Common Checkered Skipper Butterfly | Mrsroadrunner Photography

Common Checkered Skipper Butterfly | Mrsroadrunner Photography




Meet again this Common Checkered Skipper Butterfly! This one is on one of our wildflowers that grow here in our part of the high desert of Oregon!





Skipper Butterflies all have the same structure in appearance. All Skipper Butterflies kind of, "skip", or "Flutter" about. My observations as for photographing the Skipper Butterflies is to find them busy as this one is, and keep your shadow off them. Once you find your own technique , you too will get many photographs of the Skippers doing what the Skippers would do if you are there documenting their behavior or not.





This Common Checkered Skipper Butterfly is rather a pretty one with the hint of blue! I like the color myself and this one is a common Butterfly here on our part of Oregon.

Skipper Butterflies to my understand are found all over America, from the west coast where we are to the east coast! Perhaps not this pacific species of this Skipper Butterfly. However all skippers have this body structure as I have said. This is a good way of knowing what you have seen or photographed. Knowing the Butterfly is a Skipper, then if you choose you can identify what kind of Skipper Butterfly.

Thank you for coming by and checking out this small series of photographs of this Common Checkered Skipper Butterfly!

Wood-nymph Butterfly | Mrsroadrunner Photography

Wood-nymph Butterfly | Mrsroadrunner Photography



Meet the Wood-nymph Butterfly! See the Butterflies eye spots?





This Wood-nymph Butterfly is feeding on these wildflowers. As you look through this series of photographs, watch this Wood-nymph Butterflies face. You can clearly see this Wood-nymph Butterfly feeding!





The Wood-nymph Butterfly comes in several sizes and the colors can be different as well. This species is found here in Oregon. To be more pacific of where I photographed this Wood-nymph Butterfly I photographed this one in the Ochoco Mountains of Oregon.





You will here me talk a lot of the Ochoco Mountains for we like the Ochoco Mountains a great deal! If you are looking for the big animals deer, elk even Wild Horses that kind of thing, the Ochoco Mountains has those more so then my observations of the Cascade Mountains. The Cascade Mountains it has been our experience of more people then the Ochoco Mountains has, but for hunting season. Hunting season is a crazy time of the year. The Cascade Mountains has the tourists, the Ochoco Mountains has the hunters. That might be easier to explain the two mountain ranges?

We like the quietness and the abundance of all kinds of Wildlife in the Ochoco Mountains! I am not a big snow person, as you can find year round in the Cascade Mountains. Cascades are also found in the Ochoco Mountains, not like the Cascade Mountains of course, many more Cascades in the Cascade Mountains!

Depends what you are looking for, wanting? The Ochoco Mountains in Spring and Summer is a Butterfly persons wonderland!





It is getting to be that time of the year where it is time to head back into the Ochoco Mountains! The wildflowers should be about to bloom if they have not started? Our Lupine and other native species are about to bloom at any time here at home. We live in between the Cascade Mountains to the west of us, and the Ochoco Mountains to the east of us. Which direction do we want to go ?





I left this Wood-nymph Butterfly feeding on these Wildflowers. There is no need to spend to much time with one species of Butterfly for there is so many more to photograph! Most times the Butterflies cooperate with me and my camera. Other times I would love to be a fly on the wall watching haha!

Thank you for coming by and checking out my Wood-nymph Butterfly Photographs!

Red-tailed Hawk In The High Desert | Mrsroadrunner Photography

Red-tailed Hawk In The High Desert | Mrsroadrunner Photography




Meet the Red-tailed Hawk of The High Desert of Oregon! If you visit here and see a Hawk, this might just be the Hawk you see first?





You may see the Red-tailed Hawk in a topped Juniper as this one is. Why the topped Juniper tree's? The Red-tailed Hawks are not small birds, not the largest birds of prey we have , not the smallest either!

