Camera Critter Meme #19

One of the best parts of wandering the high desert and photographing the wonderful world around me, is seeing nature in action.

During a recent trip through the Dry Canyon Trail in Redmond, Oregon, I was looking for the small critters which live on the plants of canyon. As I looked over one area, I spied a small, possible stingless bee which I was keeping an eye on for it to land somewhere.

Suddenly, a large blur flashed by and the bee was gone. But my eyes immediately picked up the blur and followed it a short distance away to an old Juniper twig, where the blur landed to enjoy its meal.

I walked over, crouched down a bit and began clicking off images.

So, for the nineteenth round of Misty's Camera Critter Meme, I'm proud to present, the wonderful, the beautiful, the exotic....Giant White-tailed Robber Fly.

Camera Critter Meme #18

Critters...critters everywhere and this week's Camera Critter Meme is no exception.

One day in July of 07, I was wandering around near Fireman's Pond. Most of what a person sees in this part of the high desert is dull green sage, light brown weeds Juniper trees, blackish rocks and gray, weather-worn stumps. So when I caught a glimpse of red on a sage brush, I zoomed out the lens, squatted down and fired off a number of shots.

When I finished, I continued on my way, looking for critters both big and small to shoot.

That evening when I returned home, I opened up the series of shots of the Seven-spotted Ladybird Beetle and a smile crept over my face.

Not only did I get the beetle, but I got a virtual feast for it as dozens of Aphids were everywhere on the plant. Had I seen those little green, garden menaces when I shot the photo, I probably would have stayed around for some action shots.

Camera Critter Meme #17

When I began nature photography years ago, I had a 35mm Canon Rebel 2000. It was a nice camera and was able to use it for many photos. However, the first time I saw an Ash-throated Flycatcher, I ran and got my camera, put the 70-300 Sigma zoom on it and went on safari.

I found the flycatcher where I left him, lifted the camera and looked through the viewfinder. "Where's the bird?" I thought. Carefully looking scanning the viewfinder, I located the bird. But it looked so small, I thought I hadn't zoomed out far enough. Well, I started to get closer and the bird flew. Again, I attempted to get closer, and again the bird flew. Realizing I wasn't going to get any closer, I lifted the camera and fired off a couple of shots. When the prints came back, the bird was there, but hard to see well.

Fast forward 10 years. Today I have a 6 megapixel Canon Digital Rebel. I also have a similar 70-300mm Canon zoom on it. Since the camera is digital and works on a lens factor multiplier, the lens shoots images which are comparable to 112-480mm zoom.

So when I was out on safari the other day and saw an Ash-throated Flycatcher, I decided to get a photo of it. I lifted the camera, found the bird in the frame and took a couple of steps forward. Well, the bird flew, but not before I got a shot of it.

So, for the week's Camera Critter Meme, may I present, Caruso - The Singing Ash-throated Flycatcher.

Camera Critter Meme #16

One of my favorite critters to shoot is one of the busiest in world. So for this week's Camera Critter Meme, I'm showcasing a recent photo of one of them.

They never seem to sit still long enough to allow their portrait to be taken. They fly from flower to flower looking for anything they like and sometimes return to the same spot over and over again.

In the Pacific Northwest, there are many species of bees. This bumblebee is one of five different types I found in the small area of wildflower near Tumalo Falls west of Bend, Oregon.

Camera Critter Meme #15

I have several friends in the area who were local policemen. One, a Deschutes County Deputy Sheriff, told me a story which relates to my Camera Critter Meme post this week.

It seems one day many, many moons ago, he was called to the scene of an accident on the main road between two local towns. A man driving a pickup had hit an animal trying to cross the road.

When my friend arrived on the scene (it was getting on close to darkness at the time), he was confronted with a truck with a fairly well damaged front end, the carcass of the unfortunate animal and the driver of the vehicle nearby, possibly in shock.

As the deputy went about his business, he learned the driver was from Texas and was passing through the area when the accident occurred. My friend then continued gathering information for his report and watched as the driver paced back and forth muttering something to himself.

A moment later, the driver walked up to my friend and said, "Damn, I'm from Texas and I always thought we had the largest deer in the world there, but these Oregon deer beat ANYTHING I have ever seen back home. Those antlers are HUGE!"

The driver turned, walked away still muttering, while my friend couldn't help but crack a smile to replace busting out laughing.

It seems the Texan had collided with an Elk, not a Mule Deer and my friend didn't have the heart to correct the driver. And yes, elk have some mighty big racks...especially when farm grown.

Camera Critters Meme No. 14

A week or so ago, I was at one of my favorite places in Oregon...the 7,950 foot or so summit of Newberry volcano. You can see photos of that trip on my Flickr page.

Seven years, I was also at that spot. During that trip, I fired off some shots with my old Sony Mavica FD-91 camera.

One of the things I wanted to accomplish during the recent trip was to duplicate the shots I took during the 2001 trip.

For the most part, I was able to trade my low resolution images with higher and better images which made me happy.

However, there was one shot I wasn't able to duplicate. At the right spot, I waited and waited for the scene to duplicate itself. But alas, my traveling party wanted to go elsewhere and I didn't see the scene repeat.

So, rather than display a higher resolution and better quality image for this week's Camera Critters Meme, I'll show you a low res, okay quality image of a Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel sitting on a rock at the 7,949 foot high peak of Paulina Peak located within the Newberry National Volcanic Monument of central Oregon.


I earlier called this critter a Belding Ground Squirrel. Sure was a senior moment there..hehehe.

Camera Critter Sunday No. 13

If you know me at all, you know I really enjoy photographing the lizards of the area. However, there is another critter of the High Desert, and everywhere else for that matter, which makes a rather cool critter to image.

They look totally alien, and at the same time, can be very comical. They are one of the few insects I have crossed paths with which seems to looks around and at things with intelligence.

This creature is the Praying Mantis. I hope you enjoy my entry for this week's Camera Critter Meme.