Camera Critter #82

During my Air Force career, I lucky enough to go to a lot of place most people wouldn't think of going. One of those places was Thule AB, Greenland. Located about 700 miles north of the Arctic Circle, it was a cold, desolate place populated by few humans, but there was a beauty about the place I will never forget.

One of those beautiful sights happened a couple of days after my arrival. Myself and several friends took off for a road trip south of the base. Our van bounced and crawled along the dirt and rock road until it ended near a canyon. We got out and after exploring the area for a while, sat down on the edge of a cliff overlooking Baffin Bay.

It was a relatively warm day in late May 1982, however, ice still covered the bay. As we sat there talking and taking in the isolation, we became aware of a black dot on the ice to our south. As we watched, the dot got bigger and after a while, we could see we were watching a native Greenlander moving along the ice with his dog team and sled. No one said a word as the sled team passed by us and continued on its way north. When it was again a dot in the distance, without a word, we got up, went to the van and headed back to the base.

That was my first eskimo sled team. I didn't see many more in action due to the summer ice break up. However, in April of 1983, the annual sled dog race on the ice of North Star near the base was held. The course was slightly more than three miles and driver teams from far and wide arrived to participate for the prizes. Top prize in the race was a lever action 30-30 rifle.

And, part of the race allowed for a lucky member of the base population to ride as a passenger on each sled. So names were drawn and riders selected and on the day of the races, everyone was excited. I wasn't selected to ride in a sled, as my job of base newspaper editor meant covering the activities for those unable to attend the event and for publication in the Thule Times. So I was wandering around, interviewing people at the event, and joining in the festivities before the race.

Then came time for the race to begin. A large number of sled dog teams lined up side-by-side on the ice of the bay. When the starting shot was fired, off they went.

Sled dog teams in Greenland use a setup known as a fan hitch. The dogs are individually connected to the towline and are spread out in a fan shape. This allows for easier maneuvering around ice ridges and dangerous areas. Teams in Alaska and racing teams in general, use a gangline setup where pairs of dogs are connected to the towline in an in-line formation. This allows for easier maneuvering though treed areas.

So, if you look closely at the dog teams in the photos below, you'll noticed the fan hitch setup used by the Greenlandic people.

The winner approaching the finish line

The winner crossing the finish line

Dogs at rest following the race

Misty Dawn's Camera Critter Meme is a great way to see critters of all types. Go to the Meme homepage here and check out more entries. Then join the fun and let the world see your critters!

Camera Critter #81

A little more than a month ago, I was wandering one of my favorite places when I came across a spreadwing. I made a number of images of the odonata and when it flew away, thanked it and continued on my way.

That evening, I worked on post processing the image and when I finished, put it aside while I worked on the other images of the day. A couple of days later, I began trying to identify the critter.

My first thought on its ID was that of a Northern Spreadwing. I still believe the creature is a of that species. However, a week later, I was in the same area and again noticed a spreadwing flying about.

After making a number of images of it, I moved on and later that evening, processed the images. When I looked at the shots of the spreadwing, I thought, "It must be the same Northern Spreadwing."

But the other day while looking at the images again, I began to notice slight differences. In the second image, at the bottom of the main portion of the body, there is one large and one small dark spot. Those spots are not present on the body of the critter in the first image.

Looking closer at the two, I saw that along the portion of the leading edge of the wing, one of the bugs has a single vein producing two large long cells. The other bug has two veins, dividing that same portion of the wing into two large cells and one central smaller cell.

I knew then that I was looking at two different species of female spreadwings. One is the Northern Spreadwing and the other a Spotted Spreadwing.

Northern Spreadwing

Spotted Spreadwing

Had I not started to look closer at the two creatures, I might have never realized they were in fact, two different species. As much as I think I know, I am still learning every day.

Misty Dawn's Camera Critter Meme is a great way to see critters of all types. Go to the Meme homepage here and check out more entries. Then join the fun and let the world see your critters!

Camera Critter #80

When I was a youngster, I had four dog as pets.

