White-lined Sphinx or Hawk Moth

Mrsroadrunner Photography | White-lined Sphinx or Hawk Moth




Meet the Sphinx Moth or if you prefer the Hawk Moth or as I call it the "Hummingbird Moth", wrong or not that is just what I call it. This is just one of 1,450 species and this is the species that tend to visit our garden as well as at times comes inside the house to get put back outside. The moth above is in flight, hovering as hummingbirds do! Why I call them the "hummingbird moth", for it is easy for me to remember.

I have witnessed a hummingbird attacking one of these , due to thinking it was another hummingbird perhaps?? Hummers are very territorial as many of us bird watchers can testify to!



If you notice the hummingbird moths or um White-lined Sphinx like the Zinnia Flowers! I notice if you move slow as of no threat these moths do allow you pretty close to them. This of course comes in handy if you say, want photographs of them?



Hovering as they do, I get quite a few shots of them doing just that! They are quite big for a moth! 2" to 3" - 3" to 4". For instance the Rufous hummers (Hummingbird), are 3"-4" inches. So you can imagine why the hummingbird attacked the moth outside that I watched here.



Guy my other half has been warned about the caterpillar. Guy was told to kill them on site if he wants any tomatoes. I personally can not see doing this at this point. We just do not have reason to. However, if say the local farmers were having a infestation and asked folks to help them.... who knows? To my understanding and observations we do not have tomato farms here. We do have the apple trees, however we have the woodpeckers, and other birds who keep the insects in check. See a post I did about a woodpecker catching his dinner I photographed on one of my walks here. The woodpeckers do help out with the bugs !

I have put in four o-clocks in 2014 , I read that this is one of the plants they like to feed on? I had not seen this activity, though you never know what the future may hold?  I believe without going into my other hard drive of getting this moth feeding on the Ozark teardrop. Which of course is just another of the primrose species and one that I had to control in 2014 due to establishing itself in another part of the garden and getting over 6' tall, a good 3' in circumference with many blossoms and seeds! Seeds of course had to be destroyed before they were mature. Some of my flowers I do this with daily, or every other day only because they will try and take over the world.

I just find the moth itself does more good here pollinating then the caterpillars eat, though I feel this way about many of the butterflies I have established here as well. Ying Yang, everything has to eat.

I see as I look at the computer clock I have another 45 minutes before the walking dead is on, so perhaps I will find something else to write about? I found myself tossing one blog I wrote that just was not good enough in my eyes to share with you all.

Being asked if I am still taking photographs earlier today..... Am I still breathing? HAHA! Rest assured I am still doing what I do! Though the outside gardens are done for the winter.

Thank you for coming by, checking out my little write up here and of course my photography! More photographs of these moths and I do have more photographs to add to the websites.

http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species/Hyles-lineata

http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/rufous_hummingbird/lifehistory

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyles_lineata

Pygmy Horned Lizard Of Jefferson County Oregon

Mrsroadrunner Photography | Pygmy Horned Lizard Of Jefferson County Oregon




Meet the protected Pygmy Short-Horned Lizard who lives here with us in Jefferson County Oregon! Like other species of wildlife I have photographed these Pygmy Horned Lizard came from east of Madras Oregon.

These little guys blended in so well I was afraid the dogs were going to step on them!! Though do not worry along with blending in they are quick!!



There were several of these in the location we were at this time, unlike other spots where we would only see one here in Jefferson County Oregon. This is a bigger one of the bunch. Not moving perhaps thinking  I did not see him/her if he did not move?? HAHA







We have several lizards here in Jefferson County Oregon and I will write about what others I have photographed soon enough. I do recall when I first moved to the high desert oh 10+ years ago how there were so many lizards you seen them everywhere!! Then after some time they just kind of disappeared. So I was pretty tickled to see this species!!















The place in which we came upon this Pygmy Horned Lizard was sandy, typical desert floor. Though the views were rather nice of the Cascade Mountains, though the views here are usually breathtaking!