The Red-tailed Hawk is four feetish in length. The females are bigger then the males, as other birds of prey are. We do get the Red-tailed Hawk here at the house flying over to see what there is to see. However this one was photographed away from the house on this topped juniper tree. Normal growing juniper tree's just are not strong enough to hold a Red-tailed Hawk. So the Red-tailed Hawks find topped juniper tree's or they are found a ring or two down on a stronger limb in the juniper tree, or anything that can hold their weight. We just have a lot of juniper tree's here in the high desert to make use of.

The Red-tailed Hawk can be found most places here in the High Desert. The Red-tailed Hawk does not tend to fear people. You can find the Red-tailed Hawk nesting outside of peoples homes in the tree's here where we live. You can find them on the sides of the road hunting, you can find them on electrical lines along the high ways hunting. Keep your eyes open, if you visit here you will see a Red-tailed Hawk!







This Red-tailed Hawk started stretching it's wings so I new it would not be long until the Red-tailed Hawk took flight!







It is pretty easy to get to close to the Red-tailed Hawks when they take flight! The younger Red-tailed Hawks will not fly far, and will kind of, "jump" to close spots to land. Testing out their wings. That is just the behavior of the young birds. The older Red-tailed Hawks already went through this stage of testing out their wings so they do not have to demonstrate such behavior.







You really do not have to stress the Red-tailed Hawk to take flight. Just wait..... The Red-tailed Hawk when we see them out and about like this, they do not stick around on such a exposed spot like this topped juniper tree for long. The Juniper tree was not tall, it seamed to me like just a stopping point for a short time. I have even photographs the Red-tailed Hawks at kills along with the Eagles. The Ravens always, I mean always tell when their is such a kill. Everything shows up! So keep your ears open for the Raven! The big mouths of nature.....







This shot is the last shot I got before it went behind the other Junipers and I really did not feel like following the bird. Plenty of other Birds of Prey to photograph! The Red-tailed Hawk is not always found up in the sky!! Look in the tree's you are hiking by, use your ears to listen for the Ravens telling you and everyone where a meal is, just keep your eyes open other then in the skies of course!

Thank you for coming by and checking out this series of this Red-tailed Hawk I photographed!

Blue Ridge Mine Oregon | Mrsroadrunner Photography

Blue Ridge Mine Oregon | Mrsroadrunner Photography




This is the Blue Ridge Mine in the Ochoco Mountains here in Oregon! We typically drive by these mines (there is quite a few in Oregon), however this day we thought we should stop and see what has changed since the last time we stopped by.






Nothing to much changed since the last time we had stopped. The weather in the Ochoco Mountains is taking it's toll as well as folks doing what people do when these kinds of folks have no one watching them.






If you have your dog/s with you as we do, make sure you give your dog/s a good drink from the fresh water you packed for your dog/s! The contaminated water supply is no good for your dog/s and hate for you to find out what the water supply around some of these mines can do to your dog/s as we did!! Don't allow your dog/s to play in, drink have much to do with the water that is found around these mines.....






This is just one of the Mines that can be found in the Ochoco Mountains! No longer used, no workers are around all that you will find is history. Or the left overs of what once was.....

Again if you have dog/s with you be careful of the nails, and other debris that can be found around such structures. These places are not maintained, if there is a sign there is a reason for that sign.






It seams as if every time we do choose to stop at the Blue Ridge Mine something has changed! Oh doors are off their hinges or something has been torn off. Garbage laying around. Pack it in, pack it out.....






As I am writing this I recall passing the Blue Ridge Mine many times! We just don't choose to stop all the times we are up here in the area.






The dogs are the main reason we choose not to stop every time we pass the Blue Ridge Mine or the other mines. One of our Mastiffs really likes water and was hospitalized after a jont to several of the Mines. We would rather not have this happen again.

If you are in the area just to go to the Mines without dog/s, well..... You will not be disappointed! We are not in the Mountains for the Mines, this is a secondary for us. Wildlife photography is why we are here in the Ochoco Mountains..... I just happen to like history, and Guy worked up here in the area so he knows a lot of the stories of such things as the Blue Ridge Mine that has been passed around from generation to generation. I believe I wrote this in my last post? I will look and revise this. That post might now be in my archive, when I used to post to a place that is now shut down..... Put this on my list of things to check on.






