SoCal: Death Valley
Our final destination on this trip was Death Valley. I had no idea what to expect. I’d driven through a portion of the valley a decade ago but didn’t remember how mountainous it actually is. Temps during our stay were in the high 70s at day and low 50s at night. It was perfect. The…
Chasing a Dickcissel
Last week my friend Sarah and I took a risk to chase a rare (to Oregon) bird called a Dickcissel. Chasing birds is inherently risky, they can fly, they can hide, they can be eaten, but this bird has an added element of risk. It is currently hanging around the Philomath Sewage Ponds (aka Philomath…
Kennewick to Astoria
The next day was not like the previous. The winds howled and overcast skies moved in. Jen, Jacob, and I checked on the Snowy Owl in the early morning, but this time it was far off in a distant farm field. We watched for a bit until she flew to another field. And was subsequently harassed by a Northern Harrier. She didn’t seem…