Camera Critter #142

Several years ago, while walking through the brush of the Dry Canyon in Redmond, Oregon, I noticed a small bug crawling around a ‘winterized’ sage plant. It traveled so fast, I couldn’t get a good shot of it.

A year later and about the same time of the year, I was again wandering the brushy areas of the Dry Canyon when I again noticed a small bug on a plant. Heading over to that plant, I saw the same sort of bug I had seen the year before. Only this time, the bug gave me time to get a portrait of it.

I have yet to identify the beetle, but believe it is in the Ladybug family. But I sure think it’s an interesting critter.

Merry Christmas, everyone!

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 #141

Several years ago, I would spend my spring mornings, camera in hand, wandering in the Dry Canyon in Redmond, Oregon.

I was after bugs of any type.

One critter I kept trying to get a photo of was a Sara’s Orangetip. I’m still waiting for that opportunity…maybe spring 2011.

However, I did get images of a butterfly I really like. It’s the Zephyr Anglewing.

The Zephyr Anglewing is a gorgeous lepidoptera. It’s also very different from one to another. Although the basic pattern is on all of them, it is variable enough to allow someone who watches them, to tell individuals apart.

You can see the differences in the photos below.

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 #140

Last week, I posted a photo of Lacy, a recent re-arrival to where I live.  In the month or so she has been back, she has adjusted well to her new home…or so I thought.

The other night, I had decided to leave her outside, as the weather wasn’t going to be all that bad.  Around 11:30 pm, I heard a strange sound that seemed to originate from the backyard where Lacy stays.

I got up and went to the door and realized the sound wasn’t coming from her, but actually from several blocks away.  I looked at Lacy and she was standing there, ears tucked back, looking in the direction of the sound.  It seemed to upset her.

I walked over to her and she came to me.  I unhooked her from her chain and she just stood there, looking in the direction of the sound.  That sound was the unmistakable howl of Coyotes.

Although I have heard Coyotes before, it was always in the open areas around central Oregon.  To hear the howl in the middle of town was something I wasn’t expecting.  I knelt down next to Lacy, rubbed her chest and in a reassuring voice, told her it was okay, then brought her in the house.

Although not the Coyote I heard that night, this photo was taken just outside of town on the old golf course.  The animal stood there looking at me for several minutes, then casually walked off into the nearby Junipers.  It was strange to see a Coyote in the daylight.

Since then I have seen two others in daylight.  One, I am ashamed to say, I mistook for a large cat (I really new glasses).

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 #139

Well, she’s back  8v)

In 2007, my landlord and I took care of her grandson’s dog, Lacy, while they looked for a place which allowed pets.  We had her for about a year and she became a part of us.

Fast forward to a couple of weeks ago, and circumstances have changed and again, Lacy is back with us.  She’s a lot larger now than she was before.

But, she’s still Lacy.

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 #138

One of my favorite things to do during the winter is travel the ranch lands east of town in search of raptors.

It is this time of year that the Rough-legged Hawk moves down here to escape the cold of the bird’s summer Arctic retreat. 

So Thursday, while heading to a friend’s house for Thanksgiving dinner, I checked out Raptor Land.

I saw a lot of Rough-legged Hawks way out in the middle of pastures, but only one up close, who just happened to get nervous about my presence as I lifted my camera.

But it was two Red-tailed Hawks who graced the view in my camera.  Both birds seemed, either a little upset at my presence, or were thinking, “Hummm…Turkey dinner?”

The following juvenile hawk really decided to look things over.

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 #137

Not long ago, I presented an image of an American Dipper which I took in October.  In the post, I mentioned it was the first Dipper I had imaged.

Well, I was wrong.

In July of 2008, while photographing some of the waterfalls in the Cascades with a friend, I came across a small fledgling bird in a tree, begging for food.  Although the light wasn’t great and the bird was moving around a lot, I managed to get two good images of the critter.

When I returned home, I didn’t think much of the photos and put them in the ‘So-so’ folder.

The other day I was going over the images in the folder and came across the two fledgling photos.  To my surprise, I recognized the little fellow I had imaged.

Meet the fledging American Dipper.  If you look close, you’ll see it still has some of its youthful feathering around the head.

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 #136

I was all set to post this last week for my Camera Critter, but a sudden onset of computer problems prevented it from happening.  So, it’s a week late, but still good  8v)

Lesser Goldfinch are a common bird here in the summer months.  Recently, the bird has become a year-round visitor to feeders throughout central Oregon.

On Halloween, I was surprised to see one at one of the seed socks in the backyard.  I was surprised not because he was there, though in previous years the bird normally leaves by this time, but by how he looked.

This bird still had its summer breeding plumage, although not as brightly colored as the bird looked during the breeding season.

By the way, the brown streaked bird is a Pine Siskin and the one on the back side of the sock is another Lesser Goldfinch.

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.