tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38926520280129035752024-03-13T08:32:24.364-07:00Musings of a night owlStrigidaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15500235193274927623noreply@blogger.comBlogger51125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3892652028012903575.post-76757357156892774872011-10-18T00:16:00.000-07:002011-10-18T00:17:31.973-07:00Full moon setting at Seaview, Washington<iframe width="400" height="250" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/UMj_IxIzR1A" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>Strigidaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15500235193274927623noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3892652028012903575.post-42643849416007514102011-10-18T00:11:00.000-07:002011-10-18T00:15:26.028-07:00Seaview, Washington sunset<iframe width="400" height="250" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/AxOrwCR-Yok" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>Strigidaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15500235193274927623noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3892652028012903575.post-25277397300593831192011-09-19T23:26:00.000-07:002011-09-19T23:29:18.015-07:00Looking for whales and finding cormorants<iframe width="400" height="250" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/mhfSMefzIss?hl=en&fs=1" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>Strigidaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15500235193274927623noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3892652028012903575.post-14008934500439620312011-09-17T20:40:00.000-07:002011-09-17T20:44:08.780-07:00North Jetty of Columbia River: Where two worlds collide<iframe width="400" height="250" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/2AqK1V5SSbA?hl=en&fs=1" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>Strigidaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15500235193274927623noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3892652028012903575.post-2192910288869164302011-09-17T02:57:00.000-07:002011-09-17T03:02:53.802-07:00Getting serious about my still photography<a href="http://strigidae-peninsularbirds.blogspot.com/">http://strigidae-peninsularbirds.blogspot.com/</a><br /><br />(More photographs will be added to the new site. -- DGH)Strigidaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15500235193274927623noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3892652028012903575.post-48355459956120627272011-09-07T20:50:00.000-07:002011-09-07T21:07:07.667-07:00Sound of surf overwhelmingI do not know why, but occasionally the sound of the surf in my apartment is more pronounced than on most evenings. A look at the tides table for today, September 7, 2011, tells me that high tide comes at 10:16 p.m.--a bit more than an hour from now.<br /><br />The sound of the surf at this time is transformative. I am drawn to it, though a 55 degree temperature, a fog, and a north wind will probably prevent my being there.<br /><br />But when the full moon is setting over that magnificent beach on September 12 near dawn, I doubt anything could prevent my being there.<br /><br />All human activities and misadventures pale into appropriate perspective when the elemental sound and power of an incoming Northern Pacific tide is pounding at one's doorstep. This is good--a welcomed diversion.<br /><br />D. Grant HaynesStrigidaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15500235193274927623noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3892652028012903575.post-42324628163577567662011-08-31T02:46:00.000-07:002011-08-31T03:12:00.145-07:00Gulls at Ocean Park, Washington<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wuqRPgl44TI/Tl4H7opwalI/AAAAAAAAAtI/S0V3bXUcxmM/s1600/S.IMG_0152.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646959703875414610" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 225px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wuqRPgl44TI/Tl4H7opwalI/AAAAAAAAAtI/S0V3bXUcxmM/s400/S.IMG_0152.JPG" border="0" /></a>
<br /><div align="center"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6J6pa5Wzu9k/Tl4Fn0TSELI/AAAAAAAAAtA/vzWex8x3j_E/s1600/S.IMG_0146.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646957164381737138" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 225px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6J6pa5Wzu9k/Tl4Fn0TSELI/AAAAAAAAAtA/vzWex8x3j_E/s400/S.IMG_0146.JPG" border="0" /></a><em><span style="font-size:85%;"> (Photos by D. Grant Haynes) (Click to enlarge and view.)
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<br /><div align="left">I have acquired a high definition video camera capable of producing high quality images as still photographs. But I now know E-Blogger doesn't cotton to HD images. They are displayed as little more than thumbnail photos. One has to click on each image to see the detail. What a bummer! I need to find another venue for posting photos.</div>
<br /><div align="left">Also, I have joined the local Audubon Society chapter, hoping to clarify which species of gulls I am seeing most often. I believe them to be either Herring Gulls or California Gulls in varying degrees of immature plumage, mostly. The gray and white birds are adults, but all the quarrelsome and mottled ones are immatures.</div>
<br /><div align="left">I assume their survival in the nest depended upon their fighting for a share of whatever was brought to them. The young ones squawk and fuss with one another much of the time--especially when food is offered. -- DGH</div>
<br />Strigidaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15500235193274927623noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3892652028012903575.post-84862501161995543942011-08-29T20:59:00.000-07:002011-08-30T23:46:28.831-07:00Oysterville continues to beckon<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aFmCS1TSP8s/Tlxg71dHG0I/AAAAAAAAArE/iFHncBlux4w/s1600/IMG_0141.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646494613893487426" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aFmCS1TSP8s/Tlxg71dHG0I/AAAAAAAAArE/iFHncBlux4w/s400/IMG_0141.JPG" border="0" /></a> The Oysterville School, built in 1907, served the community for 50 years--until Pacific County consolidated its schools in 1957. Thereafter, the thereafter, the picturesque building has been utilized as a community center. Public education came to Oysterville with the first settlers in 1860. A two-story schoolhouse provided a forum for reluctant students to learn reading, writing and arithmetic from 1874 until it burned down in 1905.
