Camera Critters #297

A couple of weeks ago, I presented photos of a young buck Mule Deer I got on Thanksgiving Day.  One thing I failed to tell you about that day.

As I finished shooting the buck, I turned to head down the hillside and no more than 20 feet from me lay a doe Mule Deer.

She didn't pay me a bit of attention...never looked my way...never twitched an ear.  It was almost as if I was invisible to her.

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Camera Critters #295

Every year for the last 15 or so years, I have spent Thanksgiving day with a friend of mine.  Several years ago, he moved into the mountains north of where he lives.

Before dinner was ready, I decided to explore the 166 acres of land he owns.

It didn't take long to locate a resting Mule Deer buck.  It was a small forked horn, but he was in the sun and looked totally relaxed.  Using a tree for cover and being as quiet as possible, I got as close as I could and snapped off this shot.

He didn't move a muscle or twitch an ear.  So I decided I would see if I could get closer.  I stepped out from the cover of the tree and took two steps when the buck's head turned slightly and the left eyelid slightly opened.

I froze at that moment.  I was 30, maybe 35 feet away from the buck and I knew he was sizing me up through that slightly opened eyelid.  He then slowly stood up, looked at with both eyes wide opened and started walking away toward a group of a dozen or so does off to my left.

He didn't run...just slowly walked away...but the entire time, he kept his eyes on me.

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Camera Critters #294

I still haven't felt good enough to wander the high desert in search of interesting critters, but luckily, my backyard does have a few now and then.

Lesser Goldfinches still visit my apple tree.

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Camera Critters #293

I have been suffering from a bout of pneumonia this past week or so and haven't been able to get out to get any new images.

So I hope you enjoy this photo of a Ruby-crowned Kinglet I shot a few weeks ago.

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Camera Critters #292

A couple of years ago, I added the California Ground Squirrel to my list of mammals seen and photographed.  Since then I have seen the squirrel in a variety of places, and as I attempted to once again photograph the critter, it always dove into a nearby hole before I could press the shutter.

Until Friday.  8v)

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Camera Critters #291

Dark-eyed Juncos are a common sight here.  Most of what I see is the "Oregon Junco" variety.  It breeds in the western coastal states from California to Alaska.  Locally, the bird is known at "The Snow Bird."

The Oregon Junco variety differs from the rest of the Dark-eyed Juncos by having a chestnut colored back and rusty colored sides.

As this photo shows, it helps the bird blend in well with the autumn surroundings.

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Camera Critters #290

As I have mentioned before, this has been a good year for me and lifer birds.

A week or so ago, I came across the little gem below.

It's not the best photo, but it is the first photo for me and the first time seen by me, of a Hermit Thrush.

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Camera Critters #289

I came across this bird back in March of this year.  I thought it was a Lesser Goldfinch when I took this image and others.  So I didn't do much with the photos...until Friday evening.

 

 

As I looked through a number of photos I took in the past, I realized the bird wasn't what I originally thought.  In reality, it is a Ruby-crowned Kinglet.

 

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Camera Critters #288

I have seen Common Nighthawks before, but not in the middle of the day on a hot day.  I was at the airport getting photos of aircraft a couple of months ago, when several of the insect hunting birds flew over.

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Camera Critters #287

I saw a bumblebee Friday.

No, not the one pictured here.  The bumblebee I saw was crawling across the road.  I believe the mid 20s temperatures we have had the past couple of days is now taking it’s toll on the insect life.

The bee pictured below, is from a series of shots I made in late April 2013.  However, the one I saw ‘crossing’ the street looked very similar.



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Camera Critters #286

Can it really be that time of the year again?



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Camera Critters #285

The other day I went into my kitchen to pour myself a cup of coffee.  As I stood there, blurry-eyed and all, I noticed movement outside on the apple tree.  Looking up, I saw a critter crawling around the bigger branches.



 The critter was a female Downy Woodpecker.

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Camera Critters #284

I have often seen a beautiful butterfly while wandering around central Oregon, but have never been able to get a photograph of it…until recently.



This beautiful lep is a Milbert's Tortoiseshell.  I found it hanging around the yellow buds at Fireman’s Pond in Redmond, Oregon.

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Camera Critters #283

From what I have read on the internet, this dragonfly, the Variegated Meadowhawk, or Sympetrum corruptum, has been on a migratory move.

I guess I was lucky to capture this possible female of the species as it stopped by Fireman’s Pond.



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Camera Critters #282

This Great Basin Fence Lizard is nicely showing off its blue coat.  Although this image was taken during the mating season, it is still a beautiful critter.

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Camera Critters #281

Last week I showed off a “life” bird for me…the Anna’s Hummingbird.

