Travel Report – Page 2 – The Hermits' Rest

Oregon Has DUCKS!

I mean, I knew that…college mascot and all…but I got to see plenty of them today! I’m in Tualatin (near Portland) for work for a couple of days this week, and I figured the only birding I’d get to do was around my hotel and the office.

I was very pleased when my boss, Jasmine, suggested we go on a walk after a team lunch yesterday. After many hours on a plane and a stressful rental car drive, I welcomed the chance to move around. I swiftly got many plant photos and heard some good birds. I love the little woods next to the office buildings and am so glad they saved it.

When I got to my hotel in Lake Oswego, I was charmed by all the cherry blossoms fluttering around. I’d never seen them in person!

I took a little walk around the neighborhood, found a path around a creek, and walked by some beautiful homes while listening to birds and enjoying plants, both native and cultivated. Oregon is truly verdant.

This morning I woke up early, since I’m still on Central Time, which enabled me to drive through tree-lined streets, many of which were in full bloom to the Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge. Jasmine came up with the idea of going for a walk in the refuge before our meetings started, because she really wanted me to have the chance to go there.

I was grateful she loaned me a coat. It was pretty chilly!

This wildlife refuge is mostly a huge wetland teeming with life, including beautiful plants, both native and introduced.

We had a blast looking at all the birds we found. There was a White Pelican, Great Egrets, Red-winged Blackbirds many Robins and Yellowthroats, a Harrier, Song Sparrows, a Spotted Towhee, Mourning Doves, Canada Geese, and so many beautiful ducks. We had so much fun trying to figure out what we saw. Ones I’m sure of were Mallards, Gadwalls, Green-winged Teals, Northern Shovelers, and a gorgeous Cinnamon Teal that Jasmine actually spotted.

There were also many fascinating plants in the wetlands and wooded area. We particularly enjoyed this native Horseweed. It’s one weird plant, especially the flowers.

Many of the trees were new to me, being Oregon natives. The Oregon ash had very soft leaves in an ashy green. The maples were in bloom, as were many others. I learned so much. Here are some scenic pictures and some named trees.

Things like this fuzzy caterpillar made us a little late to our meetings. But we had so much fun, it was worth it.

And now I’m ready to catch some zzzzz. A half day at work tomorrow, then back I go!

Birding and Driving Success

The last day of camping didn’t lend itself to hiking, since it kept raining off and on. So I did more friend chatting and snuck over to the shore of Lake Somerville to see if I could find any of the birds I hadn’t seen yet. I knew those Pelicans had to be somewhere!

I saw some Ring-billed Gulls. Oh boy! Perhaps that wasn’t what I wanted.

I turned my head to the right, and there was a lot of white. Ooh. That was promising.

I moved closer and saw a Great Blue Heron and some Great Egrets. That knocked one white bird off my list.

I finally got close enough to see the distant birds (binoculars were in the motor home). Yes! There were some American White Pelicans! They haven’t all migrated (I have seen some flying over).

Looking more closely, I realized there were bonus while birds—Snowy Egrets!

The ones at right with black legs are Snowy.

After enjoying all these guys and the fun sandpipers for a while, I was happy with my bird sightings.

I found a few more pretty plants, too. It’s always lovely to see raindrops on flowers!

I left the campsite mid afternoon to try to avoid hard rain, but didn’t. I was a bit shaky by the time I made it to the airport Hilton. I’m not bad at driving in the rain, but it takes concentration. We still need more rain, so I’m not complaining. Naturally, it’s flooding in some spots. I just hope the plane takes off on time and I make it to rainy Portland tomorrow morning!

The Old Fashioned settled me down nicely.

Fire Brings Beauty

On today’s big morning hike in Birch Creek State Park, I walked all the way to the far edge of the park. I quickly realized that the trail I took had experienced fire recently. I remember there was a fire in January or February at Lake Somerville, but I’m not sure if it was in the park or not. I do know there are prescribed burns in the fall and winter months.

Anyway, the point is that the number and variety of wildflowers I encountered on the burned grassland astonished me. I found myself muttering and exclaiming to myself as I encountered one beautiful plant after another. For example, there was a carpet of trailing Rhatany (Krameria lanceolata) in many places. This is a deep red blossom that’s unforgettable.

