24-AUG-2015
Today's Selfie - Eye See You!
We spent over three hours at the Casey Eye Institute today, much of it getting photographs made of the eye to gauge the size of the growth and check on overall condition of the eye. Reports were good! But there was also considerable time spent waiting. Had my little V1 with me and spent time looking around for likely subjects. In the restroom mirror I found one, me! So, here you go, my selfie for today. :) I liked it better in B&W.
24-AUG-2015
Strange Looking Sky In The West
On our way home from Portland last night, I saw this view of the sky as a slit of light broke through the dark clouds and smoke. The sky was heavy with smoke from all the fires going on now. The narrow bending column almost made me think of s funnel cloud, that could become a tornado if it touched the ground. It probably was just a strange cloud formation, unlike any I have seen before. But I am no meteorologist, so I can't explain what was going on. I was fortunate to get a shot of it from a fast moving car. No, I wasn't driving. :)
26-AUG-2015
One Never Know Who They Might Meet on a Walk!
On a neighborhood walk, I came across this cutie in an elementary school field. Possibly, it could have got out of someone's yard. It didn't seem too much afraid of me. But then maybe it could see that I am harmless! Anyway, it stayed still just long enough to pose for me. I loved the color of its fur!
27-AUG-2015
Kingfisher Stopped in Mid-flight!
What a fine day! I got lots of nice shots at Delta Ponds! I was especially excited to get a shot of the elusive Kingfisher in mid-flight! I have enough trouble seeing those speedsters. But, today I even got a few shots of this one on a stump with a small fish in its beak! It was on the other side of the pond, so a little too far away. I will get to that shot later and see if I got it.
Besides this, I shot the usual Great Blue Heron, Green Heron, Great Egret, Cormorant and Western Scrub Jay. Also captured a Greater Yellowlegs, Wood Duck, and Black Capped Chickadee, besides a few others. The water is sure getting low, however. Hope the birds don't desert us!
28-AUG-2015
"The Precocious Killdeer"
One can learn some interesting things about the Killdeer online. Almost as soon as they hatch, they follow their parents, scurrying around searching for something to eat. Even though they can't fly and need their parents, they have a bit of an independent air about them. Though it is a shorebird, of the Plover family, the Killdeer can be found in many places far from the shore. They are also quite skilled at a broken wing routine used to draw attention away from their babies. Yes, precocious is a good description for the Killdeer! :)
29-AUG-2015
A Cascade of Water
There is a new apartment building near the Riverbank Trail along the Willamette River, and it has a neat fountain, a real cascade of water! I have been thinking about how I could photograph it to show its size and beauty. I thought the early morning directional lighting would make it stand out.
30-AUG-2015
An L of a Tree!
This tree along the Willamette River, near Clearwater Park, fascinated me with its strange shape, which I saw as a letter 'L'. I thought you might find it interesting too! Ok, it's also a 'C'. LC stands for 'let's celebrate'! :)
I am not sure what the tree is, although Poplar trees do grow abundantly along waterways here. Not so sure that's what it is, however.
31-AUG-2015
Lupine, a Legume
"Lupine, a genus of flowering plants in the legume family, Fabaceae. The genus includes over 200 species, with centers of diversity in North and South America.[2] Smaller centers occur in North Africa and the Mediterranean.[2][3] Seeds of various species of lupins have been used as a food for over 3000 years around the Mediterranean (Gladstones, 1970) and for as much as 6000 years in the Andean highlands (Uauy et al., 1995), but they have never been accorded the same status as soybeans or dry peas and other pulse crops" (Wikipedia)
01-SEP-2015
River Rock Art
Every summer, along the Willamette River below the Frohnmayer Pedestrian and Bicycle Bridge, university students take to the shallow water to create some artwork with the river rocks. This is a small sample of what they do. It's fun to walk the bridge just to see what they have done.
An Interesting Sculpture:
02-SEP-2015
Water Strider
I remember that when I was a youngster, an uncle of mine offered a buddy and I a nickel for each one we caught if we could catch these as they walked on the water. We knew them just as skippers. My uncle soon withdrew his offer when we started catching too many of them. No way could I catch one now!
(If not an active link, simply highlight and right click, then choose 'open link'.)
03-SEP-2015
The Odd Couple
I had to chuckle when I saw this Green Heron on the log with the Red-eared Slider. They don't seem to be what we would expect to see together out there in Delta Ponds.
"Red-eared sliders get their name from the small red stripe around their ears. The "slider" part of their name comes from their ability to slide off rocks and logs and into the water quickly. This species was previously known as Troost's turtle in honor of an American herpetologist...." (Wikipedia) They are not native to this area.
04-SEP-2015
Ken Kesey Mural Dedicated
'The well-known author, Ken Kesey, grew up in Springfield Oregon. His 99 year old Mother still lives here. Recently, the city commissioned a mural to honor their hometown son. The two-story high mural is found on the side of the Odd Fellows building at 4th & Main.'