Wolf howling in Oregon

To learn more go to Ecotrope

Gray Whales with Carrie Newell

Highlights 2011

click on the photo then click on the arrow to start slideshow

Coho Salmon Spawning

The salmon are still thick in the creeks, a very good return this year it seems.

New Years Day Salmon

The torrential rains we had last week finally allowed salmon to move up to their spawning creeks.

Eagle Owl

Check out this slow-mo video of an Eagle Owl!

Whale Surprise

Bison Jams

Bison are common in Yellowstone, this one was in Silver Gate a village on the park border.

Bison jams are common, cars can back up for miles, all you can do is wait and get some pics.

I was always glad to be in the car when we were close to these guys.

He just doesn't look all that friendly does he?

Grand Teton hiking

Mt. Moran of the Teton Range

Trail to Inspiration Point

A couple of Moose browsing on streamside willows

Hidden Falls

Paintbrush and Harebells still blooming

Metolius River Camping

We took the first camping trip of the year to the Metolius River in central Oregon.

It is warm and dry over there. 

There are miles of hiking trails in the Ponderosa Pine forest.

                  Water was really gushing and wildflowers were at their peak. Birding was outstanding!

Hiking near Heceta Head

I set out to hike the China Creek trail and look for spawning salmon but could not pass up this view of the Heceta Head Lightkeeper's House above Cape Cove.

The hike was super even though I didn't see any fish. The sea lions were still sunning themselves at Sea Lion Point on my trip back home.

Spawning Salmon at Hendricks Creek

Mary W. and I had a very successful day looking for spawning Coho Salmon.

Birthday Party

Luk, Adele and Elenor (second from right) celebrate their birthdays with lots of help from their friends

Life Reflection

Luk and I are sharing a birthday today. Mitcho made us this card.

Mt. Hood Camp

Our last campsite right on the East Fork of the Hood River.

It hosts winter and summer steelhead runs and the river's threatened Coho salmon too. 

Luk and Mitcho exploring the area.

Quaking Aspen as well as Larch and Cottonwood were golden

On the trail to Tamawanas Falls

The falls themselves, gorgeous hike, big trees.

Stop at Timberline Lodge on the way home, there was snow!

Oregon Master Naturalist Training

Stewart Schultz, author of The Northwest Coast,

A Natural History gave a great presentation followed 

by a field trip to the beach yesterday.

The topic was the dunes and sandy beaches.

Siltcoos Outlet Hike

Rio, Mary's dog poses with floats near the beach

Beach Vetch in bloom amidst the beachgrass

Dune Tour

Bear was definitely the star of the ODNRA dune tour 

the working group took on friday

Penguin Discovery

Barred Owl

A Barred Owl showed up at dusk last night, we were 

able to call it down with a recording. This owl in the 

photo was in the neighborhood several years ago.