This week, it’s another hummingbird, but not a “life” bird.

It’s a female Rufous Hummingbird.



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Camera Critters #280

Since it is difficult for me to travel to new places to see new birds, bugs and mammals, it is always nice for me when I can find a “lifer” right in my own backyard.



It is a female Anna’s Hummingbird.  This particular species has expanded it range northward and is now rather common in my area.

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Camera Critters #279

Earlier this week, I heard an odd sound outside.  I knew it was a hawk, but what kind?





The bird had me stumped for a few seconds, but after looking at it through the lens of my camera while shooting photos of it, I realized what it was.

It was an Intermediate Adult Red-tailed Hawk.

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Camera Critters #278

For the past week or so, I have had a daily visitor to the trees near my place.  And it is a noisy visitor.



He sits in one of three trees and constantly calls out.  At least he waits until I am awake.

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Camera Critters #277

Every year, around the first of August, shorebirds begin moving through central Oregon.  Being birds of water, they often stop by the sewage ponds north of town.
This Wilson’s Phalarope was no exception.

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Camera Critters #276

I’ve gone to an area near where I live which I call “Lizard Lands” a number of times lately.  Each time I was unable to find a reptile of any type.

A couple of days ago, I found out why…a feral cat is hanging out in the area. 

So, I decided to walk the other side of the canyon and guess what I found!



It’s a juvenile Side-blotched Lizard.  It stuck around long enough for me to get a couple of photos and then it disappeared into the rocks.

Lucky for it, the cat hasn’t found his hiding place.

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Camera Critters #275

Wood Ducks are not a common sight in my area.  The species is listed as uncommon in the fall, winter and spring, and rare in the summer months.

Imagine my surprise when, on July 3, I located a fatherless family of Wood Ducks doing their best to escape me as I approached the shore of a pond north of Redmond, Oregon.



One of these days I just might find the father and get a photo of him also.

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Camera Critters #274

This past week has been the hottest days of the year for central Oregon.  On one of the hottest days (a new record was set with a high temperature of 102), I packed up my saddlebags, hopped on the bicycle and headed to the ponds six miles north of town.

I normally see a wide variety of dragonflies, birds and on rare occasions, other critters.

As I walked the perimeter of the pond, stopping now and then to image something, I noticed something in the distance which my brain couldn’t reconcile.

As I got closer, I realized it was a Common Garter Snake cooling off in the water.  It’s head was poking through the surface scum on the pond with the rest of its body well out of the sun.



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Camera Critters #273

It’s a Cathartes aura!  In other words, a Turkey Vulture.

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Camera Critters #272

I live in the middle of town…almost.  I think I’m a couple of blocks from the geographic center, but I am close enough to say I live in the middle of town.

Last night (Thursday night, Friday morning), I woke to a strange sound…one I hadn’t heard since I moved from outside of town to where I live now.

It was the howl of Coyotes.

I can only guess the critters were in the dry canyon, which is a couple of blocks north of where I live.

Although the photo below is of a coyote, it probably isn’t one I heard howling.  This image was taken a number of years ago while I was walking the grounds of the old golf course just west of town.



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Camera Critters #271

It is always a good day when I cross paths with one of the three species of lizards commonly found in this area.

The little fella here is a Great Basin Fence Lizard, which is a subspecies of the Western Fence Lizard.  And, for obvious reasons, they are nicknamed “Blue-bellies.”



And now a special treat for those of you who have those red/blue 3D glasses.  This image is the same lizards shot with my new toy…a Fujifilm 3D W3 camera.



Sharp-eyed viewers might notice the fly on the right of the image.

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Camera Critters #270

A couple of weeks ago, I showed you a photo of a Red-tailed Hawk keeping an eye on its tormenter.

Now, I show you a Western Tanager keeping an eye on dinner.



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Camera Critters #269

Say hello to my little friend!



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Camera Critters #268

During my walking safaris around town, I often see smaller birds harassing larger birds…Robin diving on Crows…Crows diving on Ravens…that sort of thing.  And every time I attempt to photograph what I see. The images always turn out to look like two birds flying close to each other.

However, while out on a walk earlier this week, I came across Ravens harassing a couple of Red-tailed Hawks.  I stopped and began putting what I was seeing on my SD card, all the while thinking, “I’m probably not going to get anything worth anything.”

But this time, the photo gods were with me.  Although the image isn’t in good focus (I was pointing the camera almost straight up at the time and wanting to fall backwards), I could still seeing the value in the image.

Raven harassing Red-tail Hawk

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Camera Critters #267

For many years, I have tried to get a good image of an Orange-crowned Warbler. It's not that it is a hard to find bird, it's just never in a good spot for me to get a good shot. Plus...the bird won't hold still long enough for my camera to focus on it.

But earlier this week, I was able to find one in the apple tree in my back yard and was able to put camera to it and snap off about 100 shots. I figured at least one of the shots had to be good.

Well, I got two good shots...plus a number of decent shots.





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Camera Critters #266

It’s been almost two years since Sammi joined the family.  And she has gotten cuter and cuter with each passing day.



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Camera Critters #265

More and more migrant birds are passing through my area.  Recently I found Yellow-rumped Warblers, and a couple of days ago, Orange-crowned Warblers.  Well, maybe one Orange-crowned Warbler.



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Camera Critters #264

We have had some wonderful weather in the Pacific Northwest.  I know it won’t last long…at least it won’t for now…but it is a sign that the seasons are changing.

Another sign is the arrival of the warblers.  I have seen Orange-crowned Warblers, but recently, there have been a lot of Yellow-rumped Warblers flying around…including this one photographed in my backyard.




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Camera Critters #263

If you know me at all, you know I really enjoy photographing the lizards around central Oregon…or anywhere else I travel.

Of the three more prominent species in this area, the Side-blotched Lizard is the most colorful.  It gets its name from a very dark blue area located just behind the front leg.  It is hard to see in this image, but believe me, it is there.



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Camera Critters #262

 

My first butterfly of the season…a beautiful Mourning Cloak!

 

Need I say more?

 

 

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Camera Critters #261

Spring in central Oregon is a wonderful time.  We don’t get as many migrant birds as most other great birding areas in the U.S., but we do get our fair share.

Although not necessarily a migrant, as it is seen in this are area during the winter on occasion, it is still nice to see this bird.


The Townsend’s Solitaire is a member of the same family as the Robin.  It often perches on tree tops.  It's an overall gray bird with a white eye-ring and white tail feathers.  You always know one is nearby when you hear its “pip” sounding call.

The bird also has a song very similar to that of the Robin.  Both the song and call can be heard at this URL.

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Camera Critters #260

It has so far been a good year for me regarding birds.  I’ve seen and photographed lifers and birds I rarely see.

Earlier this week, I recorded another lifer bird for me.



The bird is a Burrowing Owl.

They are somewhat common in areas east of here, but this owl was found just inside the city limits across the street from the Super Walmart in Redmond, Oregon.

For me, it was just another lifer bird to add to my now increasing list.

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Camera Critters #259

Several months ago, I did one of my favorite things…I grabbed my camera and went for a walk.  It was a nice winter day with no sun, which I like because I don’t have to worry about shadows.

As I walked by a roadway which dived down into the dry canyon which runs through town, I noticed a flock of small birds flitting about halfway down the road.  So I headed in that direction.

As I stood watching the small, gray birds fly from here to there, I raised my camera and began shooting images.

I shot a total of about 40 images and the one below is the best of group.  It shows a female Bushtit.  How do I know it is a female?  The bird has yellow eyes.



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Camera Critters #258

Last weekend, I did what I enjoying doing the most…I grabbed my camera and went for a walk.

I had a goal for the walk and for future walks, to see if any new birds have migrated this far north yet.  As I approached a park in town, a small bird flew across the road in front of me and landed on a tree in the shadows.

I wasn’t sure what the bird was when it flew by, but when I noticed where it landed, I knew immediately what bird it was…and it was another life bird for me.

I hear people mention seeing this bird all the time.  From the number of reports of sightings I hear and read, one would think they are thick at mosquitoes.  But this was my first sighting of one.

Oddly enough, many years ago, I thought I was seeing one in my backyard in a neighboring town.  I could see a small bird moving around the truck of a nearby tree, but couldn’t see it well.  So I went in the house, got my binoculars and focused in on the bird.  It was the bird I saw the other day…but a very rare for this area Black and White Warbler.  Unfortunately, I didn’t have a camera at the time and was unable to obtain an image…and I haven’t seen a Black and White Warbler since.

But the Brown Creeper is my latest lifer and my critter for this week.



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Camera Critters #257

Several weeks ago, I climbed into my sister’s Smart Car and took off for Farewell Bend Park along the Deschutes River in Bend, Oregon.

I went there to find and photograph a Barred Owl which had been hanging out along the river.

I didn’t find the owl, but I did find a bird I had only caught fleeting glimpses of in the past.



The bird was a Spotted Towhee.  It was a lifer for me.

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Camera Critters #256

Feb. 24, 2013 was a good day.  It was the first race of the season in the NASCAR racing circuit, and it was the birthday of a friend of mine.

I’ve been to his place in the mountains north of Prineville, Oregon, and each time I go there, I take my camera.  You never know what will show up wanting their photo taken.











And Mule Deer sure enjoyed the photo session.

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