AnimalKind

Fall is Beautiful!

2011-12-05T14:07:00.000-08:00

I have been making sure to get out and take photos this fall, and mostly because I was trying to capture the Ruby-crowned Kinglet bird who I saw at one of my favorite locations during a field trip. Although I was not finding this little bird, I was basking in the beauty of fall. The colors, the reflections and the migrating bird presence was always delight. And luckily for my birthday, I was surrounded by little kinglets as well.

Whale Hugs!

2011-07-31T22:22:00.001-07:00

A whale hug from San Juan Island!

A pod of orcas swim together.

Beginning of an orca breach.

The fall of an orca breach.

Splash from an orca breach.

Can you see all three orcas? What!?

Tail slapping- a fishing technique.

A female orca passing. You can see her saddle patch below her dorsal fin to ID her.

Two males swimming. Males have larger and taller dorsal fins as they get older.

Anatidae. More specifically - Geese!

2011-05-25T22:03:00.000-07:00

Last year in my biology class, we had to do a report on a family of our choosing. I decided on Anatidae, a family of birds which include ducks, geese and swans. Oddly, this was my choice since I had so many of my own photos I could use and I loved the idea of making a power point presentation and see my pics on the screen. I found out a lot about these birds and they are still a favorite to photograph. This post, it is all about Canadian geese!

Wildlife Rehabilitation

2011-04-11T10:38:00.000-07:00

I am so privilege since I have the opportunity to volunteer at a local wildlife rehabilitation facility. Springtime is baby bird season (and a few mammals). It is both a fun and sad season since animals really do have the best possibility of survival with their parents. If you do see a baby bird on the ground, it is best to either place the baby back in her/his nest, or in a cardboard box in a tree as close to the test as possible. The same is true for mammals, except you will not want to handle them with your bare hands. Birds can't smell (except turkey vultures) but mammals can.

A baby barn owl demands food.

A recently hatched bird, opens his mouth wide, awaiting food.

Baby brush bunnies were a delight to feed.

Just out of the shell nest of baby birds whose mother had died.

You know this is a baby crow due to his blue eye color.

A baby killdeer is just the cutest thing on earth.

A baby hummingbird is fed special nectar. You can see how small she is compared to the person's finger.

A young swift clings to a towel, since they cling rather than perch. He is waiting patiently for worms, since swifts are insect eaters. Usually when I see babies in the care center, it means the annual month-long event of the swifts entering a local school chimney (quite the sight!) is happening soon.

Two western screech owls look at my with annoyance.

Using a stuffed animal as a surrogate fooled this cute little finch. She begs it for food and even though we are the ones feeding her, she still doesn't associate humans with feeding her.

An older fledgling cedar waxwing helps out by feeding a younger one. This was precious to witness but we had to make sure the older one fed herself enough as well.

By the end of duckling season, the volunteers are not so excited by the cuteness. Mostly they can just think about the messy clean up involved in their care. At a pond, they are still super cute!

Office Fun with a 35mm Lens

2011-03-02T10:16:00.000-08:00

A co-worker of mine got a fancy new camera with a 35mm lens and let me play with it. I am so envious of the camera and how smoothly it snaps shots and focuses with such precision. Here are a few pictures I took around the office. You can tell I am really into the cute animal figures.

A brief winter visit to the crystal springs

2011-02-11T09:18:00.000-08:00

Winter is my favorite time of year to visit the Crystal Springs Rhododendron Gardens since there is a lot of migrating water fowl and less people. The sserenity of the gardens are a perfect treat for any day. This time of year the gardens are free, so if you live in the Portland vicinity, check it out.

Lawn Decor at the Beach (and a couple flowers)

2010-12-23T15:27:00.000-08:00

BirdFest in Ridgefield

2010-10-08T09:20:00.000-07:00

This weekend (October 10 & 11) Friends of Ridgefield Wildlife Refuge presents BirdFest and Bluegrass in Ridgefield, WA. I have not yet gone to one of these, and I will be unable to attend once again due to moving, but it sounds like a lot of fun! Someone needs to go and tell me all about it.