This is the main building. This is the building I seam to notice changes on the most when we do stop, or just driving by since we drive by this the most. Such as that ladder there. That ladder does not belong there. Someone had torn that ladder off I believe the back of the building where it was left many years ago. I took photographs oh, five plus years ago when this was not like this. The bullet holes seam to be new to me as well.....

This building tends to get the most attention for this is seen from the road. You come around the corner and BOOM, there it is! Again a interesting place if you have never been! Keep in mind if people are driving the road.... stay out of the road! This is common sense and many folks have been by here so much that they do not expect people or your pets to be in the road....

I do not do the driving, so to get directions to visit check the internet. Guy is the driver of this team and he knows these roads, I would get us lost if I was the driver hahahaha Please pack enough water for you and if you bring your dog/s! It can get hot up here in the Ochoco Mountains!! Make sure you have extra tires, and enough gas! If you don't know the area bring a map!! You wont find a gas station, a store nothing for quite a ways away! We have seen more visitors get a flat tire, and getting lost. I have no clue if internet is around in this area? OMG during hunting season be a little more careful! If you run into fire wood folks, sheep herders, cowboys moving cattle or other folks working in the area, give them the road..... Again pack it in pack it out.

Thank you for stopping by and checking out my photographs!

American Goldfinch Fledgling | Mrsroadrunner Photography

American Goldfinch Fledgling | Mrsroadrunner Photography




Meet this American Goldfinch Fledgling. This one is older then the others I have shown in another post! This one has his color coming in. Not quite all the way yet, but we can identify him as a American Goldfinch.





As with many places the American Goldfinch finds everything the bird needs here at home to raise young at. Because of this we get to see the fledglings grow up to a curtain age before they leave.





The Sunflowers are very popular with the American Goldfinch! Even the insects that live on the Sunflowers are tasty! Rarely do these American Goldfinch's need to come to the bird feeders. The garden seams to have enough growing the need to supplement their diet is just not needed here at our home. We see the American Goldfinch manly in the garden, in the trees they go and just sing and sing!!





This American Goldfinch Fledgling has been raised here and rather used to my camera's click!



A little longer and this American Goldfinch Fledgling's feathers will be full of color, loosing the "baby", look.

Thank you for coming by and checking out my photographs of this American Goldfinch Fledgling!

Fenders Blue Butterfly In Its Natural Environment | Mrsroadrunner Photography

Fenders Blue Butterfly In Its Natural Environment | Mrsroadrunner Photography




Meet the tiny Fenders Blue Butterfly!





This is one of our visits to the Ochoco Mountains. I look for water, and typically a prairie like area for the butterflies. Since everything needs a drink, and Butterflies do not drink as we do, they need mud! So this is what I look for. Typically I am not disappointed! As the photograph above shows, this Fenders Blue Butterfly is getting a drink.





This photograph above shows a little more detail of the Fenders Blue Butterfly drinking. This strategy of mine usually does not fail me. This day many butterflies were at this spot up in the Ochoco Mountains!





Since these butterflies are horribly tiny for what we consider a size for a butterfly, I have to get right in there with my camera. Guy keeps the dogs with him, and away from where I am! The running water is not far away and this area is full of Deer and other critters the dogs noses find desirable to pay attention to. Folks wonder how I get ticks on me, well......

The biggest population of these Butterflies is said to be over the mountain west of Salem Oregon. I found this interesting. I personally would have no idea if I were in some ones backyard if I were over there looking for butterflies...... I wish them the best over the mountain to keep areas free from progress!

Lupine is again the hero of these Butterflies. Lupine is very common flower plant over here! The wild lupine grows in many places, and different kinds of Lupine! However the Kincaid's lupine was on the endangered plant list itself!! Might still be?? If the Fenders Blue ONLY feeds on this Kincaid's lupine, then the Kincaid's lupine must be growing over here as well?