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<br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;">(Photos by D. Grant Haynes) (Click on images to enlarge.)</span></em>
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<br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vv7q1AWFfeQ/Tlxj2stx-BI/AAAAAAAAArM/aWrKlsthBQ0/s1600/IMG_0139.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646497824183023634" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 330px" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vv7q1AWFfeQ/Tlxj2stx-BI/AAAAAAAAArM/aWrKlsthBQ0/s400/IMG_0139.JPG" border="0" /></a>
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<br />Strigidaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15500235193274927623noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3892652028012903575.post-89555789046269208972011-08-27T21:20:00.000-07:002011-08-27T21:22:45.604-07:00Washington's Waikiki Beach<iframe width="400" height="250" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/IDuW2TnMtD0?hl=en&fs=1" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>Strigidaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15500235193274927623noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3892652028012903575.post-586660493148497502011-08-23T21:22:00.000-07:002011-08-23T21:26:14.229-07:00Oysterville, Washington made remote, beautiful by Willapa Bay<iframe width="400" height="250" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/WK8iX6axvBA" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>Strigidaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15500235193274927623noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3892652028012903575.post-11268860842893839952011-08-21T01:20:00.000-07:002011-08-21T01:26:21.936-07:00Propsom, Schulte bring blues to old Long Beach railroad station<iframe width="400" height="250" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/vukGxhQfr1k" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>Strigidaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15500235193274927623noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3892652028012903575.post-90789776763058392982011-08-18T01:41:00.000-07:002011-08-18T19:03:13.075-07:00Back to the kite festival...<div align="center"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UKZyWBi04AM/Tk3DZZMUBCI/AAAAAAAAAqQ/zsNy4V4VRgE/s1600/Sharp.IMG_0125.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5642380749191775266" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 219px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UKZyWBi04AM/Tk3DZZMUBCI/AAAAAAAAAqQ/zsNy4V4VRgE/s400/Sharp.IMG_0125.JPG" border="0" /></a> <em><span style="font-size:85%;">Photo by D. Grant Haynes (Click on image to enlarge.)</span></em></div><em><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></em>
<br /><div align="left">The International Kite Festival at Long Beach continues to gather steam and enthusiasts as the weekend approaches. Participants in the various kite flying skill contests are permitted to camp on the beach and many have pitched tents. There will be fireworks and much merriment before the festival is over Sunday afternoon. -- <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">DGH</span></span></div>
<br /><p align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;"><em><em>(See this <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">blogger's</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Facebook</span> page for today's video.)</em></em> </span></p>Strigidaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15500235193274927623noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3892652028012903575.post-22919012199267200202011-08-16T20:38:00.000-07:002011-08-16T21:10:27.658-07:00No more kite festival--not today!<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-k7D-9_wLGYE/Tks9dpdYamI/AAAAAAAAAp4/8yqvWJNtIMY/s1600/010.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5641670537766267490" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 286px" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-k7D-9_wLGYE/Tks9dpdYamI/AAAAAAAAAp4/8yqvWJNtIMY/s400/010.JPG" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4Zh7MzMvTz0/Tks7bpQNBtI/AAAAAAAAApo/Q4VU8HUKPzQ/s1600/014.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5641668304328001234" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 315px" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4Zh7MzMvTz0/Tks7bpQNBtI/AAAAAAAAApo/Q4VU8HUKPzQ/s400/014.JPG" border="0" /></a>
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<br />I set out in earnest this afternoon to walk down to the beach and photograph kites, tourists, corn dog stands, and rows of actively used portable toilets--the usual human stuff.
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<br />But along the way, my attention was arrested by something much more interesting and appealing and I never made it to the beach.
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<br />I saw the quiet and timid visage of a young mule deer watching me from a brushy field not 100 yards away.
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<br />While all the tourists streamed to the beach, I detoured past a small stand of pines and into an open space where I was fortunate to view three mule deer for half an hour or so. I believe I saw a doe with two fawns.