In honor of the festiveness, I decided to post even more photos from Ridgefield, taken on my latest visit a couple weeks ago. I really love visiting this place and this time I got some nice surprises.

An egret stands in the water, looking for lunch.

A hunt in progress. Seeing these egrets so close is a real treat!

A bittern?! !!! These elusive heron-like birds are a rare delight since they are so skittish.

Late summer seems to bring these pipers to the waters at Ridgefield. I never see them any other time of the year.

A Frog! This time of year is also great so spying frogs hiding in the ponds along with turtles sunbathing.

Nutria seems to take over in the summer. The water ways are filled with algae and these critters munching on it all day long. Along a walking path open to the public during the summer, tons of nutria were seen eating along the grass edge. This one was the last to leave, distracted by a flower.

Bees and crickets and other tiny critters were fun to spot. I also saw tree frogs which were fun.

These flowers grow all over in different stages of growth, and always make beautiful subjects to photograph.

Even blooms with less color can create a beautiful display.

Wild flowers take over a part of a grassy field.

Alpaca!

2010-08-25T13:35:00.000-07:00

When I mentioned to a friend I wanted to stop at the Alpaca farm while visiting San Juan Island, she was not convinced. She thought we could see alpacas anywhere. I promised her we'd just make a quick stop. I love this place since the alpacas are fairly close and so cute! I don't know if I've actually seen them anywhere else either. Luckily my friend agreed the visit was worth it!

Cascade Raptor Center

2010-08-12T14:04:00.001-07:00

A hawk enjoys a water bottle spray on a hot day.

I volunteer at the Audubon Wildlife Care Center and get to see amazing birds of all sorts every week. A bird handler I work with mentioned one day about Cascade Raptor Center in Eugene and told me it was remarkable and I had to go there some time. For someone like herself to say that, I knew it was a must see! Every year I take the girl I have mentored since she was 12 (she is now 19) camping somewhere. This year I decided camping near Eugene would be fun so we could enjoy the outdoors, visit the raptor center and eat at my favorite place in Eugene, Pizza Research Institute who has the best vegan pizza.

Ki, a Red-Shouldered Hawk stands patiently at an education talk.

I timed my trip to the Cascade Raptor Center to correspond with the education bird talk and got to meet a red-shouldered hawk named Ki and a Turkey Vulture named Kali. They were both so fascinating and the bird handlers who very informative. The woman handling Kali was especially enthusiast about her privilege to be a part of the vulture’s life and even had an amazing vulture tattoo on her wrist. It is great to see such enthusiasm! These birds are in a facility such as this due to injuries or other issues that make it so they can not go back to the wild successfully. The raptor center gives animals a second chance at life while being able to educate the public. In conjunction to the center, they also run a rehabilitation center for raptors.

This Turkey Vulture Kali has attitude and I love it!

A Kestrel

A bald eagle enjoying some sunshine.

A Snowy Owl who just had a drink of water.

This Northern Goshawk mesmerized me.

Saw-Whet Owls are just adorable!

A Western Screech Owl tried to hide. They are my favorite!

A Long-Eared Owl displaying her namesake.

More Bald Eagles! Beautiful!

A White-Tailed Kite! Wow!

These White-Tailed Kite sisters were rescued together.

I was pleasantly surprised by the number of native birds and small mammals that visited the center, making the visit exceptionally unique.

A Western Grey Squirrel, which you never see in Portland anymore.

A deer surprised up roaming the streets in Eugene, just below the raptor center.

These photos really do not do the raptors justice. I highly recommend that if you get a chance, check this place out in person. You will love it!

Swallows and Ducks at Crystal Springs

2010-07-26T13:22:00.000-07:00

The Crystal Springs Rhododendron Gardens are really my favorite place in Portland. I got to introduce a new friend to the area, which is always fun since everyone enjoys it. Where else can you be greeted with so much wildlife and flowers and trees in such a small area? I was surprised to see a family of barn swallows concentrated in a tree. They are so adorable. Of course there were ducks, still some ducklings and flowers as well. Anytime of the year you will find something unique and delightful to see here!