Lots of insects for this one and the others to eat at this spot, more then likely why they seam to be at this spot? Sagebrush, the rocks to hide around. When these pygmy short-horned lizard bury themselves my gosh you can not tell where they are!!

The ODFW website says we only have these and the desert horned lizard of this kind here so this made identification of this species much easier!

• 
  http://www.dfw.state.or.us/oars/44.pdf
• 
  http://www.dfw.state.or.us/species/reptiles/

Western Kingbird of Jefferson County Oregon

Mrsroadrunner Photography | Western Kingbird of Jefferson County Oregon




The Crooked River National Grasslands is rather close to where we live here in Jefferson County Oregon , so we spend a lot of time on this 112,357 acres of land. This Grassland is part of the Ochoco National Forest consisting of 850,000 acres and for those who have kept up with my photography or blog have heard me talk quite a bit about the Ochocos.

We have a lot of such places here however this is where I captured photographs of this Western Kingbird.



I feel rather fortunate this Western Kingbird staid put long enough for photographs!





This area is super fun to go to ! This area is just a hop skip and a jump from the town of Madras Oregon, to the east. Keep in mind some of the roads are not kept up depends on the public funds. You may run into ruts etc.. so try and stay on the main roads if your vehicle is not made for these kind of roads. In spring and summer if the vegetation is higher then your chassis keep in mind you can start a wildfire quicker then anything just driving over the dry vegetation. We are after all the High Desert of Oregon!

Stop first in Madras or the other smaller towns (Culver, Metolius), for gas , water and snacks before heading out here! You will be glad you did haha!

Thank you for coming by!

Sources

• 
  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crooked_River_National_Grassland
• 
  http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/western_kingbird/id btw check out their call!

Pair of Bald Eagles Waiting Their Turn in Central Oregon

Mrsroadrunner Photography | Pair of Bald Eagles Waiting Their Turn in Central Oregon

Pair of Bald Eagles Waiting Their Turn in Central Oregon

Our adventures start out usually early in the morning.

I woke up late, yes I admit! I got up gosh at 4 am or something. Guy was already up and drinking his coffee. I only have to get myself and my camera ready. Guy has the truck, the dogs, our lunch and extra truck supplies to get ready.

We left here a little before 5am, before the sun came up and hopefully before to much wildlife movement gets started.



The plan was to head to the Malheur National Forest. This drive is always a good one. We head to Madras for gas, munchies. Head to Prineville, to Post, drive on the public roads through large ranches, (historical Izee ranch  than and the Az which that one we are not sure if the road actually goes through that one?), than we hit the Malheur forest (getting the truck we just got, stuck in a 3' snow drift will be a story for another time). The only reason we go to the forest first off is, the dogs have to get out and go to the bathroom. This drive is really all private property, thus we have to be careful of going onto private land. Everyone needs permission from the land owners to go onto their property but the forest believe to us all.

We came upon An unkindness of ravens and the ravens are something we are always on the look out for. Why? Because ravens have this reputation of being very good scavengers and these groups of ravens will fight off even eagles to win the prize! Ravens are very smart, humans are not something they have learned to like and when they flew off and I noticed a deer carcass.

Knowing that eagles and other birds of prey are scavengers as well, it only takes one to look around to find other species of birds who are looking for a way to win  their dinners too. This instance was no difference. Off in the distance was a pair of Bald Eagles waiting for their chance. Or who knows maybe they already ate and were full??

This is the first set of photographs. In the one photograph another bird joined the bald eagles in the tree. Than, because Post Oregon is cattle and farming country, a heifer walked through some of the photographs. The pair of eagles did realize this but in the photograph shown something else got their attention. Than I added the male Bald Eagle who was watching the ravens and has his head cocked.

You can see in the photographs of the pair of Bald Eagles. Female Bald Eagles are the largest of the male and female. I am not a wildlife expert by no means! I can only assume this pair of bald eagles are at least 5 years old since I do not see any brown in their white feathers? I learned so much since I really got serious about this web site and showing my photographs on the computer about the wild animals I photograph!

This next set of photographs , I think I have to upload them backwards to come out with the story, but if I mess up you will get the gist of what is going on.

