10-DEC-2015
Positively Pretty Pampas Grass
This Pampas Grass is in Alton Baker Park. Here the morning sun was shining on the on the flowers and gave them a golden tone. I thought the red bush in the background set the flowers off well.
"Cortaderia selloana, commonly known as pampas grass, is a flowering plant native to southern South America, including the Pampas after which it is named. It is a tall grass, growing in dense tussocks that can reach a height of 3 m. The leaves are long and slender, 1–2 m long, and 1 cm broad, with very sharp edges. The leaves are usually bluish-green, but can be silvery grey. The flowers are produced in a dense white panicle 20–40 cm long on a 2–3 m tall stem."
11-DEC-2015
A Truly 'Great Egret'
This egret was scouting for food at Delta Ponds. I got some pictures during a little break in the rain. We have had some real storms lately, with high wind damage. More is coming this weekend. Today the ponds were running high, with water rushing in from the Willamette River. Most of the birds have left for cover.
12-DEC-2015
A Pleasant Surprise
Green Herons often visit the area in the spring and early summer. And they are usually long gone by now. So you can imagine my pleasant surprise when I saw one in a tree overlooking one of the Delta Ponds. The light hit its back just right to bring out the green, which hasn't been that obvious to me before. But my 'Birds of Oregon' book says the Green Heron is "iridescent green on its back and wings." When I have photographed them previously, in sunlight at the ponds, I often wondered where they got their name. I guess I haven't really got a good view of the back before. In this shot one can't see the bird's red chest, the neck and front are a bit underexposed.
Interestingly, I wandered on down to another part of that pond and saw a couple who were looking for birds. I told them about the heron. They had never seen a Green Heron, so I took them back to where the bird was. It stayed still just long enough for them to see it, and then flew off. It had stayed still for me for a while, all the time I was getting pictures of it. I guess two more made a crowd. :)
13-DEC-2015
Metasequoia glyptostroboides (Dawn Redwood)
This is a Dawn Redwood in Hays Tree Garden, a feature of Alton Baker Park. It's a beautiful spot any time of year.
14-DEC-2015
Bison-Ten-Yal Ranch
This ranch is on Fir Butte Road just west of Eugene. I thought the name is unique and catchy. You can guess what they raise there! :) I think the bison statue is well done. However, on a very wet day it was a bit too shiny, which made for a difficult shot. I had to shoot from the car also, because of the rain. But you get the idea!
15-DEC-2015
Muskrat at Delta Ponds
Here is another of the creatures found at Delta Ponds, a muskrat sitting on a log and feeding. They are definitely cuter, and smaller, than the Nutria, which have also made their appearance there.
16-DEC-2015
Good Weather for a Bath
We are expecting several days of rain and the rivers are full already. There are puddles of water everywhere, such as this one in Alton Baker Park, where this Robin enjoyed taking a bath. I would say it is all fattened up for the winter.
17-DEC-2015
Wood Duck on wood, for the moment!
This is a little series of shots, starting with the wood duck on the log, then in midair as it jumps to the water, finally as it makes a splash!
Wood Duck in midair:
Making a splash:
18-DEC-2015
Red-Shouldered Hawk
I saw this hawk in a tree In Delta Ponds. The tree was alongside Goodpasture Road. It stayed long enough for me to get some nice shots of it, before it flew down to the edge of the pond. I am sure it is a Red-Shouldered Hawk, it matches perfectly the picture in my "Birds of Oregon" book. Interestingly, its eye in this shot has a bluish tint. I don't know why, perhaps the way the light was reflecting in it. I am always looking to get a good shot of hawks but rarely do they stay put long enough for me to do that. I am grateful this one posed for me.
19-DEC-2015
Mt Zion, near Dexter, Oregon.
Mt Zion is a 2,612 foot peak located near Dexter, Oregon. It is tall enough to be a landmark in the area. As can be seen from the cleared area, they are logging on the mountain. I shot this photo of it from Lost Creek Road. We had some nice sunshine and blue sky today, which helped to beautify the scene.
20-DEC-2015
Black -capped Chickadee, I think!
I believe this little beauty that I saw at Delta Ponds is a Black-capped Chickadee. The one in my 'Birds of Oregon' book doesn't show the grey band around its middle, but otherwise it looks like it. Photos I found in a search didn't show the grey band either -
http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=Black-capped+Chickadee&FORM=IRMHRS
Maybe it is wearing a skirt. :)
21-DEC-2015
Rainbow Over Delta Ponds
We had a bit of everything today, rain, high wind, sunshine and a beautiful rainbow. The sun didn't last. I got just a bit wet and my hat blew off once. But it was worth it for the photos I got, including the rainbow over the ponds.