Another Visit to Ridgefield Wildlife Refuge

2010-07-08T10:41:00.000-07:00

I have a love/hate relationship with wildlife refuges. I love all the wildlife I see on them, but I hate the fact that they allow hunting some times of the year. Not much of a refuge, huh!? Driving through Ridgefield you always see wildlife on the ground, in the trees, on the water and up above soaring through the sky. In the fall, these visions are interrupted by gunshots which make the visit not so peaceful at all. Although fall is the best time of year to see swans and migrating water birds, any time of year is a good time to visit.

Unless you want to walk around and the mosquitoes are out for revenge, which is what I experienced this go around. I did not get to walk on the trails and explore more outdoors and potential wildlife sighting since just a couple minutes out of the car I was surrounded by the nasty biters. I am so susceptible to their bites and they seem to love me, so I ran back to the car and hope to try again later this summer. Luckily, I did still get some great photos. I need to practice for the photo contest, but looking at past winners, I not only need more practice, but a better lens as well. Regardless of any missed photo opportunities or disturbing noises in the background, this place is a great place to visit.

The first wildlife sighting of the day and the first racoon I've seen at Ridgefield.

Red-winged Black Birds on common along wetlands and their songs are always pretty to hear.

A Great Blue Heron was spotted on the road by my friend in her rear view mirror. What a huge heron as well!

Obviously I got a little intrigued by the caterpillars that were hanging all over some plants along a little waterway...

A Snowy Egret in Rodeo Lagoon

2010-06-21T13:40:00.000-07:00

I spotted the snowy egret across the lagoon and walked across a bridge to get onto the beach side of it. I was on a mission, although my friend did not know. I was not sure if I could get close to the bird, but as I could finally see him from the beach and slowly approached, he did not fly away. I actually got quite close while he combed the shore for fish. He did eventually fly, but not too far and without my opposing it, since that is when I got my best picture. Thank you egret!

Marine Mammal Center Visit

2010-06-17T13:30:00.000-07:00

Visiting the Marine Mammal Center has become a must-do when I travel to visit a friend in San Francisco. I love the work they do rehabilitating the various seals and seal lions and the educated volunteers that are always available to answer any question you may have.

On my most recent visit, there were mostly young elephant seals in view who have weaned off their mother's milk, but could not find food on the shallow coastline. Looks like over-fishing and other changes to the world's oceans are causing many problems for these animals, and many others all over the world. You can see that these young seals have a lot of skin to still grow into.

If you ever are around the San Francisco/Sausalito area, I recommend a visit for yourself. Otherwise, enjoy the pictures from mine.

Images from my parent's house

2010-06-09T15:51:00.001-07:00

My most personal of flowers is this little rose bush which blooms small roses that are not as well respected. This rose bush grew for a small garden I had as a child and didn’t have success at planting anything. I am not sure why this rose bush grew there, but it became the centerpiece of a pet graveyard. I had many small pets growing up, so I dug around it more often than I liked saying goodbye to short lived loved ones.

There are lots of various flowers growing around my parent’s yard which is along the Columbia River.

My father has a family background in Iris growing and so has become obsessed. I feel that it being a family flower so to speak, I should like them more, but they are kind of hard to photograph. My mom requested I take a picture of the blue iris, even though it was not her favorite, but to show off the different blues.

Hummingbirds fly by often looking for something sweet to drink. During the busy season, by dad restocks the feeders once or twice a day. And there are three on sight.

San Juan Island Adventures

2010-05-10T22:45:00.000-07:00

San Juan Island is a 4 hour drive north from Portland, and about an hour ferry ride to the island. The fun begins at the ferry terminal where wildlife galore inhabits. There was about an hour wait at the ferry terminal and in that time I combed the beaches for crabs hiding under rocks, witnessed an array of blue heron activity and eagles soaring above.

All along the terminal structure were nests full of half-grown cormorants and one nest of baby seagulls. The baby sea gulls were quite adorable. The baby cormorants were not “cute” per se, but they were fascinating and as we waited to dock, my camera kept rolling.

While on San Juan Island, even more wildlife delighted. There were these little foxes that came our eerily at night scouring for food around the humans. These little foxes came in all sorts of colors, looking like a dark calico cat variety.

