Wildlife Photo Session at Ankeny National Wildlife Refuge.

Since the weather was nice and sunny yesterday, I decided to drive out to the closest wildlife refuge to see if there were any thing worth taking pictures of. Unfortunately, while I did get a picture of Northern Shoveler, my lens could not zoom in far enough to clearly see it. So as soon as start getting more hours at work, I will start saving money for an even better lens. Another photography class can wait until the next school year, I need something that can give me the great shots I am looking for. Anyways, below are my favorite pictures of the day:

"Riding the Thermals"

The goose that is looking for a landing site in the picture below had came in for a landing, turned 180 degrees when it realized there was no place to land, and after hovering for a moment, took off in the direction it came. The photo shows the moment it was hovering and looking for a new place to land. One of the geese below seems to be telling it that the sand bar was full.

"No Place to Land"

Unfortunately, most of my bird pictures, especially the ones that turn out good like the one above, are still a bit too far for that perfect image. Each picture posted from yesterday had been cropped out--the picture below is the original image of the landing goose.

Finally, I stopped by at Aumsville Ponds County Park. Even though it was closed, I noticed there were three people that were taking wood from the park and a fourth that was finishing his hike and on his way home (which must have been close enough to walk to).

"Two Buffleheads Are Better Than One"

Pioneer Park Photowalk

I decided to go to Pioneer Park in Stayton yesterday to get a few pictures since I would be in town. While there, I discovered a pair of Mallard Ducks diving for food below the water's surface.

"Double Dipping"

From time to time, I may use the same title with a different picture. Such is the case with this next photo having the same title as one that was posted back in January

"I'm Watching You"

 

"Ducks and Raindrops"

February Photodrive and South Falls Revisited

Whenever I am driving to a place to take pictures, such as Silver Falls State Park, I also look around me when I am driving to see things that most travelers miss--such as a barn peeking out of some trees, or a bird sitting on a fence post. So yesterday, I left the house earlier than usual with three locations that I wanted to drive to before I had to get to class at the local community college. The first site was a revisit to Silver Falls, this time with a tripod to get the photos I couldn't get several days ago, though it was pretty much the same. On the way to the waterfalls, I found a nice red barn to photograph. Lust like some painters love to paint barns, I love to get pictures of them, especially the older ones that have been well-maintained.

As I started taking pictures, a Northern Harrier flew right in front of the very barn I was photographing.

 

After visiting Silver Falls State Park, I headed towards the Silverton Reservoir. This was a section of road that I had never drove before, and as I was driving along, I saw yet another barn playing peek-a-boo behind some trees...

"Silverton Reservoir"

"The Power of Gravity"

After leaving the Silverton Reservoir, I headed to the Pettit Reservoir that is hidden from sight across the road from Rogers Wayside County Park. Unfortunately, the lake was not as pretty this time of year, so I will have to visit it in April.

South Falls February Photowalk

The other day I went over to Silver Falls for two reasons: first, to turn in an application for the interpretive naturalist position; and secondly, to go on a small walk to the base of South Falls with my camera in hand but no tripod. as a result, some of the pictures I wanted to capture were blurry. Below are a few of the photos that I took that day.

"Winter Cascade"

"Silver Falls"

 

"The Power of Water"

 I liked the texture of the moss on the maple trees. The moss in the photo below is just one of many that live in the temperate rainforest that stretches from northern California to the Kenai Penninsula in Alaska,

"The Waterfall Trail'

The flower below is known as a Spring Queen, but also known as a Snow Queen because they bloom just after the snow melts. The whole region of Northwestern Oregon was hit by a snowstorm that started melting four days before I visited the park.

"Flower in February"

"Falling Water, Rising Mist"