Around My Yard: Summer 2018

It has been a hot and dry summer here in Oregon, but it hasn't stopped me from enjoying all that nature has to offer.

I'm always amazed at everything I find just wandering around our five acres with my poodle everyday.  

This is Wilson my partner in crime.  
Rain or Shine, this poodle demands his two walks daily whether I'm ready or not!

Anna's Hummingbird
 These tiny little birds are so dainty, yet so colorful.

Black-headed Grosbeak
I have a whole family of these birds this year.

Spotted Towhee (Baby)
I normally don't see the young ones around, but this year I had several!

A pair of Red-Shouldered Hawks sitting in the tree. 
You can't miss their loud call.

Western Wood Pewee
I love flycatchers.  It's so interesting how they always go back and forth to their perch.

Bullocks Oriole
This is the first year I've seen these colorful birds in my tree.  

Evening Grosbeak
I have a pair that come back every year for a visit.

Wrentit
I heard this guys song before he was spotted.  I didn't see his friend, but he could be heard as well.

Belted Kingfisher
This loud mouth has been hanging around all year.  See his tongue!

Honeybee on my pretty flowers
 These are the good bees!

California Scrub Jay (baby)
I love all the baby birds.  Look how soft this one looks.  Don't you just want to touch it?

Eurasian Collared-Dove
This guy is perched at the top of our cherry tree.  It must me a good vantage point.

Hairy Woodpecker
I never get tired of seeing woodpeckers.

Lazuli Bunting
This is the first time this bright colored bird visited my feeder.  
I was pretty excited about that.

Lesser Goldfinch
They are such happy little birds.

Wilson, the gentle giant, getting to know my daughters little kittens.
Isn't that cute!

Travis and Daisy

Meet Travis and Daisy and their sweet baby Sofia.  It was nice that Daisy has worked as a model in the past, because it made her a natural in front of the camera for this quick evening mini-shoot!  

Chelsea

This is a shoot I did last summer of this pretty girl who's a natural in front of the camera.  She is also becoming quite the little actress!

Peninsular Bighorn Sheep at Anza-Borrego

On a very hot fall day in October 2016 my husband and I stopped at Anza-Borrego State Park, about 2 hours from Palm Desert.  It was our first visit, so we weren’t going to let the temperature stop us from trekking into the desert.

We began our 4 mile round trip hike along the Palm Canyon Trail, which leads to a palm oasis, in hopes of seeing the rare Peninsular Bighorn Sheep.  Most of the Peninsular Bighorn sheep live here, but some can be found as far away as the Mexican border.  They have been on the federal endangered species list since 1998, and only 296 were counted officially in the park on the July 4th weekend in 2016.

We started our hike with our binoculars strapped to us and cameras in hand.  As a bird watcher I’m always on the hunt for a new bird to add to my life list, and this wonderful trail through a vibrant arroyo didn’t disappoint.  It was alive with birds, many desert plants, and framed on both sides by colorful canyon walls, which rose hundreds of feet above the trail.

About a mile into our hike we came around a corner and looked up, seeing 5 Peninsular Big Horn Sheep high up on the steep canyon wall.  I excitedly snapped away with my camera trying to get as many shots off as possible of these rare animals, as they easily hopped from rock to rock on the perilous slope.  We were so happy that we had spotted the sheep, and even though they were hundreds of feet away we felt very lucky to have had a glimpse of the rare and stately creatures. 

Peninsular Bighorn Sheep High on the Mountain

We continued on our hike, resting in the shade of the beautiful oasis at the end of the trail.  Shortly after beginning the return trip to the trailhead I looked up, and staring right at me, only a few feet away, was this beautiful Ram, who by all appearances had decided to come down the mountain to check us out.  We then noticed that his ewe was a few feet further away, across the trail that we needed to traverse.  We were running very low on water and it was becoming a concern.  We waited around for a few minutes, not wanting to meet up with the angry end of those menacing horns, but finally decided that we must move on.

"Since you are taking my picture, here's another angle"

At one point we were between the male and the female, and the only path to the female was through us.   Keith remained still, and I backed way off, giving the man room to get to his girl, not knowing what he might do if we were in his way.  To our surprise he didn’t mind at all that Keith was standing in his path.  He just trotted right by him!

"At least one of them is out of the way, so I can get going"

"I'm waiting!"

"I'm coming!"

"Glad you finally decided to join me!"

We later read that the sheep, while disliking dogs a great deal, do not feel threatened by people, but at the time it was a little scary.

After the close encounter we continued back, still feeling the excitement of seeing and photographing the sheep.  It was a very hot day, but so worth it!

For my birding friends.....

Black-throated Sparrow

Cactus Wren

Verdin with nesting material

Verdin in the nest

California Towhee

Rock Wren

California Quail

This won’t be our last outing to this beautiful desert; maybe next time we can come in the spring for the beautiful desert flowers in bloom!  A final warning: when in the desert always bring MORE water than you think you will possibly need!

Happy Trails!