Another striking plants I was delighted to find was Prairie Nymph (Herbertia lahue), a wild iris that you don’t expect to see in a burned field.

In addition to those, there were hundreds of wild garlic plants blooming, phlox, colorful spider worts, and tiny flowers called Arkansas Leastdaisy or (duh) tiny daisy (Chaetopappa asteroides). There were winecups in large numbers, too. It was not apparent that there were so many flowers unless you looked carefully, but by stopping to look, you’d be greatly rewarded. I was in heaven.

As I moved on, I found the Eagle Point trail, which had no eagles to see today, but provided spectacular views of a large wetland area, along with some fine large oaks. It was a great place to take a rest.

I actually called Lee to come pick me up, because I didn’t feel up to walking nearly 3 miles back. I got some rest in while it rained, which gave me time to put all my plants on iNaturalist. So many photos. A few more.

I went out again in late afternoon, just because, why not? The Wilderness Trail went through dark woods and near the lake. I dodged mosquitoes, which I didn’t photograph. But it was pretty and I enjoyed all the birds.

Prickly poppies leading into a tree tunnel

No more walking after that! We had a potluck meal with the entire group then sat around talking with old friends. It was a good day.

Now for another great sleep in the motor home. I sure sleep well in it!

The Cameron contingent were together. That’s Mikes vehicle at left.

Ducks and Water and Such

Yesterday’s short morning walk had me itching for more nature. I needed that happy feeling I only get when I’m outside.

So I decided to go look for Bluestem Pond and investigate a wooded area here at Birch Creek State Park. What a lovely sight greeted me there. I knew I was in for a good walk.

The pond was small but pretty, and turtles liked it.

The Honeybee Trail is a nice loop, and it was shady and quiet. I didn’t meet any other people there. All sorts of birds were singing and I got plenty of plants to record. Just for Barbara, here are 36 photos of plants, birds, and insects.

After the walk, Lee, Mike, Martha, and I got in the car and drove around the area like Lee and I did last visit. Mike found a little burger restaurant with burgers as good as Tex Miller’s in Cameron and French fries that were nearly as perfect as Thursday’s hush puppies. I think it was Pappy’s Burger Shack in Caldwell. We enjoyed clouds on the way home.

We watched The Crown in the evening. Wow, those royals were big time smokers.

Wandering around a Lake. Again.

It seems I was just in Lake Somerville. I’m back, anyway, and glad to see some old friends at the church campout of my former church. Love those people, no matter what. And I sure needed a break after a death in the family and work challenges. Mother Nature provided me with just what I needed.

I took a lunch break walk around the circle surrounding the interesting group campground here at the Birch Creek unit of the state park. I enjoyed so many flowers and birds. I even got photos of a Northern Parula and ducks.

After talking to friends, I went on a longer walk, but I’m too tired to share. I’ll try again in the morning.

I have lots more of these guys for tomorrow!

A Different Kind of Day

I didn’t work but a couple of hours today. Instead I drove Anita to Georgetown so she could have a medical procedure. It was good to spend some time together, even if she wasn’t 100% at her best.

While she was at the snazziest medical facility I’ve ever seen, I went out in the beautifully landscaped area to see what native plants I could find. I discovered that whoever did the landscaping used primarily native plants, which pleased me.

And I heard many birds, including some Sandhill Cranes, which pleased me greatly. I didn’t even mind that the procedure was delayed, because that gave me time to walk to the really beautiful grocery store next to the surgery center. It must have replaced the old one that was there when I had a child in college there.

Fancy roundabout leading to what I assume is a nice new neighborhood.

I got a tasty Mexican torta, plums, a dessert, some snacks for later, and my favorite bread. Of course I got Anita some flowers.

Then I came to the empty waiting room and took a nap. Yes, in the chairs above. What a treat!

Getting Anita home was challenging thanks to the after-effects of the procedure and anesthesia, but we made it back to Cameron, fed the ancient dog, and got food into Anita. Success.

Late afternoon trees greeted me at home.

Tomorrow is ranch chore day, since what I’d hoped to accomplish this afternoon didn’t happen. And I’ll have a book report, too.