Eagles were often seen either flying overhead or sitting in wait at the top of a tree. This is good eagle country, since it is also good fish waters. That is why the orca whales swim around the islands and surrounding area. They are on the hunt for one type of fish, salmon. These are resident orcas that are not interested in seals, but have a very distinct food craving, which is why restoring the ecosystem is so important to this amazing creature.

Sometimes there are fun surprises on the island as well. While enjoying the sunset one night, a mystery man started to play a magical instrument on the mountain side which made for a uniquely gorgeous sunset.

When I first visited the island, I went kayaking with --- and was lucky enough to actually have a pod of orcas swim by us not only once, but twice. I was within 5 feet of one who was swimming underneath me and I could see her white belly. One picture I took was evaluated to identify "Granny" by her dorsal fin and saddle patch who is over 90 years old.

Not much further another orcas breached in the water. Slick was identified by her dorsal fin and saddle patch as well. Mostly the orcas were just swimming by, but it was the most amazing experience of my life.

There is one campground on the island that has a beautiful view of the water, sunsets and possibly an orca swimming by. There is also a host of places to stay and for my first visit to the island I stayed at Juniper Lane Guest House that was wonderfully located, run by super nice people and reasonably priced. I hope to visit the island again since I am addicted to the orcas, eagles and beautiful scenery. I highly recommend kayaking, visiting The Whale Museum, and sitting at Lime Kiln Point State Park waiting for the possibility of orcas going by. Oh, and San Juan Island is also the home of Wolf Hollow Wildlife Rehabilitation Center which provides second chances for the critters of the island.

There are certain laws about boats to protect the local orca pods. Unfortunately some people are too selfish about a close encounter than actually caring about the animals themselves. I witnessed this boat be extremely inappropriate by getting in the path of a traveling orca. I attempted to contact someone to do something, but cell reception in my location did not allow me to get a hold of anyone. Part of appreciating and enjoying San Juan Island is to respect nature, not behaving like this boat did.

The Magical Healing Power of Nature

2010-04-06T11:37:00.000-07:00

The other day I left my biology class upset after someone made an inappropriate joke that unintentionally targeted me. I got into my car and blasted some angry rap music and drove off a little fast, since of course all of that will make me feel better. Or not. As I drove down the road, I noticed the sun was still shinning and I was about to pass a waterway filled with ducks and geese. I made a last minute decision to turn into the park and take a minute to unwind.

Me feeding ducks at a local park.

As I got out of my car, I was instantly greeted by the setting sun. The golden rays instantly melted away some of my distress. I walked down a pathway along the water and large African geese came up to me talking up a storm, asking for food. They cracked me up and I laughed out loud and told them I had nothing for them but they were adorable. I took a moment to inspect the intricate patterns of their feathers, the colors of their beak, the design of their webbed feet.

A ruddy duck was a great surprise visiting a local park.

Ducks started to quack their way over to me, expecting food. They would then leave after awhile after they discovered I was empty handed. You can tell these little critters are well treated by the community. And they reward people in ways you would not think of.

A family of young rats delighted me with their curiosity.

When I left, I had a smile on my face. This urban wildlife and natural area healed me in ways a conversation with a good friend, or loud angry music could not. They infused me with some peace, tranquility and happiness just by existing and distracting me and reminding me of the splendor in the world. I’ve seen this many times before with myself. I’ll go on a walk, frustrated from something, and a squirrel will unexpectedly pop up, or a unique bird like a kestrel will fly by or some crows will impress me with their intelligence. Suddenly all the bad thoughts in my head will disappear and I will be thinking, “how cute” or “wow” or nothing at all since my head is filled with awe.

I named this little spider Spike. I discovered him on a walk while camping east of The Dalles. His eyes and tiny body amazed me and I fell in love.

This is why I love nature and animals and appreciate what they provide for me without ever asking. This is why it is important to capture this beauty in photographs, protect animals with education and be environmentally conscious in every day life. I appreciate the magic of the natural world and want to share that with everyone.

Northern Pintails swim in some water found in the Columbia Whitetail Deer Wildlife Refuge in Washington.

Squirrels!