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<br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-q7UnO9rTY30/Tks-gsgrI9I/AAAAAAAAAqA/N3-SAR7LlUM/s1600/003.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5641671689636619218" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 276px" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-q7UnO9rTY30/Tks-gsgrI9I/AAAAAAAAAqA/N3-SAR7LlUM/s400/003.JPG" border="0" /></a>After the deer tired of entertaining me, I drove down Highway 101 toward Ilwaco, Washington, stopping at a local landmark called "Black Lake".
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<br />There, I saw gulls taking a break too from the kite festival and the noisy and restless Pacific Ocean. Black Lake is beautiful in its own quiet way.
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<br />D. Grant Haynes
<br />Strigidaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15500235193274927623noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3892652028012903575.post-19109008452485877772011-08-15T21:36:00.001-07:002011-08-15T21:43:19.352-07:00Kites everywhere...<div align="center"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-isxwKZausMA/Tknz9okRvtI/AAAAAAAAApg/038-5M7Gcrs/s1600/003.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5641308248445402834" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 220px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-isxwKZausMA/Tknz9okRvtI/AAAAAAAAApg/038-5M7Gcrs/s400/003.JPG" border="0" /></a><em><span style="font-size:85%;"> Photo by D. Grant Haynes</span></em></div>
<br /><div align="left">The annual Long Beach, Washington, kite festival began today, August 15, 2011, in Long Beach. Beach skies were filled with exotic kites most of us could only have dreamt of in our childhoods. The festival will continue all week, concluding on Sunday, August 21.</div>Strigidaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15500235193274927623noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3892652028012903575.post-80303181014725891502011-08-14T01:34:00.000-07:002011-08-14T01:38:34.155-07:00View to the East of Willapa Hills from Long Beach, Washington<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xHv_NV0hylw/TkeIxUomC4I/AAAAAAAAApY/AnWR6tQCTcA/s1600/Willapa.Hills.From.Long.Beach.JPEG.JPEG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xHv_NV0hylw/TkeIxUomC4I/AAAAAAAAApY/AnWR6tQCTcA/s400/Willapa.Hills.From.Long.Beach.JPEG.JPEG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5640627439238777730" /></a>
<br />Strigidaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15500235193274927623noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3892652028012903575.post-50274510320919574922011-08-13T16:09:00.000-07:002011-08-14T01:41:49.557-07:00Young gulls vie for handouts<iframe width="450" height="275" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/5pXzjJRFkG0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
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<br />Best viewed on YouTube at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5pXzjJRFkG0 Strigidaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15500235193274927623noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3892652028012903575.post-43988870982461663612011-08-12T22:32:00.000-07:002011-08-12T23:07:34.017-07:00Thousands of blackbirds perform evening ritual at Long Beach<iframe width="450" height="275" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/ZWxSnHZ7ntY" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
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<br />Can be viewed more effectivly directly on YouTube at:
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<br />http://youtu.be/ZWxSnHZ7ntY Strigidaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15500235193274927623noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3892652028012903575.post-61469662662641105052011-08-07T19:54:00.000-07:002011-08-07T19:58:35.681-07:00Gulls, terns at Ocean Park on Long Beach Peninsular<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_z35yqi3g3c">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_z35yqi3g3c</a>Strigidaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15500235193274927623noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3892652028012903575.post-4244390883633164572011-08-06T22:01:00.001-07:002011-08-08T00:21:52.395-07:00Long Beach kite festival coming!<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2I6F1qeG15Y/Tj4czadp-TI/AAAAAAAAApA/NIzBPBl_P2g/s1600/IMG_0527.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5637975453117053234" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 281px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2I6F1qeG15Y/Tj4czadp-TI/AAAAAAAAApA/NIzBPBl_P2g/s400/IMG_0527.JPG" border="0" /></a>
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<br /><div align="center"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-A2jTr6IWRCE/Tj4cmeIz_dI/AAAAAAAAAo4/rKoQlK5vueM/s1600/IMG_0527.JPG"></a><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5637975629828835682" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 355px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lDTRRQU3aq8/Tj4c9sxByWI/AAAAAAAAApI/ziWCC4F4DZQ/s400/IMG_0523.JPG" border="0" /><em><span style="font-size:85%;">Photos by D. Grant Haynes</span></em></div>
