Hiking with Guns-2017 Conclusion

This second sojourn into the mountains was interesting, but lacked anything with 'cranial appendages' (Jon's words!). He shared some of  his other finds with me and thru me, with you! 

All photos except the last one were taken by Jonathan. 

 Ziggy, the preying mantis. Ziggy kept moving around and wanted to grab the camera!

 It is so odd finding things after decades of seasons have assailed them. This is a glass bleach bottle circa 1955 or so (Jon told me, I forgot to write it down!). It was near the old combine near the road to the ranch.

 Chipmunk having a snack of some sort-

 Jon took a few photos of odd shapes in the trees.

 This was the sunset on Sunday night. Mt Hood had a shadow mountain behind and over it! (the photos look better bigger. If you click on the picture you can see it singly on the screen)

 Jon took this fun photo of what we surmise is a sun dog. It moved during the course of the photos from one side to the other. (the sun dog is the spot on the side)

 Some of the deer Jon saw. He also saw a family his last night out hunting. It was too dark to take photos and they were about 10 feet away. He said it was perfectly still and no breeze, if he'd have moved, they would have skittered off. The fawns were  playing and the doe had to keep them in line.

 VERY odd (what we assume) jumping spider. We usually see them in greens, it was very different finding one that was red.

 This sunset was on Tuesday night. Jon and Steve were sad they didn't get a deer this year. They did NOT want a forked  horn and so, they came home with good memories and sore bodies. Some years are like that.

Hiking with Guns- First Foray

Jonathan took all of these photos on the first foray up to the ranch on the first weekend of deer season. Nary a deer, but great scenery. As usual!!! 

Jon was intrigued by the odd shapes the trees had. Probably from the winter snows bending them over. 

Steve out in the grasses. 

             
                 

 A sudden storm came up while they were out on Sunday evening. Jon said, 'It looked like it was heading toward the ranch, but it veered off and followed the Umatilla upriver." They were a bit concerned as they watched rain and lightening come towards them, but they didn't get wet and the photos are rather awesome! You can see the layers of clouds and sky and earth.

 Jon got a new scope. He was attempting to photograph a bird thru it. Jon told me, "It {this scope} is a bit more complicated than the last one." The other photos are random pictures  he sent.

 Sunset on Monday night. They didn't get the chance to get out and hunt during the week this year, but there is one last weekend left. Steve is taking the Mercury to the annual Harvest Fair car show and will join Jon later.

Duck Hunt

Remember the Nintendo game, Duck Hunt? I felt I was inside it on Monday afternoon! 

There are two lakes out north, Bishop Lake and one with no name. Honestly, there are lots of  unnamed lakes out north, many of them are small and surrounded by bog. Like the one I visited today. It is fed by a creek from Parsons Lake and then that body of water has a creek going into Bishop Lake (google maps is VERY helpful!).  This small creek and lake break up early and waterfowl nest there. Especially swans. For decades a pair of swans have raised babies in this area. I have always passed this spot in a vehicle and gazed dangerously as I guided the rig around the curve in the road. I wanted to hike out, but never did. Until Monday. 

One of the things which caught my attention was the vast silence. I found out what the word soughing means and sounds like. Inside the quiet, the wind moved thru the dried grasses. Calming, soothing, beautiful. 

 I was, once again, VERY glad to have breakup boots!!!!! This is a hike I'd not do in warmer months. I was already ankle deep in water at times and the ice under the mosses kept me on firm footing. And as it gets nicer, it will most likely be infested with skeeters!

 This feather is about 3 inches long. Maybe a tad more.

 I liked how this 'dead' itty bitty tree had specks of new green on the tips!

 I didn't see any swans, but I did scare up a few mallards. At least, I am pretty sure they were mallards!

 Tree with a blank sign. It told me at one time it was protected by someone with an agenda, but now..well, I didn't see any signs today!

 I didn't get close to this, it was getting pretty wet and hiking thru squashy mossy stuff is a lot of work!

 This mountain is EVERYWHERE! I might try getting this shot again, when it is clearer out. Although, it must also be cold enough to walk out to!

 This is where I had the Duck Hunt deja vous! As I stood still next to a dead tree my size, two ducks exploded from the sedge and then split apart, to fly away.

I was a VERY long way from where I had parked mum's car!! This shot is looking back to where the beaver hut might be. I was standing nearer the road here. 

 The culvert under Holt-Lamplight is another place to see water birds. I just saw reflections to play with.

 This last shot is one of my favorite sights as I drive on the road. It is next to the driveway of a man I  used to know as a kid. It isn't a bear or even a pelt. It is a blanket of grass which was plowed up into a snowbank this winter! As the snow has melted, it has folded around the 'structure' and catches the eye.

Another Hunting Hike

The weather has been dreary, but the colors and scenery are amazing. It appears Jon shot the only buck on all 300 acres--they have seen a lot of does and fawns, but nothing with antlers. They'll show up next weekend, after the season ends.

The upper pond and reflections of the trees.

I love this one- Jon is an amazing photographer!
Steve looking over the ranch. The hills remind us of the time during the flood in Genesis. You can just imagine the water receding from the tops--if you don't agree the flood could change so much so fast, I remind you to think of Mt St Helens. In just minutes valleys were formed and entire trees were washed into lakes where they took up residence on the bottom as if they grew there.

Another favorite photo.

They also saw huge flocks of birds migrating. It took a while, but am pretty sure they are Sand Hill cranes. (he took a few that were blurry, but had more definition in the shape of the silhouette.)