Leaving already??

Some folks have commented that it seems like I just got to Malheur NWR.  In a way that’s true.  When I leave here next Friday, I’ll only have spent four weeks here.  I usually spend three months at a time at one our refuges.  Turns out that this time I was just filling in for someone who had to leave early, so it was only a one month assignment.  I don’t feel like I’ve had a chance to truly see everything I wanted in the area, but considering I’m stuck inside the Visitor’s Center for all my work days, I’m ready to move on.  I don’t mind working the Visitor’s Center, I just don’t care to do it every day.  This is a great refuge, but it didn’t turn out to be the assignment that I thought it was going to be, and if I’m fair about it, it’s probably because I was filling in for someone.

Others have asked where I’m going next.  Well, I’ll be making my way to Anahuac NWR which is near Houston, TX.  I can’t believe I’m volunteering there for the fourth time; my usual limit is two times (because there are so many places to see in this country).  However, Anahuac has been gracious enough to allow me to store my rig there while I go on my almost three week cruise in November that culminates in Galveston.  I also really like what I get to do there, and Stephanie, the volunteer coordinator, is super to work for. 

The big question is how will I get to Texas from Oregon.  I’m a very planful person, and this question is weighing heavy on my mind.  The problem is getting the leveling jacks repaired.  I’m awaiting an email from the manufacturer to find out the nearest repair facility.  That will determine my direction of travel.  With only six days to go before departure, I usually have my route pretty well mapped out.  Not so, this time.  I have about a month to get to Anahuac, so I’m really not stressing out about it, yet.  :) 
As Joanne, another volunteer, and I headed out early this morning for the farmer’s market in Burn, I noticed a golden eagle on a fence post as I was zipping down the highway.  I planted my foot firmly on the brake pedal and did a U-turn to go back and see if I could get a picture.  Of course, just as I slowly approached the fence post, it decided to not pose for me.  There was also a raven on a neighboring post, and they both headed for the hills together!  Kind of an odd couple, as the raven was not trying to harass the eagle.  Dang!  I sure would have enjoyed getting a good close up of the eagle.  :(

I scored big time at the farmer’s market, and carried back about twenty pounds of fresh produce to the car for myself and Sue.  Sue is another volunteer, but she always has to work on Saturdays, so I shop (and haggle) for the both of us.  :)  She is a vegetarian, and is always excited to see what goodies I’ve been able to find for her and her husband.  You sure can’t beat the fresh veggies I’ve been able to get every Saturday!  This week’s haul included tomatoes, cucumbers, corn, squash, pears, plums, apples, carrots, cabbage, and broccoli florets.  Mmm!
Late this afternoon, Emma and I hopped in the car and took a drive down the Northern half of the auto tour route to see what we could see.  There was one lone Western meadowlark still singing his heart out.  :)
Two feet away was a song sparrow enjoying the concert.  :)
As we turned down a side spur, I spotted two families of sandhill cranes feeding in one of the fields.  Each pair had one juvenile with them. (the juveniles don’t have the red on their foreheads yet)
They all suddenly looked to the right, and the second bird from the left began to call out.
I thought they were just communicating with another bunch of cranes further down the field.
But what I didn’t discover until I got home and was editing the pictures, is that there was a coyote watching them looking for his supper!  The young of the year are able to fly now, so it was probably wishful thinking on the part of the coyote.  It’s survival of the fittest out in the wild, so you just never know…

Speaking of coyotes, Emma is now pacing the rig with her hair up as we are being serenaded by some very close coyotes.  They have been leaving “calling cards” around the rig for Emma in the middle of the night.  Isn’t it nice to have friends come calling??  :)