When birds get ready to fly they will tell us by body language. In no way was I doing anything to scare the birds other then just pointing my camera at them. Wild animals are not like tame ones. Humans are not to be trusted, therefor they really do not want attention brought to themselves. The pair of Bald Eagles noticed I was paying attention to them thus the female was getting ready to fly. She looked around first, then stiffened up, I added a photograph of her stance.

Than she took off and the male just watched her.

In this next and last series I kept the camera on the female. She flew onto private property, of course always my luck!! This private property was behind the Post Oregon's store, post office (all in one type thing. It is not a big town) and the grange hall. I figured I got enough photographs and had other critters to photograph which I will show later.

It was really cool to see all this! I did not show all the photographs I have of this pair of Bald Eagles but I think this is enough.

Thank you for coming by and sharing with us our adventure!

From my archive at mrsroadrunerphotography.com

Frogs Frogs and More Frogs

Frogs Frogs and More Frogs




When you have kids, sometimes we do not really understand how much our kids are paying attention to us. Here at the house we have several species of frogs here, the most common of these frogs is the above species. Pacific Tree Frogs are well adapted to many different environments. Fact is some folks feel they adapt to well!!



I like the frogs that have called our home there home for some years now. They eat bugs, I like the music they make and like to see the tadpoles develop into adults.

Today I want to express how thankful I am to my son for showing the humanity within to not allow a good dozen of these frogs freeze to death in our harsh winter conditions!





This species of frog moved in some eight years ago now? They have given me hours of entertainment!!





Not only as full frogs have they given entertainment. We also have a environment for the frogs to reproduce. Watching them as eggs, turn into tadpoles then into full fledged frogs.





When my son seen some frogs mixed into the soil as a repair man was here and had to do his work never thinking their would be frogs in the soil he just took out of the place he was working at, my son did notice!! I never thought the frogs would be in the area that was needing to be accessed by the repair man either!! I would have done something about it before hand!!

As soon as my son said the first word I new something was going on and went over to find very cold, hardly moving frogs that I spend so much of the warmer months watching!! I started picking them up out of the snow and putting them into my pockets to bring inside the house to my warm plant room where the fortunate frogs have found a way into and these frogs could warm up at and if they wanted to they could stay for the winter.

I am fortunate to have a son who paid attention!! My son does help me here at the house as Guy is off at work. Helps me with the ponds and the chores to make a environment the frogs and other critters like to be at!

I took no photographs of the cold frogs due to one, I was trying to get them warmed up! Two I had a repair man here who was trying to get his job done! One frog I am still a tad bit worried about for he was a tiny one!! That frogs and the others should really be fine. Frogs are a species of wildlife that have a way of surviving with just a little help......

My other frog photographs , this species and the others plus lizards,snakes,fish are all in this photo album if you want to take a look. I do understand phobias , of course my photography can be right up close and personal like with the critters I photograph.....

Lewis Woodpecker of The High Desert of Oregon

Mrsroadrunner Photography | Lewis Woodpecker of The High Desert of Oregon







This is the Lewis's Woodpecker I photographed here in our part of Oregon perched on a old fencepost.







This is a side entrance to a old established ranch here in our part of the world outside of Madras Oregon. This entrance does not look as if it is used that much, perfect place for catching bugs!!

We have several routes we take when locally checking out the wildlife. This is one of our routes which takes us through some not so small ranches. Staying on the public roads and NOT speeding by the owners homes gets us more waves from the ranch owners then anything!

When and if the owners find out really what I am doing which is taking photographs we are typically, not always but typically met with enthusiasm and information. At times even permission to enter these ranches which the public is not allowed.

In fact this ranch has some very interesting signs to let strangers know exactly how the ranch owner feels about trespassers. Reading the signs tells me I dont want to be on this mans property without permission directly from his mouth to my ears!! Written down on a piece of paper even!!





I try to keep up with current information on the species I photograph. Information is always updating and changing! Some of the species of wildlife I photograph I do not tell the general public exactly where I photograph what due to the curiosity of the public if and a huge if the public is visiting our area. The computer is a beast all its own. Due to the privacy of these ranch owners I just assume stay on their good side.