2010-01-16T11:56:00.001-08:00

Through the years I have taken many photos of squirrels. I have found them to mostly be curious, cute and dopey. When I was young, my family took in a baby squirrel whose mom was no longer around to care for him. We named him Zoomber. He lived in our house with a cage he could choose to visit, but mostly he ran around our house and visited with us and made nests in our old clothes in our laundry room. He was so entertaining to have around. Luckily after taking care of him for a year we started to reintroduce him to the ourdoors around spring time. He slowly adapted to become a regular wild squirrel who had his own family and peered at us from the trees. Here are random photos of squirrels in nature who I got to visit in their environment.

*** Any native squirrel that has been orphaned or injured should be brought to a wildlife rehab center to properly handle the care of the animal. I am appreciative of my experience with Zoomber and since he was non native, he was best off in our care. ***

A trip to Columbian White-Tailed Deer National Wildlife Refuge

2010-01-07T13:47:00.000-08:00

My parents live along the Columbia River in Cathlamet, WA. Their view from their home is beautiful and less than 10 miles down the road is the Columbian White-Tailed Deer National Wildlife Refuge. Every visit I am able, I drive through this refuge at least once. Evenings or morning are best since there is more of a chance to see deer. I discovered last year that elk go to the refuge, to actually find refuge, during hunting season. The most common sighting are great blue herons, and one drive threw 11 were spotted. I often take my niece and nephew with me since it is a great family activity and they enjoy counting the number of different animals we encounter.

A red tail hawk sits in a tree along a marsh area.

The red tail flies off, probably cause he got annoyed with me taking photos.

Three northern pintails swim along a marsh area of the refuge.

A group of northern shovelers looks for food. Shovelers have wider and longer beaks than a regular mallard. The females look similar otherwise, but the males are more unique.

Close ups of the winter vegetation along the waterways of the refuge.

An immature bald eagle flies from a tree. Look at those tallons!

Holidays with Wildlife

2009-12-29T13:50:00.000-08:00

I spent many hours over the Christmas weekend at different wildlife refuges. Christmas day my favorite gift was all the wildlife viewing at a refuge by my parents house with my niece and nephew (pictures will post later). On Sunday when the weather was cold and windy, I opted for Ridgefield Wildlife Refuge since they have an auto tour full of wildlife.

A heron in the field at Ridgefield Wildlife Refuge.

A blue heron finds lunch in the form of a small rodent. I always thought they just ate fish.

A blue heron flies away after I got too close for his comfort. Sorry.

Baby nutria! They may be invasive, but they sure are cute!

There were four little babies eating grass on the side of the auto tour road at Ridgefield.

Tundra swans fly overhead. I've only seen swans a few times in my life so I was excited.

Swans rest on the pond in Ridgefield. These large birds have so much power behind their wings they could break your bones if you got too close.

A red tail hawk sits in a tree. There were many spotting of red tails in the trees along with refuge.

A red tail fly by my car hollering about something. In this picture he just landed, but his mouth is still open with his screeching talk.

The landscape at Ridgefield Wildlife Refuge which is beautiful all year round.

Migrating Birds at Crystal Springs

2009-12-24T10:27:00.000-08:00

A cormorant always show up this time of year and I appreciate their uniqueness.

I love the skinny legs of the coot, and their funny little sounds.

Quite a few less scaup swim at the park this time of year.

A gadwall looks plain from far away but has some beautiful feathers and patterns.

A male bufflehead tries to not get too close while diving for food.

A grebe floats away. These little guys are quite skittish.

One of the few squirrels wanting nothing to do with me.

Most of the squirrels were looking for food and from the size of them, were very successful.

A squirrel asks me for food, but I was empty handed.

A Trip to Sauvie Island

2009-12-08T12:19:00.000-08:00

I was feeling a little down one recent Sunday morning, but the sun was shining and my camera was calling my name. I decided to go to Sauvie Island and explore the area and even get a parking pass, as required on the island. Someone I volunteer with gave me some ideas of places to check out, and even though I got lost, which is hard to do on the island, I did find many treasures.

There were many flowers in nearby fields.

I love the shape of these plants, especially next to one another.