Thanks again to all who read and comment!

Happy Homecoming

We were able to stay at our campsite until I was finished working for the day, which was very pleasant. I got a bit of walking in, but mostly worked, even on the drive home. You have to help users with questions!

My favorite bird photo of the day. The chickadees were everywhere and had a lot to say!

We had a couple of adventures on the way home. It appears that the motor home was low on all fluids, so the oil we’d added earlier was not sufficient. We also needed coolant and wiper fluid. We got those at a gas station where Lee also enjoyed a chat with a nice female trucker, who he was able to convince could tow a car like we do. She had such a sweet smile. Sometimes chance meetings can really make your day.

There was another fluid low, the DEF you have to add to diesel vehicles now. As Lee was valiantly trying to pull into the Milano Cefco gas station that dispenses it from pumps, I had to inform him it was closed for remodeling. Now I’ll get to pour some in manually. It’s interesting that they are remodeling the gas station, because it’s only a couple of years old. I guess the newer fancy gas station just down the road is big competition!

Fictional image of Lee handing me the stuff to pour.

As nice as the trip was, it was also good to get home. I was pleased to hear Kathleen’s stories about how she’s been working with the horses and what she accomplished in just a few days. She needs exercise, so she’s whipping them into shape.

She sent me this to show how shiny she got Drew.

She told me that Mabel hadn’t liked being in the round pen today and she jumped it to get to the other horses. I guess that’s proof she isn’t crippled. So Mabel got to spend some time hanging out in the pen by herself. She does look beautiful, though.

I got to work with her a little going back to the pasture, she has work ahead of her but Kathleen says she’s already making progress.

I guess the pen isn’t very high if you’re tall as her.

I also enjoyed my reunion with the turkeys. Darryl Junior was all puffed up and impressed with himself, showing all his glorious tail feathers to impress Connie. I’m glad he doesn’t realize how skimpy his tail feathers are. He will look better when new ones grow in.

Well, I’ve put off election results as long as I can, so I’d better check out the primary results. And I need to see how the war is coming along. As always, I hope the civilians just trying to live their lives can stay safe. I know people on both sides whose homes are shuddering when missiles land. I am so tired of bloodshed.

Work and Life, Balanced

I must congratulate myself for creating such a pleasant outdoor workspace today at our campsite that I didn’t have to move inside at all. I guess I should thank Mother Nature for providing pleasant temperatures and no crazy winds.

The portable table makes a great and spacious desk. I could watch Cardinals and Carolina Wrens bopping around while I listened to meetings. And thanks to the awning, I was in shade most of the day. It helped that I didn’t need two monitors for anything today.

I took a short walk in the morning and was able to get photos of a few more birds, some of whom I’ve been hearing but not seeing. The light was bad, but I could tell what they were!

Lunch hour gave me time for another walk at 2 pm (lunch Pacific Time). I enjoyed shady paths and some ups and downs. The highlight was finding the incredibly beautiful cream wild indigo (Baptisia leucophaea). The blossoms are breathtaking.

Leaf-cutter ants decorated with juniper berries rather than leaves

I couldn’t NOT go look at the waterfowl, but I mostly watched ducks dabble and dowitchers dig. Dandy! The Ibises were also present.

I worked pretty late so that was it for hiking. I still got 10,000 steps, and the big camera gave my arms a workout, too. I think I balanced work and life pretty well today. Now enjoy my “artsy” photos.

Joy! Twice in One Day!

The world is so complicated. There’s a lot of negativity going around. So the fact that I was able to feel real joy twice today is a sweet and precious thing. What does it say, about, well, everything, that the source of my joy both times was birds?

It’s because birds are tiny (or larger) packets of joy.

I’m sure thankful for my animal friends, my birds and horses especially, for helping me get through the weirdest of times! Today was a great example.

I took my morning hike today to a part of Nail’s Creek (Lake Somerville) park I never made it to before. It was pretty in a dry, post-oak Savannah kind of way.

I followed the path of Cedar Creek, which was mostly dry, and saw lots of wetland plants and hog damage. I saw hogs there last year, so I wasn’t surprised. I was hoping to get a better view of the pelicans and snow geese we’d seen earlier (and heard—much honking).