Thanks for stopping by….talk to you later,  Judy

Diamond Craters – Oregon’s Geologic Gem

After visiting Peter French’s Round Barn yesterday, we took the auto tour of Diamond Craters.
“There is no other place in North America like Diamond Craters.  That’s the opinion held by scores of scientists and educators who have visited and studied the area.  It has the best and most diverse basaltic volcanic features in the United States… Yet visitors with little or no geologic training will probably see nothing more than acres of sagebrush and a few lava flows and craters.”
Well, I’m one of those visitor’s with little or no geologic training,
and acres of sagebrush and a few lava flows and craters is what I saw.  :)  I read the guide at the appropriate stops, but I have to tell you that after a while, all that stuff about domes, ash flow tuff, pyroclastics, and magmas just began to flow like lava around in my mind.  It never did congeal.  :(
However, I did enjoy the scenery, and I noticed that the rain storms that came through on Wednesday and Thursday dumped quite a bit of snow on the Steens Mountains.  I was thinking of taking the rustic road up to the Steens tomorrow, but I’m going to think a little more about that.
The road back home did take us through about half of Malheur’s auto tour route, so you know I had to get a couple of bird pics.  :)   This great blue heron was very intensely looking for a bite to eat.  They are just like statues when they are hunting.
Rails are usually very secretive, but these young soras were out in the open.  There were actually four of them feeding in the same area.  Next year, they will have yellow beaks and a distinctive face pattern.  They are about the size of a quail.  (it’s hard to tell size in a close up picture)

Today was a day of rest and relaxation after heading to the farmer’s market in Burn.  I tried to attend the Harney County Fair, but I was there too early in the morning.  :(

Thanks for stopping by…. talk to you later,  Judy

Variety, the spice of life

Could it be that not everyone is as interested in looking at bird photos as I am?  It’s hard to believe, but I think it’s true.  :)  So today, dear readers, come along with me on a trip to the farmer’s market in Burn, OR.  You’ll notice that there are not any pics of the market itself since it was really less than exciting, but the journey there and back was worth the trip.

Just getting down the six mile entrance road from the refuge was a lesson in careful driving.  Some one must have let the cows loose, because they were scattered all over the road.  So I ended up dodging cows, fragrant fresh “pies”, and about a dozen deer.  Many of the deer were just loosing their spots, so they were a little unsure of what to do about an oncoming vehicle.  :)
First stop was at the Narrows, where the two lakes meet.  I had to see if there were any new arrivals.  This American avocet was working the shallow waters.
Not far away was a young ring-billed gull flying in to join an adult, and a trio of white pelicans cooperatively hunting for a meal.  Those pelicans always remind me of a synchronized swimming team as they gracefully glide along in tandem, and then all turn inward at the same time to scoop up some fish.
Then I saw a young mallard shaking himself awake after a little snooze.  First you shake…
then you spread your wings to get the kinks out,
and then you calmly paddle away.

As I made my way along Hwy 205 through the ranchlands, a cattle drive was calmly taking place.
That is until the cattle decided they wanted to go a different way, and made a 90* turn right for the cowboy.
It wasn’t long, though, before the two cowboys and their dog had the herd back on the straight and narrow.  :)  It’s nice that there isn’t much traffic on this highway, so I could just stop in the middle of the road and watch this vignette transpire.

Eventually, I made it to town and the market, and was able to pick up a few fresh vegetables, but there weren’t very many tomatoes to be had and no corn on the cob.  :(   I did stop at one other booth, and made a purchase.
For you crafty types out there, these are hand crocheted small picture frames and flowers.  They are used in scrapbooking.  My daughter, Robyn, enjoys this hobby (or at least she did before she had two babies:)), so I picked these up for her.  I’ll be putting them in an envelope and sending them her way next week.

On the trip back to the rig, I stopped to take a few scenic shots along the way.
That’s the valley down there, and the refuge begins just before those mountains way in the distance.  From this height, the valley looks like a patch work quilt of circles and squares.  Pleasing scenery for the 35 mile drive home.
I leave you bird lovers, cowboys, ranchers, and crafters with this final pic of a harvested hayfield.  I just like the curves and symmetry of these fields.  :)

Thanks for stopping by….talk to you later,  Judy