<br /><div align="left"><span style="font-size:100%;">Kiting enthusiasts from throughout North America are already gathering in Long Beach for the annual International Kite Festival to be held August 15-21 this year. Kites are a serious business here. There is a kite museum and at least one kite specialty shop. For one who purchased Hi-F<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">lyer</span> paper kites for less than a dollar in F.W. Woolworth's in a 1950's Columbus, Georgia, 21st Century kiting in Washington State is a whole '<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">nother</span> ball game. Some kites cost upwards of $200 nowadays. That I should live so long! -- D. Grant Haynes</span> </div>
<br />Strigidaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15500235193274927623noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3892652028012903575.post-44814845731570359162011-08-04T21:13:00.000-07:002011-08-04T21:34:33.422-07:00Rainier dominates Cascade skyline<div align="center"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-khmhA61rSLk/TjtuURy5tpI/AAAAAAAAAog/GfVDjvtdihE/s1600/IMG_0516.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5637220653237646994" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-khmhA61rSLk/TjtuURy5tpI/AAAAAAAAAog/GfVDjvtdihE/s400/IMG_0516.JPG" border="0" /></a><em><span style="font-size:85%;"> Photo by D. Grant Haynes</span></em></div><br /><p>This view of Mt. Rainier (elevation 14,411 feet) was taken from White Pass on Highway 12 in Southwestern Washington on August 1, 2011. It is not too often that Rainier is out. Clouds cloak the dormant volcano more often than not. Mt. Rainier is considered to be one of the most dangerous volcanoes in the world. Despite her potential for eruptive activity similar to Mt. St. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Helens</span>' in 1980, Rainier lends dramatic beauty to Washington State. (See <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Wikipedia</span> article at: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Rainier">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Rainier</a> for more detail.) </p>Strigidaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15500235193274927623noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3892652028012903575.post-7428904388997098992011-07-23T22:52:00.001-07:002011-07-23T23:32:59.513-07:00Red-shafted Flicker comes a-callin'<div align="center"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cpAAb9eKedg/TiuzhcryL8I/AAAAAAAAAng/sFyTlRMp7Sw/s1600/IMG_0471.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5632793146173829058" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 315px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cpAAb9eKedg/TiuzhcryL8I/AAAAAAAAAng/sFyTlRMp7Sw/s400/IMG_0471.JPG" border="0" /></a> <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5632793355583603506" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 291px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EGbCHbevJ18/Tiuztoy9wzI/AAAAAAAAAno/gnVfuXMSbIY/s400/IMG_0475.JPG" border="0" /><em><span style="font-size:85%;">Photos by D. Grant Haynes</span></em></div><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span></em>During each of the three summers I have spent in Wilbur, Washington, I have been aware of a family of Red-shafted Flickers (<em><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Colaptes</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">auratus</span></em>) that nest somewhere near my abode. By midsummer, they come to my backyard with whatever offspring they've managed to rear and teach the young the art of finding and eating the ants that are plentiful here by late July. <br /><br /><div align="left">This afternoon, as an afterthought after 6 p.m., I sat down with my camera, not expecting to see anything remarkable so late in the day. But three Red-shafted Flickers were soon close to me in the conifers. Two decided <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">discretion</span> to be the better part of valor and left. But a third came closer, perching on a nearby post long enough for me to get some exceptional photos. </div><br /><div align="left">The red "mustache", ornithologists call it, indicates a male flicker. And my impression is the bird is probably a young male. His body is not quite as plump and smoothly contoured as an adult male, the body of which can be 12-14 inches long. Also, and sadly, young birds are often more curious and less cautious about potential dangers than are their parents. I believe the above Red-shafted Flicker represents the only fledgling reared to near maturity by our flicker family this year. Normally, one would expect to see three, perhaps. </div><br /><div align="left">In any case, this dear and trusting bird allowed me to get 10-12 shots before departing to join his fellows at a safer distance. </div><br /><div align="left">Red-shafted Flickers, members of the woodpecker family, have a wingspan of from 16-20 inches. They stay in Eastern Washington throughout the winter. My hat is off to them for that feat alone! -- D. Grant Haynes</div>Strigidaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15500235193274927623noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3892652028012903575.post-31399413905463195192011-07-23T10:27:00.000-07:002011-07-23T10:31:23.401-07:00A lovely weekend in Long Beach<div align="center"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mPP8dVAEgzk/TisE5J1ICjI/AAAAAAAAAnY/i8cDaVjRwM8/s1600/LB%25282%2529.7.23.11.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5632601138894735922" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 301px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mPP8dVAEgzk/TisE5J1ICjI/AAAAAAAAAnY/i8cDaVjRwM8/s400/LB%25282%2529.7.23.11.jpg" border="0" /></a> The city center in Long Beach, Washington</div><br /><div align="center"><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jxjYfqlmP1E/TisEw4xO_hI/AAAAAAAAAnQ/Ohro6M0BYgY/s1600/LB%25281%2529.7.23.11.