watching a pair of skittish Common Mergansers the past few months, and now on cam we see that there are seven little ducklings.  So far, no ducks, or anything for that matter, have used the duck box I made a year and a half ago. 

Macro and More

Being at home so much allows for plenty of time to prowl the yard.  Here are a few shots from the last 3 days.

 On a rainy afternoon a few weeks ago I made this bird house from wood scraps specifically for swallows.  This past week we now have a nesting pair of Tree Swallows.  Yeah!  They circle the yard catching insects.

 The dogwood trees have been strikingly beautiful.

 The Foxglove is in its glory right now.  It is a non native that wants to take over cleared areas.

 Dragonfly face with many eyes.

What would a blog post be without at least one Daisy photo!

Bug and Drop

This morning, before we launched on a bike ride, I couldn't resist a stroll around the garden to look for little things.

 I spotted this little bug on a hollyhock leaf.

 With the help of iNaturalist, it appears to be a Small Milkweed Bug.  I like the pattern and the heart shape!

Water Drop

Going Macro

I recently ordered and received a macro lens for my camera. This lens enables one to get photos of very small subjects without cropping, resulting in the potential for high resolution photos.  It is tricky business, though, because these lenses at close range have a very shallow depth of field.  It boils down to the right compromises between closing down the aperture for greater depth of field and compensating for the reduced light through use of flash or artificial light, slower shutter speed, and using a camera support.  To get the largest image with my lens, it needs to be about 11 inches from the subject.  Most insects and small animals are easily scared off at that range.  I took most of these photos using a monopod for support, but focusing was very difficult, especially with shaky hands.  Add wind and it was even more challenging.  I might stick to a tripod the next time out.  The macro lens can also be used for non macro purposes like portraits.

In spite of the difficulties, my first couple sessions of experimenting have been encouraging, and I can't wait for a windless, sunny morning to prowl the yard.

Enchanted Valley Revisit

A week ago, we drove down to the Florence area and hiked one of our favorite spots - Enchanted Valley.  I know these photos are redundant, but coming soon will be my first attempts at true macro photography. 

 Northern Alligator Lizard

 We thought these were oyster mushrooms, which are delicious.  Not being sure, we left them.

 The vines are doing their best to eliminate trails in coastal Oregon.

 There is a pretty brook that runs through the valley.

 I think the main draw for us is that it is one of the few hikes in our area that has a large open panorama. 

 On the way home we stopped at the beach to let Daisy have some off leash time.


Below are some pictures around the yard from the next day.

 The broccoli is coming along nicely.  We ate this head last night.

We've been eating peas, beets, carrots, and chard from this bed.