You can see in this shot what kinds of tree's we have where this Lewis Woodpecker was photographed in.

Conservation issues; such things as the Conservation issues I noticed is on the rise in our area of Oregon. This species is not all that common to see while out and about. It takes effort to educate folks on the benefits of seeing such a pretty bird as this and why we need to actively keep this species and others from disappearing.

The Lewis's Woodpecker is a active bug destroyer. No chemicals needed with these birds around! The Forest Service has confirmed we do have active breeding going on in our area (Jefferson County Oregon), of these Lewis's Woodpeckers. I photographed this species in May, shame I did not have showable photographs of it diving catching bugs! It was a site to see! Mind you this is nothing more then a private ranch, keeping in mind I was on the public road and I did see two of these, not sure if it was the same bird or??

It is difficult for conservationists, scientists, or government officials to keep track of wildlife on private land. I personally feel there is a lot more going on in our part of state then these people really know of. I think if we could get the land owners on board without making them give up their rights to, or making these ranch owners feel as if they are going to give public access to their land the wildlife would be better off?? Of course I could be wrong however the ranch owners I have known,worked for, spoken too work hard for what they have and dont appear to be the kinds of folks to just hand over their rights. I cant not say I dont blame the land owners.....

For instance, your home has a backyard. How would you feel if a stranger showed up and said, "ok this is how it is going to be". Your children , or you are not allowed to use this much of your backyard". Or if living in a apartment having someone tell you you can not use this bedroom or that one, however you still have to pay full rent on the whole unit. Same way with these ranch owners who have to pay taxes and other bills on the land.

Thank you for coming by looking at my photography and listening to me......hope I gave you something to think about?

Mrsroadrunner Photography | Time Spent With A Wild Hawk

Mrsroadrunner Photography | Time Spent With A Wild Hawk


I came upon this Hawk as I was coming back from a walk here in my town in the High Desert of Oregon. Figuring the hawk would fly off I started taking photographs of it rather quickly!



We have the old , unused electrical poles that makes great perches for the large, medium and small birds. The Red Tailed Hawk I say are medium sized birds. In compare to the eagles we have have they are medium!

This hawk just seamed to me as a young hawk? Seamed to me just because of its behavior. I started photographing "him", so he new I was coming. This gets the birds or any of the wildlife I photograph used to the click of my camera.



As you can see the hawk really did not feel I was a threat! He is just chilling showing no signs of stress at all!





It did cross my mind that perhaps this hawk is hurt ? Perhaps this is why it is not flying off?? Or even acting as if I am a threat?? People do keep these hawks as pets.....



I did not see any wing tags or leg tags on him. So I guess he just does not see me as a threat?







When you actually get to see such a bird up close, personal like without being in a cage, without the bird being tied to something AND not on someones arm you really do see how beautiful these birds really are!



I was not waving my arms or doing anything that may make the bird fly. I get lots of photographs of the birds flying. I do not need to make anything fly. I did give the bird time to adjust his eyes to where I was below him. They do have very good eye site! AND on my walk I do scare things from their hiding spot not meaning to of course. In this part of our town there are many rabbits! So perhaps they like it when I take my walks and scare up such things?



In this shot you can clearly see this bird sees something? Diner perhaps??  I still feel something is going on with that one talon? Not as if the bird was going to fly down to me and let me check his talon out......







The shot above is where the bird is stretching . Then again he was doing this with his other talon just a bit ago. Just way to relaxed around me .... I am a threat , really I am!! HAHA!

After a while my arms were getting tired so I said fair well to my hawk friend and started on my way home again. The hawk did finally fly off in the direction he was paying attention to earlier when I got some distance away. I thought well that is just my luck haha, but like I said I have plenty of shots of them flying and who wants to stress out such a pretty bird with such a great personality as this one seamed to show me and us in these photographs that frankly I have so many more photographs it is not even funny!

Thank you for coming by and spending time with me and my photography!