The first natural area I came across I saw a great blue heron in the field, later joined by an egret. In the distance I could see swans and I yearned to go closer, but signs warned to not go any further and that hunting season was ongoing. In the short distance I saw a red tail hawk flying by a tree, so I started to cross the boundary anyway, but heard gunshots and decided against it. Luckily a red tail stopped in a tree in the “safe zone” and I got some great shots.

As I traveled the road I was unfamiliar with, I found myself at a dead end with bird sounds in the distance, but once again the areas were marked for hunters. So frustrating!

I did manage to see birds in the trees, swans flying overhead and other beautiful sights.

Eventually I got back on the road and finally found a no hunting area and started to take a walk. The downfall was no swans or marshes in the area. I did not go the full 3 mile loop that a hiker told me about, but I did find a woodpecker who was nice enough to let me get close and take cute pictures.

I am excited to go back to Sauvie Island for more nature adventures. Hopefully soon, the hunters will be gone and there can be peace there once again.

Wildlife refuges that allow hunters are common, but it makes no sense to me. It is a challenge to enjoy nature with sounds of destruction in the distance. I had to control myself when I saw one such hunter coming out of the nature zone I was not permitted. With his camo and rifle, he became a symbol on the war against nature we so readily allow.

Ridgefield Wildlife Refuge

2009-12-01T11:07:00.001-08:00

This is the perfect time to visit Ridgefield Wildlife Refuge in Ridgefield, WA. For Portlanders, this is a quick drive up 1-5 and it is worth the visit. I have visiting this place twice now. The fall visit I was surprised by the abundance of tundra swans in the area and the variety of migrating birds. I got to see northern pintails and northern shovelers, both a type of water bird, which I had only seen a few times prior to this.

There were only hawks, osprey, many great blue herons, nutria and other wildlife.

My spring visit included a trail that is otherwise closed in the fall for killers (the sound of gunshots is the one negative about a visit here during the fall). The trail allowed for the sighting of many turtles, some frogs and some egrets in the distance.

There were only a couple ducks and one goose who had a hurt wing and was upset and tried to attack me. Luckily my quick inner wimp allowed me to scream loud and run backwards to avoid a bite. As I warned others enjoying the trail about the goose, I noticed he didn’t have a problem with anyone else. I laughed at myself the rest of the day and continued to enjoy the outing.

Drive slow. Turtles may be crossing.

Remembering Spring

2009-11-06T13:45:00.000-08:00

I didn't have time to catch all the beautiful fall colors, so instead I am revisiting spring time with flowers. It is amazing how every season is filled with color, some vibrant, some with amazing patterns, and others are have a mysterious darkness.

I especially love when I can capture an bee or another insect with a flower.

I have a special love for bees, as long as they are not stinging me.

I had never seen these flowers before they popped up in my parent's yeard. I find them to be such a unique, beautiful flower.

When I discovered the super macro setting on my camera I discovered a whole new world.

The insides of a poppy seem to paint the inner sourounding which I find very fascinating.

The ability of a flower to have such a uniform shape is stunning.

I find these flowers simply gorgeous, especially with the morning rain drops.

Later in the day the flowers look so different. Amazing how plants are so adapted to their surrounding.

Brown Pelicans and a Common Tern

2009-11-02T21:50:00.000-08:00

I don't remember seeing brown pelicans on the Oregon coast while growing up, so I don't know why I am seeing so many nowadays. I find these birds very fascinating due to their size, diving and shape. While on the coast, I saw more brown pelicans than sea gulls even! They were having a feast along the Columbia River where it meets the Pacific Ocean and I took advantage of this with my camera on hand.

A common tern showed up looking for fish as well.

According to the National Audubon Society Field Guide to Birds the Brown Pelicans are having a comeback now that some pesticides were banned. That must be why I am seeing them more often!

With Astoria in the background, a brown pelican searches for lunch.

These birds can dive over 50 feet when they see their prey. They resurface to swallow the fish.

Brown Pelicans are tame birds that are more sensitive to chemical pollutants found in the fish they eat. There have been incidences in the last few years of mass pelican deaths due to this. A good reminder of the importance to stop pollution of our oceans since this affects all life forms.