The first was breed I don't remember, but his name was Leben. I was two at the time and my dad said I could name him. So, I named him Leben. That was my way of saying eleven at the time.

Eight years later, another dog came into my life, Mickey (named for Mickey Mantle). He was a mixed Beagle breed. But Mickey's stay with us wasn't a long one and a couple of years after we lost Mickey, a friend of mine said he would trade one of his puppies for my bicycle saddlebags. After getting my parent's okay, I went to my friend's and selected the first pup to come to me.

I took him home and named him King.

King was a Shepard mix and my favorite pet of all. He and I were inseparable. When we were apart, I was as happy to see him again, as he was me. He was a big, beautiful animal who wouldn't hurt a flea, but scared a lot of people.

My mom spent the most time with King and after a while started adding to his name. King knew when he did something wrong and she was angry, as his full name was screamed rather loudly...King Elenore Rubien! And then she would find him on my bed with his head under my pillow.

We took King on trips with us. He loved my grandparent's farm, where he could romp and play with all of us kids in a world larger than anything he would see in the Chicago suburb we lived in.

Then one day while visiting my Uncle Bill's farm, we took off for the "Haunted Forest"... an area of woods which made strange noises and we enjoyed playing in. King came with us. As we walked through the pasture to the wooded area, King came face-to-face with his first cow. Rather than spending a few minutes checking it out, he turned tail and took off for the house.

Unfortunately, he had to cross a public road to get to the house. And luck wasn't with him. A rare car was coming down the road at the same time King crossed. They met in front of the house.

Not knowing what was happening, I saw my uncle's car, with my dad in the back seat, speeding down the road. They were taking King to the town vet. He kept King over night and released him the next day, much to my relief. King suffered not much more than a slight concussion. But it also changed King. He didn't like going anywhere except the grandparent's farm. Even at the suburban house, King wasn't the same. But open the door and let him out after the 100 mile trip to the farm, and he became his old self again.

I had to admit it...he was much better there than anywhere else and my grandparents liked him as much we did. So there he stayed. He's buried out on that farm somewhere, but I still remember him with fondness.

Misty Dawn's Camera Critter Meme is a great way to see critters of all types. Go to the Meme homepage here and check out more entries. Then join the fun and let the world see your critters!

Camera Critter #79

I have several favorite spots in the area for shooting. Along the Dry Canyon Trail is one place. Another is Fireman's Pond near the airport.

I go there for dragonflies and waterfowl, but sometimes I come across larger birds, such as Osprey. I have found three nest sites within a mile of the pond and am sure the nest owners often visit the pond. I have seen upwards of four birds there at one time.

However, one day I came across a single bird which circled the pond, made several unsuccessful dives and then returned to circling above. Later, as I was checking out a dragonfly on a nearby weed, a large shadow passed over me. I looked up just in time to see the Osprey take wing after a successful dive.




Misty Dawn's Camera Critter Meme is a great way to see critters of all types. Go to the Meme homepage here and check out more entries. Then join the fun and let the world see your critters!

Camera Critter #78

Autumn in central Oregon is an interesting time of the year. Over the next few days we have snow, rain, wind, sun, clouds...you name it, in our forecast. But I still enjoy it.

And, it may not be as colorful as other parts of the country, but there is something I am always looking forward to seeing.

That is the return of the Rough-legged Hawks.

They spend their summers breeding above and in the area of the Arctic Circle. When it starts to get too cold there, they head to the northern parts of the United States...and one of those parts is central Oregon.

The first Rough-legged Hawk I ever saw was perched on a fence post about 20 feet from me. It was a magnificent bird, a large bird and I didn't have a camera at the time. Since then I have acquired a camera, but haven't seen a Rough-legged Hawk in a similar position.

Below are the some of the shots I have gotten of these beautiful hawks. All were distance shots, but one of these days, I'll get that shot of the bird 20 feet away from me I so desire.



Misty Dawn's Camera Critter Meme is a great way to see critters of all types. Go to the Meme homepage here and check out more entries. Then join the fun and let the world see your critters!