06-FEB-2016
"Bountiful"
This is the centerpiece of a 30-foot-tall steel sculpture titled “Bountiful” at the foot of Delta Ponds Pedestrian Bridge. The artwork is intended to honor Native American net and weir fishing in the Northwest. The sculpture was done by Eugene artist Lee Imonen.
07-FEB-2016
Almost done! Great Work, Guys!
Our good friends, Jeff and Max, bid for the job of building a new fence along the 120 foot long east side of our property. What contributed to the need for a new fence was the removal of the neighbor's hedge, which had grown into a 15 foot high irritant, to say the least. I had been after the landlord to remove it for several years. It would sometimes hang over our fence on our side and we would have to continually prune it back. Finally, the day came when, all of a sudden, the hedge was being pulled out completely. Oh, happy day!
The problem we had before was that it would have required us to hack away at the hedge to get at our fence to put a new one in. The old one had been there for up to 20 years. Now, once the hedge was gone some of the fence fell down. :) It was time to put the new one in, before any tenants moved in next door. Jeff and Max came this weekend and installed the new fence, and what a great job they did! The fence looks great! That's the old fence piled in front!
08-FEB-2016
What Is That Up There?
This Red-shouldered Hawk seems to be quite intent on something above. Being in a tree, it is unlikely, unless it might be a small bird that it could be interested in. Anyway, I loved the pose. The hawk seems to be spending a lot of time at Delta Ponds. For that I am grateful, for I have seen it a number of times. And it is a thrill every time!
09-FEB-2016
The Ruffled Look
I was heading home after a photo walk, and as I passed near the University of Oregon's Autzen Stadium I saw a Great Egret in a tiny pond nearby. Right away, I looked for the nearest place to pull over and ran back to get a few pictures of the bird. This is one of them. I thought it was worth the effort.
10-FEB-2016
Kayaking in Alton Baker Park
There are a lot of options available for those who visit Alton Baker park, one of which is canoeing, or kayaking. This youngster was dressed well for the time of year, and the water takes on a muddy winter appearance. But it looks like great fun, though I haven't tried it.
11-FEB-2016
Photo Shoot
My Daughter and Granddaughter stopped by today to set up for a photo shoot they wanted to do for a magazine request. They set up the lights, our granddaughter got made up in her modeling persona, and they did their shoot. Well, I couldn't let all of this pass without some photos of my own. I wanted to stand behind the camera to get a shot, sort of behind the scenes, hoping to include the light boxes they used. I shot some photos that showed the lights and more of the setup, but my wife liked this one the best. So here it is! :)
12-FEB-2016
Illuminating Irridescence
Iridescence is the property of certain surfaces that appear to change color as the angle of view or the angle of illumination changes. I thought it fit this Anna's Hummingbird to a T. (At least that is what I concluded it is!) Depending on the angle of view, brilliant iridescent colors would appear.
13-FEB-2016
Foggy Day At Fern Ridge Lake
Fern Ridge Lake lies behind Fern Ridge Dam, near Veneta, Oregon. It has a somewhat muddy bottom, so the color of the water. Along the eastern shore to the left side of the lake here, there is the Fern Ridge Wildlife Area, where I have spent many enjoyable hours. A variety of migratory birds stop here at various times. There is a birdwatching platform in the midst of the area.
14-FEB-2016
My Mother, My Sister and Me
I don't know when this photo was taken, probably by my father. My guess would be I was about nine and my sister six. It was likely taken about 2 1/2 years after we moved to a nine acre farm on Big Fall Creek Road about three miles from Lowell, OR. I loved those years in the country. We lived there almost six years. How do you like my hat? :)
15-FEB-2016
Bufflehead, Female and Male
The Buffleheads are visiting Delta Ponds now, and it is fun to see and photograph them. Here is the female on the left and male on the right. I love these beautiful little birds.
Information about the Bufflehead: "A buoyant, large-headed duck that abruptly vanishes and resurfaces as it feeds, the tiny Bufflehead spends winters bobbing in bays, estuaries, reservoirs, and lakes. Males are striking black-and white from a distance. A closer look at the head shows glossy green and purple setting off the striking white patch. Females are a subdued gray-brown with a neat white patch on the cheek. Bufflehead nest in old woodpecker holes, particularly those made by Northern Flickers, in the forests of northern North America."
16-FEB-2016
Flying Over The Ponds
It was good to see some blue sky when I visited Delta Ponds, and the billowing clouds. Two birds, probably geese, flying over the ponds add the finishing touch to what I considered a beautiful scene. Hopefully, you agree!
17-FEB-2016
A Master Hunter
Lately, whenever I make it over to Delta Ponds, I look for my friend, the hawk. This Red-shouldered Hawk has been there a while, so hunting must be good. According to the Audubon Guide to American Birds website: "Usually hunts by watching from a perch, either within forest or in open, swooping down when it locates prey. Sometimes flies very low in open areas, taking creatures by surprise. May use hearing as well as sight to locate prey." That is just what this one was doing, watching from a perch looking for something to swoop down on.
I have seen it do this a couple times, a privilege to see! The quote mentions the hawk uses hearing as well as sight. I didn't know that before. There is noise in the Ponds from a nearby highway, but I guess that doesn't prevent it from hearing prey. They are amazing hunters. See:
http://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/red-shouldered-hawk