The Wreck of Peter Iredale

2009-10-25T21:50:00.000-07:00

The Peter Iredale sits along the beach at Fort Stevens; a reminder of the force the ocean holds and time passing. This ship wrecked exactly 103 years ago on October 25, 1906 en route to Portland through the Columbia River. They were so close when the ship was swept in and grounded just west of Astoria, OR, but luckily everyone survived.

When the ship first shored itself, the plan was to tow it back to sea since it was not damaged too bad. The beach had other plans for the ship however, and it was too "stuck" for removal. The ship was sold for scraps and what remains is what was not taken for money, or by time. Just the bow, a few ribs and a couple of masts remain. Luckily that is all that is needed for some nice photos and an exploration into history.

The Peter Iredale allows images of nature and metal to come together and create beauty. I was mesmerized by the amazing assortment of photos I could take of this ship and the ocean which surrounds it with the ever changing ocean waves, colors, barnacles and reflections.

Beach Patterns

2009-10-19T22:03:00.000-07:00

I enjoyed a fantastic end of the summer trip to the beach in September. The weather could not have been more perfect with sunshine galore, but not too high of heat. There were brown pelicans, bunny rabbits, deer, sea lions, racoons, chipmunks, squirrels, birds of all sorts, sky full of stars, vegan marshmallow roasting, beach strolling, shipwreck exploring, history learning and good conversations with a good friend. What more could I ask for?

Since I took so many photos, I decided to split them up. Without my camera, I probably would have never really seen all the patterns the beach has to offer. You may see the beauty in the sand and the uniqueness of the ocean water foam, but these snapshots gave me a new perspective.

A different view of the beach, allowed for a prime spot to witness waves forming.

This pattern in the sand is so amazing, especially since no one has stomped on it yet.

The meeting of water and sand is a beautiful thing.

The contrast of beach colors captures my attention.

Oops, I guess I stomped all over the beautiful patterns. Thank you beach.

Visit the Rhododendron Gardens!

2009-10-12T13:36:00.000-07:00

Every year I get sad when the summer is ending. Adapting to the colder weather is not very fun and the weather is not as inviting to play outside. Then I remember my walks through the Crystal Springs Rhododendron Gardens during fall and get so happy! In the fall there are less people in the park, making for a more peaceful experience. The people may be sparse, but the wildlife is not! This is the time of the year when more of the migrating water birds are visiting the park and sometimes you get to see unique ones. Wood ducks, wigeons, buffleheads, coots and cormorants are all sure to be there at some point. I have even been lucky enough to see hooded and regular mergansers, northern shovelers and the oh-so-exciting ruddy ducks! What a beautiful bird!

The gates to the park are now open and admission is free. Donations are still gladly accepted and goes towards maintaining the park. This is my favorite place to visit in Portland since I always get great photos and it is so accessible.

A comorant trying to dry his wings after diving for food.

A ruddy duck! I jumped up quite a few times and probably squeeled when I saw this bird. I had dreampt about seeing this bird in person since their blue beak is so unique.

Bufflehead ducks are so tiny and adorable. This is a male bufflehead. The females are a little smaller and mostly grey with black.

Some fall color in the park. Not sure what I did to get the photo, but I like it.

Welcome to AnimalKind!

2009-10-05T11:13:00.000-07:00

I am so excited to announce my new blog where I can share my photos and excitement for the natural world with others.

AnimalKind is about connecting to nature and animals through the lens of the camera. It comes from respect and love for all things wild. It comes from protection for creatures who are not so wild. It is about lessons from the unexpected that the world lends us.

It is the surprise connection to a tiny spider, a deer stepping into the sunlight, spotting a lizard in the distance, a bird flying a dance around you, a family of baby rats trusting you to say hello, seeing a unique bird in the water, watching moments between chipmunks, the depth of ancient trees around you, the majestic swim of an orca, a mesmerizing pattern in the sand, and lots of squirrel fun.

It is about coming alive and filling your heart with excitement by sharing the planet with a world so beautiful. We are so lucky to experience it all if only we pay attention enough to notice. I think when we do take that time and fill the air with our appreciation; we will become aware of more encounters with our wondrous surroundings.