I heard snow geese, but when I zoomed in I realized that both geese and pelicans were flying around

I did find them, but still couldn’t see them much better.

As I was taking pictures of ducks, sandpipers, yellowlegs and such, some big birds showed up. They were black, but I had a hard time figuring out much about them, even through binoculars. Were they Anhingas? Black geese?

Finally I got close enough to see their bills. They were ibises! They eventually started making sounds, so Merlin confirmed they were white-faced (there are other dark ones). They dug in the shallow water and hung out on a snag in the water. It was most entertaining, and I was thrilled to get to watch them up close. By the time I heard Sandhill Cranes again that weird feeling in my chest that could only be joy burst forth.

A friend asked me if I felt any other emotions along with joy. Yeah, there’s a poignant sadness when I realize joy is just a momentary feeling. I had tears looking at the birds. But that’s what makes joy so special — its rarity and fleeting nature.

Phlox brought happiness! That’s good, too.

Anyway, the day continued and we took a drive around the area. We visited Yegua Creek Park, where Catherine from the comments section’s husband was camping. We missed him but did enjoy checking out the campsites and views.

We then drove to where the dam for Lake Somerville is, which has many camping areas. After going over the whole dam, we took the scenic route back. There are some nice properties in the area.

Back at our campsite, I wanted to take the good camera out to try and get better pelican pictures. We went to the day use area, where lots of birds were gathered. I helped a young man find his first Northern Shoveler ducks, and his excitement was fun to observe.

Then I got all excited because I spotted a Black-necked Stilt. The second joyful moment.

I jumped up and down and made happy noises, which Lee enjoyed. He said that’s why he likes to go with me sometimes, just to see me all happy. Aww. Here are a few more photos from the day.

The day ended with salmon patties made into sandwiches with really good potato salad. Lee got to cook on his little grill outdoors, so he had fun, too.

Thanks to all of you who’ve been reading the last few days. It’s encouraging to think I entertain you a bit. At least it’s a brief diversion!

A Beautiful Day if You Ignore Current Events

I’m gonna say it: I don’t like wars. I don’t like killing innocent people. So, when yet another one is started, apparently quite well planned, and no one tries very hard to stop it, it’s hard to enjoy a lovely day in nature.

This beautiful checkered skipper on a gorgeous smooth phacelia (*Phacelia glabra)* flower tried to distract me.

I wanted to enjoy the outdoors, though, especially after missing out on hiking and birding yesterday! Nature has her way of sneaking into my psyche and making me forget everything except what’s happening where I am in the current moment. I’m so grateful for that!

Carolina Wren serves to amuse and entertain

We enjoyed a quiet morning watching wrens investigate the underpinnings of our vehicles. I sure hope they aren’t nesting in there! Having a second morning with few neighbors was a real treat.

At last I was able to walk down the familiar trails of Lake Somerville State Park. It’s fun to explore new trails, for sure, but it’s equally interesting to see how places you’re familiar with change from year to year or in different seasons.

Today there were many shore birds on the lake, which is still quite low. Hundreds of White Pelicans, various sandpipers, dowitchers, and ducks entertained me. I was proud to ID Northern Shovelers, Green- and Blue-winged Teals, and Mallards by sight. Glad for the binoculars!

The pelicans were too far away for good photos until they decided to change location, when I could get some flight photos. These are all from the phone camera.

I was delighted to find more early wildflowers in bloom than I expected. There was even at least one I’d never seen before! It was like walking through a fairy garden with all the small, bright flowers along the path, including my beloved spring beauties. Ahh. Pink perfection.

I didn’t see any wild mammals but people with fancy trail horses showed up across from us, so I got to enjoy them getting tacked up. The park did fill up today. I sorta got PTSD from my last trip where I chastised Scouts when I saw a big gathering at the next camping area. Thankfully they only had one screamer.

With all the bright, blue sky and pleasant warmth, we ended up staying outside most of the day, just enjoying the peace. It was just what I needed! And to add icing to the cake, Sandhill Cranes decided today was migration day (they are legal migrants) and regaled us with calls for a long time. Safe travels!