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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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.

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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.