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5632600996876058130" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 303px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jxjYfqlmP1E/TisEw4xO_hI/AAAAAAAAAnQ/Ohro6M0BYgY/s400/LB%25281%2529.7.23.11.jpg" border="0" /></a>Sunshine and cool breezes prevail most summer days in Long Beach, Washington<br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /></div>Strigidaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15500235193274927623noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3892652028012903575.post-90913630984692305052011-07-22T21:00:00.000-07:002011-07-22T21:06:26.091-07:00Columbia Basin grasses as texture<div align="center"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ko_fu4kaDOU/TipHc16Fo3I/AAAAAAAAAnI/F8jzm-09VD0/s1600/7.22.11.Wilbur.jpg.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5632392844812854130" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ko_fu4kaDOU/TipHc16Fo3I/AAAAAAAAAnI/F8jzm-09VD0/s400/7.22.11.Wilbur.jpg.JPG" border="0" /></a><em><span style="font-size:85%;"> Photo by D. Grant Haynes</span></em></div><br /><div align="left"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Spring's</span> green hues are giving way to golden ones in Wilbur as July enters its last week. </div>Strigidaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15500235193274927623noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3892652028012903575.post-2359886584283378452011-07-20T21:18:00.000-07:002011-07-20T23:40:48.061-07:00July days long and pleasant<div align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;"></span><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--8hkvYuWge0/Tieo24v79OI/AAAAAAAAAm4/9n2LqUPayAA/s1600/IMG_0446.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631655519949944034" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 209px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--8hkvYuWge0/Tieo24v79OI/AAAAAAAAAm4/9n2LqUPayAA/s400/IMG_0446.JPG" border="0" /></a><em><span style="font-size:85%;"> Photo by D. Grant Haynes (Click on image to enlarge.)</span></em></div><br /><div align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;">Wilbur's sunset came at 8:39 p.m. today, July 20, 2011. A month ago on the summer solstice--June 21--the sun lingered 12 minutes longer, setting at 8:51 p.m. But summer's days are still long and delightful, with many more hours of daylight than of darkness. We won't worry at this time about the winter solstice--December 21--when sunset will occur at 4 p.m. in Wilbur. One day at a time. -- <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">DGH</span></span></div>Strigidaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15500235193274927623noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3892652028012903575.post-66026653452967768292011-07-17T00:14:00.000-07:002011-07-17T19:22:00.983-07:00Nubiru bearing down?<div align="center"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LQz6ZS1NwbM/TiOSTuPUTfI/AAAAAAAAAmw/ipkxxNTbo8Y/s1600/%25283%2529.7.16.11.Wilbur.WA.jpg.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630504826670697970" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 286px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LQz6ZS1NwbM/TiOSTuPUTfI/AAAAAAAAAmw/ipkxxNTbo8Y/s400/%25283%2529.7.16.11.Wilbur.WA.jpg.JPG" border="0" /></a><em><span style="font-size:85%;">Photo by D. Grant Haynes</span></em></div><br /><div align="left"><span style="font-size:100%;">Okay. It's uncharacteristic of me. I never do anything wild and crazy. I am staid and boring. I know. </span><span style="font-size:100%;">But last night's photo of the July moon as it entered the first evening of the "waning gibbous" stage, was so much like several other moon images I have done recently that I decided to go into <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Photoshop</span> on my old Macintosh and play some. I came up with this decidedly other worldly result. </span><span style="font-size:100%;">For those of you unfamiliar with the "<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Nubiru</span>" reference, some who anticipate an apocalyptic or doomsday event in 2012 speculate that a tenth or "rogue" planet of the solar system will collide with or come very close to the earth in December 2012, causing a Christian Tim <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">LaHaye</span>-like Armageddon. </span><span style="font-size:100%;">Personally, I expect the sun to rise and the factories to growl into life to continue to pollute our little planet on January 1, 2013. I have heard too many "end of the world" scenarios in my time to believe another one now. </span><br /><align="left"><br />(Photoshop technique note: This image was created by utilizing a gradient tool set at 100 percent. Gradient colors were red (from upper left) to yellow (at lower right). After a diagonal application of the color gradient, a "water color" filter was applied. Adobe <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Photoshop</span> is fun and unlimited in terms of special effects. Never let anyone tell you built-in photo manipulation tools from Microsoft Corporation will do as much. They are for amateurs. -- DGH) </div>Strigidaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15500235193274927623noreply@blogger.com