Since I also take photographs of the wildflowers, it might be time to look for Lupine Photographs in my archive. Though to be honest.... Lupine is so common over here.... I may not even take photographs of it anymore? I will have to keep this in mind when out and about. Doing my research I have seen photographs of the Fender's Blue Butterflies on the Lupine that we (Guy and I), consider common Lupine......we see Lupine everywhere!





The Fenders Blue Butterfly is one of the Butterflies that are on the endangered list. Recovery plans are in effect and it makes me wonder if in our mountains are the places that these recovery plans are in action?? Is this why I am finding and photographing such species as the Fenders Blue?? Without going into my archive, I believe another spot I photographed these Fenders Blue Butterflies was in the Mount Jefferson wilderness area, part of the Cascade Mountain range.

East of the Cascade Mountains is not like the west. We do not have the population of people like they do. This means we have wide open places for such things to thrive. We have acres of public lands, large privately owned ranches and farms over here. Unlike west of the Cascade Mountains we have the areas that many creature need to survive. If a person is willing to take their time, gas money, reliable vehicle,packed lunch and water etc. to head out into these areas to photograph in such places, it can be rewarding.





The vegetation these Fenders Blue Butterflies are on is notable! The Fenders Blue Butterflies were not feeding. Keep in mind there were more then just the ones I photographed! I pay attention to the individual Butterflies and what they are doing. This area is for getting drinks.

Keep in mind, these are my photographs, my observations, my time, money spent and the research I have done. I reserve the right to be wrong, to learn and my contact information is out there if you have information that could be useful to me! I do pass on information to others......There are more photographs to this series.

Thank you for stopping by and checking out my photography!

South Fork Crooked River Oregon | Mrsroadrunner Photography

South Fork Crooked River Oregon | Mrsroadrunner Photography




This is the South Fork of the Crooked River in the Ochoco Mountains here in Oregon!





The Crooked River is a tributary of the Deschutes River and is 125 miles long. "Crooked", is a good word for this river too haha! The Crooked River winds it's way here and there!

We spend a lot of time around the Crooked River! Many creatures have to have water! Depending what you are looking for, depends where you want to go! I look for meadows, I look for places with standing water for my Butterfly and other insect photography.

Cottonwood groves will produce Owls and other birds. So will the Cattails. Wooded areas are quite popular with all kinds of wildlife! Along with the wooded areas, Mushrooms are found to photograph! Sometimes you can run into watersheds. Watersheds are fenced off so the horses, cattle can not get in there and tear up these water sources. I admit we do not spend time at the watersheds. No real reason, just do not see to much movement.







Some areas you will find fly fisher people. Crawfish are found in some places. Campers are found along with their horses at time as well. These things are typically all found within the same places and we do not bother with these places typically. Why bother? Wildlife just does not care for such human activity.





We go to the more quiet places. The places where people are not! Sure we do stop into some of the camping places to read the boards. This is where important information is at, such as cougars in the area etc..





Most people do not see anything, those who are looking for the big that is. Which there is Elk, Mule Deer, Antelope (Pronghorns for the folks who want to get technical). It is good to pay attention to the hunting seasons!

Wild Horses are found in these mountains as well! The Wild Horses are easy enough to spot at the tree's with high grasses growing. A lot of dung in the road, they use the roads too! Driving quickly in the Ochoco Mountains may not result in a great outcome! Sheep, lots of sheep graze in the Ochoco Mountains. Cattle are also brought into the Ochoco Mountains. You do not think the campers and our taxes pay for everything do you?





Just keep your eyes open if you are around the Crooked River, any part of it! The wildlife might be small, might be hard to see if you do not yet have the eyes to see. Wildlife is there! You just got to slow down, look around!

PLEASE if you pack it in, pack it out! Sure there are garbage cans here and there in the parks, however people have to empty these and in today's economy just pack it out yourself!

Thank you for coming by and visiting Oregon!