BlackDogHair » Wildlife

Zipper-nut squirrel

jq — Sat, 05 Mar 2011 20:52:02 +0000

Squirrels can fall up to 100 feet without hurting themselves. They use their tail both for balance and as a parachute.

They fly, they eat, they leave

jq — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 18:38:32 +0000

Some visitors at Red Alder Hill stay only for a few days then move on. A flock of grosbeaks rested in the red alders, while taking turns feeding on oiled sunflower seed.

Is it rain, is it snow?

jq — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 20:53:21 +0000

It has been simultaneously raining and snowing at Red Alder Hill. I guess our elevation of 850 feet puts us in the perfect place to receive the best of pacific northwest weather. Rain or snow, this flicker isn’t going to let anything interfere with a meal of fresh suet.

Secretive visitor is small, but fierce

jq — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 02:06:27 +0000

The bird feeding area in front of the house was suddenly deserted. What we did see was a tiny, woodland owl perched near the bird feeder. It was only 6.5 to 7 inches in length. The eyes and bill were yellow and the long tail distinctly barred. It was a Northern Pygmy Owl.

North coast exploration …

admin — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 17:11:40 +0000

On a whim we headed to the north coast for a couple of days.

Found a kitchenette at Tolovana, wasted no time getting to the beach. Don’t know as We’ve ever spent any time on Canon Beach, it’s full of people but so big you don’t notice. I do remember Tolovana Inn from when I was a kid, however it was a much different place back then.

Low tide at 9am so we were on the beach at 7:30 snapping pix and shooting video. I can off load to the iPad but haven’t found a video editing app so all you get are the stills. Going to check out Oceanside and Netarts today. Don’t think we’ll get much farther south than Lincoln City before heading home. If we get near Newport we’ll give you a call Jane. But are focused on North coast exploration … js

spring growth spurts …

jack — Sun, 30 May 2010 14:51:25 +0000

While it’s been a very wet spring we’ve managed to get some work done … the extended weekend is going to be a good time to finalize the projects started weeks ago. Have to stop complaining and find ways to work around the puddles or make them work for you.

Not that we’ve needed it but the garden irrigation system has a few connections to complete.

Maybe with a year passing since construction was complete or the windowed vantage point this house offers but either way we are seeing a bunch of wildlife. Bird feeders recently set up are very busy and the elk herd has been by a couple of times … then today JQ got a shot of a pair of coyotes which we’ve seen before but they are hard to get pix of.

The rain seems to be holding off so we’re going to cut up some of the trees and limbs that winter storms knocked down. Also have overgrown road side and fields to trim back, basically just try to keep up with spring growth spurts … js

Weekend chores

admin — Sun, 23 May 2010 22:37:51 +0000

There have been enough breaks in the rain to get some of my tasks marked off the list.

Even managed a trip to BackYard Bird shop to acquire some feeding stations. I’d put out the one still functional from Troutdale and to our suprises it got discovered rather quickly. Over run with Blackheaded Grossbeaks we figured to capitalize on this popularity.

About 30 yards from the front door is a new fly through and then right up on the veranda is the old station with a seed try under … making a very nice double decker bird feeder.

Between the two we have great bird watching. Besides the Grossbeaks there has been Junkos, brown headed cowbird and a crow stop on today. We have also had early, too early for ang good pix, visits by a herd of about a ndozen elk. And yesterday a coyote padded by the front windows. Rain has stopped again so I need to get back at the wekend chores … Js