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Hiking Oregon Portland Trip report Willamette Valley

Wildlife Week – Day6: Wapato Lake National Wildlife Refuge and Fernhill Wetlands 05/02/2025

Originally I had planned to do my hike at Finley Wildlife Refuge (post) on the Friday of Wildlife Week, but going into the week the forecast called for rain showers. I rearranged the order to move Wapato Lake National Wildlife Refuge and Fernhill Wetlands to Friday morning feeling in hopes that I could finish these hikes before 11am when the showers were forecasted to start. By the end of the week the chance of showers had been replaced by mostly sunny skies.

We visited Wapato Lake in February 2024 (post) and had enjoyed the short hike. Located in Gaston, OR the trailhead is just under an hour from Salem. A paved path leads to a footbridge over Wapato Creek and then dikes lead right for 2 miles and left for 0.6. We hadn’t done the full 2-miles to the right in 2024, so I started with that section then hiked to the end of the 0.6-mile section before returning to the car for a total of 5.6-miles with virtually no elevation gain.
Screenshot 2025-05-02 115514

IMG_9873All trails are open from February 1st through September 30th, then from October 1st through November 30th the final 1.3-mile stretch to the right (south) is closed, and there is no hiking allowed during hunting season from December 1st to January 31st.

There were a lot of ducks, geese, and herons at the lake along with smaller birds in the surrounding trees.
DSCN6336Geese

DSCN6345Osprey

IMG_9877

DSCN6347Killdeer

IMG_9879Meadow checker-mallow

DSCN6359Wood ducks

DSCN6361Northern shovelers

DSCN6365Ducks, geese, and a heron.

DSCN6373Scrunched heron

DSCN6375Stretched heron (same heron)

DSCN6377Sparrow

DSCN6380A different heron and a duck.

DSCN6392Yep, it’s a nutria.

DSCN6399Spotted sandpiper

IMG_9888One of several benches located along the dikes.

DSCN6403American coot

DSCN6404Gadwall

IMG_9889

DSCN6415Dove

DSCN6420Crow

DSCN6422American kestrel

DSCN6424Swallow

DSCN6431Cinnamon teals having a disagreement.

IMG_9897End of the trail to the south.

IMG_9898View from the end of the trail.

DSCN6437Wood ducks

DSCN6441Robin

DSCN6443Short billed dowitchers

DSCN6447Green winged teal

DSCN6456Hooded merganser and a gadwall

DSCN6460Ring-necked ducks

IMG_9902Heading to the left (NNE) now.

DSCN6464Red-winged blackbird

DSCN6475Egrets, herons, and ducks.

DSCN6479Great blue heron and egret

DSCN6480Cinnamon teal and northern shoveler

DSCN6486Hooded mergansers and a cinnamon teal

DSCN6469Northern shovelers and a northern pintail on the right.

DSCN6497California quail

IMG_9905End of the trail in this direction.

One thing to note is that the bathroom is currently closed due to budget shortages. Other than that, this was a great hike with a nice variety of wildlife and no other people.

From Gaston it was just a ten-minute drive to Fernhill Wetlands.
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We had also been here in February 2024 (post), but not on the same day as Wapato Lake. I did virtually the same route today as on that trip which is described in detail in that trip report.
Screenshot 2025-05-02 115436My 3.3-mile track with minimal elevation gain.

The wildlife was sparser here than it had been on our previous visit, but there were a few species about. I also saw my fourth and fifth Bullock’s oriole of the week. Every one of these I’ve spotted have been while flying past me with their bright orange feathers flashing momentarily only to disappear into a tree or bush. I did have some more cooperative subjects though including the first hummingbird of the week.
DSCN6514Swallow

IMG_9915

DSCN6523Osprey

DSCN6525Killdeer

DSCN6528American coot

DSCN6531Mallard

DSCN6541Anna’s hummingbird

DSCN6544A bit of the pink on it’s throat.

DSCN6548Ring-necked ducks
DSCN6556Bald eagle

DSCN6561Gadwalls

IMG_9921Song sparrow

IMG_9929Purple martins

IMG_9936Pied billed grebe

IMG_9940Mallard and ducklings

IMG_9943Mallards

IMG_9953Fringecup

IMG_9974Rabbit

IMG_9977Sandpipers

IMG_9980Ground squirrel

IMG_9992American goldfinch. I’d seen a number of these this week but had only managed a picture of the back of one at Finley Wildlife Refuge.

This was another fun morning of looking for wildlife, but my feet and legs are more than happy that there is only one day of Wildlife Week left. The plan is for Heather to join me on the last hike, and we are hoping to check out a couple of waterfalls before stopping at Fern Ridge Wildlife Area west of Eugene. Happy Trails!

Flickr: Wapato Lake NWR and Fernhill Wetlands

Categories
Hiking Oregon Portland Trip report Willamette Valley

Wildlife Week – Day 5: Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge and Jackson Bottom Wetlands 05/01/2025

A day after my long hike at William L. Finley National Wildlife Refuge (post) I dialed it back a little. For day 5 of my “Wildlife Week” vacation I had two short hikes planned to revisit a pair of wildlife areas along the Tualatin River the Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge and Jackson Bottom Wetlands Preserve.

First up was the Tualatin River NWR. We’d visited this refuge twice previously, first in March 2019 and then again in May 2023. The seasonal trails at this refuge are closed from October 1st through April 30th so today was the first day the Wetlands Loop would be open this year.

I parked at the Roy Rogers Road Trailhead as we had done in 2023 primarily because it was a little closer to Jackson Bottom.
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My route utilized portions of the seasonal Wetland Trail and the River Trail to make a loop with a short out-and-back on the Ridgetop Trail. It came to 4.7-miles with about 100′ of elevation gain, most of which was on the Ridgetop Trail.
Screenshot 2025-05-01 150701The orange track is a portion of the Wetland Trail that I had not previously hiked.

IMG_9756Mt. Hood from the Wetlands Trail.

IMG_9763I spotted a couple of deer shortly after setting out.

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DSCN6091

DSCN6093I believe this is a savannah sparrow.

DSCN6099Geese families

DSCN6102Killdeer

IMG_9767It was just under 40 degrees Fahrenheit when I started, but the forecast called for temperatures to reach 80 by the afternoon.

DSCN6111Geese, goslings, and goose eggs.

DSCN6115Sandpiper

DSCN6117Not sure what type of fish this is but they were thrashing about near the shoreline, and I had seen similar behavior the day before in McFadden Marsh at Finley NWR.

DSCN6118Duck and ducklings

DSCN6123Sleeping nutria

DSCN6132Purple martins and a swallow (bottom left).

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DSCN6144Egrets and a great blue heron.

DSCN6146Closer look at the egrets and heron.

DSCN6152Robin

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I stopped at the Refuge Headquarters to use the facilities, and this pair of bald eagles arrived at the same time.

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The eagles on the tree behind the headquarters.

DSCN6160

DSCN6162Mallard

DSCN6165Sandpipers

IMG_9780Riverside Trail

IMG_9781Tualatin River

DSCN6174Song sparrow

IMG_9782Inside-out flower

IMG_9785The Ridgetop Trail to the left. There is a bench and railed overlook but the view is blocked by trees. If there hadn’t been any leaves there may have been a view but today there wasn’t.

IMG_9787The only trillium I saw with any petals left.

IMG_9790Bleeding heart

DSCN6178Northern flicker

IMG_9793I spotted an American kestrel in this snag. I had been hoping to see one during this week’s hikes.

DSCN6186American kestrel

DSCN6189Crow

DSCN6190Northern shoveler

IMG_9794Wildflowers near the trailhead.

IMG_9796Lupine, plectritis, checkerbloom, and golden paintbrush.

Not a huge amount of wildlife here today but the kestrel was a nice addition to the list of species seen this week. This was by far the busiest hike of the week, possibly due to it being the first day of the seasonal trails being open. I was done with the hike at 8am so not only was it busy, they were early birds.

It was a 20-minute drive from the refuge to Jackson Bottom Wetland so it was still fairly early when I arrived at the trailhead.
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Our previous visit here was last April (post) and we hiked the majority of trails here during that visit, so this was a near repeat except I went in the opposite direction (clockwise).
Screenshot 2025-05-01 150744 This route came to 4.4-miles and just 35′ of elevation gain.

In addition to wildlife the preserve has some nice flower gardens near the visitor center.
IMG_9800

IMG_9802Camas

IMG_9804

DSCN6194Larkspur

DSCN6195Not a native wildflower but pretty.

IMG_9808Columbine

DSCN6196Rabbit

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DSCN6202The look on their faces seems to indicate they were not expecting to see me there.

DSCN6203Going back the other way.

DSCN6208Karaoke

IMG_9818Helpful maps and/or pointers are located at trail junctions.

DSCN6209Swallow

DSCN6211Swallows

DSCN6212Cinnamon Teal

DSCN6214Ring-necked ducks

DSCN6215Purple martins

DSCN6218Canada geese

IMG_9819Jackson Bottom Wetlands Trail passing Oak Island Marsh.

DSCN6231Crow harassing an osprey over Oak Island Marsh.

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DSCN6235I thought flamingos were pink.

DSCN6237American coot in NW Pond.

DSCN6241Another napping nutria.

DSCN6244Robin

DSCN6249Gadwall

DSCN6266Egrets at Wapato Marsh.

DSCN6269Great blue heron in Pintail Pond.

IMG_9830Lupine along the trail.

DSCN6276Green winged teal

IMG_9833Heading toward Salamander Slough.

DSCN6284Two turtles and a mallard.

DSCN6291Long billed dowitcher

DSCN6296Cabbage white?

IMG_9844Checkerbloom along the Coyote Hill Trail.

DSCN6309Common yellowthroat

DSCN6311Savannah sparrow

DSCN6313Spotted towhee

IMG_9856Tualatin River

DSCN6327Deer crossing Pintail Pond. I think these are the same three I saw earlier.

DSCN6329I’ve been spotted.

IMG_9866Rabbit on the left along the River Trail.

IMG_9865Salmonberry

IMG_9869Western meadowrue

IMG_9871Wild rose

IMG_9872Stairs leading to the trail on the River Trail.

Jackson Bottom was noticeably less busy than the refuge had been. It was a nice hike with a fairly steady supply of wildlife. These are both good destinations and were a nice addition to wildlife week. Happy Trails!

Flickr: Tualatin River WLR and Jackson Bottom

Categories
Hiking Oregon Salem/Albany Trip report Willamette Valley

Wildlife Week Day3: Baskett Slough National Wildlife Refuge 04/29/2025

Overnight and morning rain showers delayed day 3 of wildlife week but by 9am things were starting to clear up. With the later start I had decided it would be the day I visited Baskett Slough National Wildlife Refuge. It is the closest refuge to our home in Salem, just under 20 minutes, and I was only expecting to do a 5-to-6-mile hike meaning I’d likely still be home around Noon. This was my sixth visit to the refuge (2010, 2020, 2021, 2023, 2024) and I was looking to do something a little different during this visit. Looking at the refuge map and Google Earth there was a possible route/trail around the base of Baskett Butte along it’s west and south sides and my mission today was to check it out. I wound up with a 5.5-mile lollipop (with a short handle).
Screenshot 2025-04-29 144136

I parked at the familiar Baskett Butte Trailhead and set off on the signed trail staying right at junctions eventually passing Morgan Lake, the Smithfield Road Trailhead and Moffitti Marsh.
IMG_9445

IMG_9446You can actually see some of the route I explored on the left side between Parvipes Marsh and the butte and at the bottom of the picture wrapping around the butte.

It might be wildlife week but for the first half mile I saw more wildflowers than wildlife.
IMG_9449Manroot

IMG_9453Camas

IMG_9456Plectritis

IMG_9459Checkerbloom

IMG_9463Tolmie’s mariposa lilies

My first non-flying bird wildlife sighting was a doe from the saddle on the butte.
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DSCN5639

After watching her for a moment I started to move and noticed two more deer on the other side of the trail in the woods.
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DSCN5645

IMG_9470Morgan Lake with a bit of Moffitti Marsh to the left.

IMG_9472Columbine

IMG_9477Iris

IMG_9479

DSCN5654Robin

DSCN5655Sparrows

DSCN5658Gold crowned sparrow

IMG_9480The grass was low enough that the lake was fairly visible. Later in Spring you’re lucky to see any water from the trail.

DSCN5660Not a great picture due to the distance and light, but there are a couple of ruddy ducks to the left hanging out with some ring-necked ducks.

DSCN5663Mallards

DSCN5665American coot

DSCN5667Gadwalls

DSCN5669Buffleheads

DSCN5672Common yellowthroat

IMG_9486

At the end of Morgan Lake (by the sign above) I started scanning the wetland below for a bittern. I’ve heard them in the area before and had them fly off before I could get a picture, but I was usually coming from the other direction. This time I had the high ground, and it made a difference.
IMG_9489Looking for a bittern.

DSCN5686American bittern. I could only see the bittern from a very short section of trail and as soon as I lost a little elevation it disappeared from sight. It never flew off, but I couldn’t see it even knowing where it was.

IMG_9491Following the trail next to Smithfield Road.

DSCN5694Lots of red-winged blackbirds near the trailhead.

DSCN5704Finch

IMG_9493Heading back toward Baskett Butte and Moffitti Marsh.

DSCN5712Northern flicker

IMG_9495Moffitti Marsh

DSCN5719American wigeons

DSCN5727Female common yellowthroat

DSCN5734Spotted towhee

DSCN5737I watched a crow chase off a hawk that had apparently gotten too close.

IMG_9499The official trail heads up the hill to the left. I veered right just beyond the trail sign pointing toward Moffitti Marsh.

I followed tire tracks from the refuge vehicles through the muddy grass. It wasn’t the easiest walking, but it wasn’t too hard to follow the tracks.
IMG_9500

IMG_9501Lilac

IMG_9502Parvipes Marsh ahead to the right.

A refuge tractor was a little behind me so when I came to a “T” junction with a clear but less worn track heading uphill to the left I turned that way.
IMG_9505The tractor turned right and drove over a dike at the end of Parvipes Marsh to a field on the other side.

DSCN5747Deer farther up the hillside.

The track I was on turned to the right and traversed the hillside around the butte.
IMG_9506

IMG_9511

DSCN5752This appears to be balsamroot. There were just a couple of patches on the SW side of the butte.

IMG_9512Cottonwood Pond

IMG_9516Buttercups and miniature lupine

DSCN5758Meadow checker-mallow

IMG_9519

IMG_9520Lomatium and plectritis

IMG_9527South Slough Pond

IMG_9528I was a bit surprised to find a bench along this route given it isn’t shown as an official trail.

IMG_9530Grass pea

DSCN5762More checkerbloom

DSCN5765Golden paintbrush

The path I was on was leading toward Coville Road and I could see the trailhead, but I hadn’t been to the overlook on Baskett Butte yet. In 2023 I had come down from the overlook on a trail that connected up with the track I was on, so I kept watch and then turned uphill when I spotted the tread.
IMG_9534If I hadn’t been looking for the tread I don’t think I would have noticed it.

IMG_9536Lupine

IMG_9538Another Tolmie’s mariposa lily

DSCN5767Western meadowlark

IMG_9540The overlook ahead.

IMG_9543The obligatory photo from the overlook.

It was a steep climb up to the overlook and in hindsight I was wishing I had done the loop in the opposite direction. I had opted not to do that though because I wasn’t 100% this route was going to work. After a brief break at the overlook I headed down to the trailhead on the official trails.
IMG_9547

IMG_9546Lots of patches of plectritis on the butte.

DSCN5777Ground squirrel

DSCN5778Swallow

Before heading home I drove up Coville Road to the parking area at Cottonwood Pond since I had seen a lot of birds on the water during my hillside traverse.
DSCN5801Baskett Butte from the Cottonwood Pond parking area.

DSCN5782Mallards

DSCN5786Northern pintails

DSCN5790Northern shovelers

DSCN5792Lesser scaup. They look a lot like ring-necked ducks only without the ring.

DSCN5793Ring-necked ducks

DSCN5794Nap Time.

Another nice day at a wildlife area. In addition to the photographed subjects a bald eagle, Bullock’s oriole, goldfinch, turkey vulture, and Canada geese all flew by me but refused to pose for a picture. The next couple of days are forecast to be sunny before more showers arrive on Friday in time for the weekend. Hopefully I will have some cloud free morning light over my next couple outings. Happy Trails!

Flickr: Baskett Slough 2025

Categories
Corvallis Hiking Oregon Trip report Willamette Valley

Wildlife Week – Day 1: E.E. Wilson Wildlife Area 04/27/2025

We have been fortunate in years past to both have the ability to take 4 weeks of vacation each year which helped immensely in our completing our “500 featured hikes” goal last year (post). Heather’s job had changed in late 2023 resulting in her losing a couple weeks of vacation time each year so after taking a couple of weeks of unpaid time-off in 2024 to complete our hiking goal I have a few solo weeks in 2025. For the first solo week I went with a theme, wildlife week, and planned a series of hikes at various federal and state designated wildlife refuges/areas in the Willamette Valley.

I kicked wildlife week off with a visit to the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife’s E.E. Wilson Wildlife Area located just north of Corvallis (about 30 minutes from Salem). We’d hiked here in July 2022 (post) but had yet to check out the short Coffin Butte Trail located along Highway 99. Today’s plan was to hike that trail then revisit the Angling Pond from our first trip. There is a $10.00 daily parking fee at the 20 ODFW wildlife areas or you can get an annual fee for $30.00

I pulled into the Coffin Butte Trailhead just before Sunrise (6:07am) in hopes that it might be a colorful morning, but alas the cloud cover was solid.
IMG_9275

This is a fairly straight forward trail that initially follows a wide grassy track as it climbs to a viewpoint overlooking the wildlife area. The trail then continues, steeply at times, up Coffin Butte to the boundary of the refuge. This upper section is rougher, more overgrown, and full of poison oak and there are no real views. The trail is also next to the Coffin Butte Landfill which means that it can be a bit smelly if the air is moving in the right (wrong) direction. That being said I did the full 1.6-mile out-and-back (455′ of elevation gain) just to say I had and hope that I effectively avoid the leaves of three.
IMG_9279The landfill to the left.

IMG_9281One of two pointers to keep hikers on track.

IMG_9286

IMG_9290Sign at the viewpoint.

IMG_9291The remains of a bench at the viewpoint.

IMG_9294

IMG_9297Buttercups and iris

IMG_9301The sign announces the “Summit 604′”, but the actual summit is further along the ridge on private property meaning the trail ends here.

IMG_9304A mariposa lily surrounded by poison oak.

After reaching the “summit” I returned to the car and made the one-mile drive to the Angling Pond Parking Area
IMG_9310The busy parking area.

I wandered a bit to the NE of the parking area on trails before returning to the parking area and re-hiking the lollipop loop we’d done in 2022. I changed it up a bit by doing the loop counterclockwise this time. Before returning to the car, I also detoured west along one of the refuge roads to see a little more of the area. There are ample opportunities to explore here, a sort of choose your own adventure. My hike today still only came to 2.7-miles with virtually no elevation gain, but I opted not to explore more in an attempt to pace myself over the next several days.
Screenshot 2025-04-27 092510My route and the Coffin Butte Trail.

There were a lot of birds out, but the majority did their best to be heard and not seen. That being said I did manage to get photos of a few species making it a successful start to wildlife week.
IMG_9315Wandering on trails to the NE of the parking lot.

IMG_9317Apple blossoms?

IMG_9323Concrete structure left over from Camp Adair.

DSCN5311Turkey vultures

DSCN5312Turkey vulture

IMG_9331Heading for the pond.

IMG_9334There were all kinds of birds singing in the trees but nary a feather to be seen.

IMG_9337Iris

IMG_9341I believe this walkway is new since or previous visit.

IMG_9352There were quite a few folks fishing around the pond, and one great blue heron.

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IMG_9353Wetlands across the trail from the pond.

DSCN5328Buffleheads

DSCN5333Pied billed grebe

IMG_9361Camas

DSCN5337Hooded merganser drake

DSCN5339Mallards

DSCN5341Killdeer and hooded mergansers

DSCN5344Sandpiper

IMG_9363Heading west through the wildlife area.

DSCN5348Hummingbird

DSCN5356Family of geese

DSCN5354Robin

DSCN5360Black capped chickadee

DSCN5364Northern flicker

IMG_9369Wetlands

DSCN5369Blackbird

DSCN5373Groundsquirrel

It was a good start to wildlife week and I’m looking forward to hopefully seeing quite a few more critters as the week progresses. Happy Trails!

Flickr: E.E. Wilson Wildlife Area

Categories
Hiking Oregon Portland Trip report Willamette Valley

Fanno Creek Trail – 04/26/2024

The Fanno Creek Trail is part of the Tualatin Hills Parks and Recreation District offering several miles of paved trail along Fanno Creek in Beaverton and Tigard. The current trail is 8.3-miles in length with plans to eventually extend the trail between Willamette Park in Portland to the Tualatin River in Durham. The urban trail passes through a number of parks, and we planned on hiking a section that included five such parks. Before starting our hike though we made a short detour to check out Koll Wetlands.

There is no hike at Koll Wetlands, you just park behind some businesses and look for birds and other wildlife.
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We arrived too early for decent pictures due to cloud cover limiting light, but we spotted a rabbit and a number of ducks and other birds.
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IMG_9109

IMG_9117Duck and ducklings along with a killdeer.

After checking out the wetlands we drove to the Denney Road Trailhead.
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We headed south on the trail into Fanno Creek Park and followed the paved path 0.7-miles to a crossing of SW Hall Boulevard.
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IMG_9129

IMG_9134

IMG_9139Chickadee

IMG_9145

IMG_9148Mallards

IMG_9154Fanno Creek

IMG_9156

IMG_9160Thimbleberry and service berry

We crossed SW Hall Boulevard and entered Greenway Park.
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IMG_9167

IMG_9168Northern flicker

There are several loop options available in this park if the water isn’t too high. The water was low enough today that we were able to stay left at all junctions and only had to navigate a few feet of muddy, flooded trail.
IMG_9170

IMG_9171Hummingbird

IMG_9174

IMG_9175Red-winged blackbird

IMG_9178

IMG_9180

IMG_9184Squirrel

IMG_9188

IMG_9190The Greenway Loop Trail had the only flooded section on this day.

IMG_9191Wetlands along the Greenway Loop Trail.

IMG_9192Goose

IMG_9195

IMG_9200Hooded mergansers

After rejoining the Fanno Creek Trail at the southern end of Greenway Park we passed under SW Scholls Ferry Road.
IMG_9205This is another section that may flood at high water times.

Shortly after passing under the road the trail passes a sign for Englewood Park.
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IMG_9208

IMG_9210

IMG_9217We spent some time here watching a female mallard attempt to join the drakes along with her ducklings only to be repeatedly chased off.

IMG_9220Mallards ducklings

IMG_9224The ducklings finally making it across the trail.

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IMG_9228Goose and gosling

IMG_9229Avens

The trail jogged right at a crossing of SW North Dakota Street then crossed SW Tigard St to enter Dirksen Nature Park.
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IMG_9232Camas

IMG_9235Dirksen Nature Park

IMG_9236Viewing platform

IMG_9237Wetlands from the viewing platform.

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IMG_9241Dove

IMG_9243Finch

IMG_9244Robin

We continued through the nature park and crossed SW Tiedeman Ave. Two tenths of a mile later we arrived at the Woodard Park Trailhead near the park’s playground.
IMG_9246

IMG_9248Lupine

IMG_9249

IMG_9252Woodard Park Trailhead.

We made this our turnaround point and headed back. We stayed left again in Greenway Park to complete the three loops there. The trail was fairly busy on the way back but not too crowded and there was still quite a bit of wildlife to see.
IMG_9254This may be a lesser goldfinch, I wasn’t able to see anything but its rear end though.

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IMG_9260

IMG_9262Spotted towhee

IMG_9271Wood duck

Our out-and-back on the Fanno Creek Trail came to 7.1 miles with minimal elevation gain.
Screenshot 2025-04-26 110839

This was a nice urban hike, and we can see why it’s popular with all types of trail users. Dirksen Nature Park was a highlight and looked like it would be a great place to bring the kiddos. Happy Trails!

Flickr: Koll Wetlands and the Fanno Creek Trail

Categories
Hiking Year-end wrap up

2022 Wildlife Gallery Part 2 – Featherless Friends

This year we split our wildlife gallery into two posts starting with our feather friends (post). We now move on to our featherless friends which ranged from tiny ants to bull elk and an almost too friendly black bear. It was an especially good year for deer including several encounters with does and fawns.

We’ll start out small and work our way up to the larger mammals.
IMG_6653Ants dropping sawdust from a log along the Catherine Creek Trail. We sat and watched these busy ants for quite a while. They had created a good-sized pile on the ground below.

Lady bugs on Observation PeakWe see a lot of beetles but usually not all at once like these lady bugs on Observation Peak.

LadybugLady bug – Upper Table Rock

Beetle on a California poppyYellow & black beetle – Mule Mountain

IMG_5905Redish brown beetle – Siskiyou Wilderness

IMG_5941Green beetle – Siskiyou Wilderness

IMG_6578Hitchhiker – Mt. Ireland

IMG_6831Blueish green beetle – Catherine Creek Meadows

IMG_6836Small beetle – Catherine Creek Meadows

20220711_064348Green beetle on a geranium – Eagle Cap Wilderness

IMG_8377Green beetle on a wallflower – Silver Star Mountain

IMG_1487Stripped beetle – Spring Valley Greenway

Water skippers on Big Twin LakeWater skippers – Big Twin Lake

IMG_6019Spider on thimbleberry – Siskiyou Wilderness

IMG_6708Crab spider – Eagle Cap Wilderness

20220714_094414Another crab spider – Eagle Cap Wilderness

20220824_144345Cricket – Pacific Crest Trail

20220824_140037We are often literally struck by grasshoppers as we hike. Sometimes they stick when they hit us such as this one along the PCT.

Bee on phaceliaBee on phacelia – Mule Mountain

Wet bumblebee on lupineWet bee on lupine – Julia Butler Hanson Wildlife Refuge

IMG_8781Bumble bee – Hemlock Creek Trail

IMG_9449Lots of pollen – Mt. Adams Wilderness

Marsh marigold with a visitorBee landing on a marsh marigold along the PCT

IMG_5329Bee approaching penstemon – Siskiyou Wilderness

Bee and ant in bindweedBee and a tiny ant in a bindweed – Siskiyou Wilderness

IMG_7688Insects on thistle – Eagle Cap Wilderness

IMG_7600Wasp? – Eagle Cap Wilderness

IMG_8429Some sort of wasp – