Camera Critters #255

Sunday, Feb 10, 2013, was a nice day on the High Desert.  After returning home from breakfast, I grabbed my camera and sat in the sun, enjoying the day.

As I looked around and admired how deeply blue the sky was, I caught sight of something flying about 1,000 feet above me.  I raised the camera, zoomed in and saw, for the first time from my backyard, a Bald Eagle also enjoying the day.



After watching the eagle float out of sight to the north, I continued looking around, soaking up the rays of the warming sun and tossing toys for Sammi to chase.

After about 10 minutes, I caught sight of something else flying around above me.  This time it was lower…at about 500 feet.

Again, I raised the camera, zoomed in and smiled as I snapped my first image of a Cooper’s Hawk.  Not only was it the first image I got of something from that species, but it was also the first sighting I have had of one in Oregon.



The Cooper’s Hawk circled around several times and then headed eastwards.

I sat out in the sun for about an hour more and didn’t see anything else.  With Sammi asleep on my lap, I rose from the chair, put Sammi inside and went on a safari around town.

Misty Dawn’s Camera Critter Meme is a great way see critters the world over. Go to the homepage here to see more. Then join the fun and add your own.

Camera Critters #254

It was Feb. 14, 2013…Valentine’s Day…and one of the loves of my life appeared.  It was earliest I had seen any of these wonderful creatures.

It was a juvenile Side-blotched Lizard.  This critter wasn’t but about three inches long from nose to tip of tail, but it was still a nice find for me.



The Side-blotched Lizard is common in my area, but normally I only see the reptiles with orange spots on them.  This little fellow appears to have blue spots along the back, but also what appears orange on its sides.  It would be interesting if it was blue on top, orange on the sides, but I think it will develop one spot color as it matures.



Misty Dawn’s Camera Critter Meme is a great way see critters the world over. Go to the homepage here to see more. Then join the fun and add your own.

Camera Critters #253

There are a lot of ways of telling when spring is around the corner…but one of the best ways is when the birds begin showing their breeding colors.

The Lesser Goldfinch in my area are not quite fully in their breeding plumage but give it a couple of weeks.



Misty Dawn’s Camera Critter Meme is a great way see critters the world over. Go to the homepage here to see more. Then join the fun and add your own.

Camera Critter #252

During an earlier in the year trip down the trail along the Dry Canyon in Redmond, Oregon, I spotted a nice raptor sitting near the top of a tree just off the trail.

I couldn’t help but stop and begin shooting images of the marvelous Merlin.



Misty Dawn’s Camera Critter Meme is a great way see critters the world over. Go to the homepage here to see more. Then join the fun and add your own.