We have been in Oregon for 40 days now, and here at Huntley Park for 4 weeks this Tuesday. 40 days, and we had rain for part of one day, overcast two days, early morning fog about 8 days (burned off by 9 am) , and we ran the A/C one day for 3 hours while at Loeb State Park. To say the weather has been near perfect would be an understatement.
This afternoon I FINALLY got a few pictures of the Bald Eagle which has occasionally been traveling up and down the Rogue River. Today it landed across the river from us, and I got the camera. For the next 90 minutes it did not fly anywhere, but was keeping a sharp eye on the river, and the Osprey were keeping a sharp eye on the Eagle, although they did quiet down a bit after about an hour. Skruffy’s alarm went off on my phone reminding me that she needed to have her diabetes test…by the time I got back out the Eagle was gone (Skruffy tested at 88, so she is doing well). I still have 2 more weeks to try and catch it flying along the river.
Of course, the Osprey are never too far away from the water…always watching, always aware, always sounding an alarm when an intruder, such as the Eagle or Buzzards fly in on their territory. They work together, helping other Osprey. I saw one Osprey miss a fish, getting in on a second try, and three Seagulls flew after it trying to steal some food…but other Osprey met the Seagulls head-on, and next thing I knew the Seagulls were headed back to the Ocean. Just then the Eagle flew in…but being out numbered, it just continued along the river as the Osprey gave their shrilling cry over and over again until the Eagle was out of sight.
Inside the campground there is an abundance of Stellar Jays and Northwestern Crows…both loud, always searching out that camper who leaves food out, or fish guts which have been tossed out along the bank. Sometimes they can descend upon your “area” and make things a bit noisy for a short while. I have yet to have been “hit” by their "white debris" as they fly overhead…but we still have a couple more weeks...I might have to invest in a hat.
I took another short excursion along the north side of the river, found a place to turn around and low and behold, there was a young buck and a doe. Saw the doe first, got a few pictures of her, and then I saw the buck. Amazing how they blend in unless you really look things over. Counting the deer we saw on the way to Agness, and on runs back into Gold Beach and back, we have seen around ten deer this year. Others in the park have seen a few Elk, but we have not had such luck…yet.
For the past three weeks our fishing neighbors have been here in full force. Our immediate neighbor was here for nearly two weeks, first with his wife, a daughter and two very young grandkids, but five days later the daughter and grandkids left. A week later, the wife and husband left…but in their place three tents, relatives of some of the other fisherman, moved in for the week. Today, they all left, all of them...but they left their RVs and their boats, and many will be back Friday.
I close with this shot of “Libby Pond”, which is a body of water on the other side of the river from us...the north road runs along it. The Libby Pond property is up for sale, including what they call a sportsman’s hall (no sleeping, just a large hall includes a kitchen). The entire property is 184 acres, and the asking price is just under $900K…just in case anyone is interested.
I do love the critters. Great bird pictures!! The wildlife makes it all the better. No need to tell me about your weather ... I'm already jealous!!! I SWEAR I'm spending next year up there.
ReplyDeleteIf we don't see you sooner, we should see you up here next year then! (I just wish I had a better picture to get the birds from so far away...)
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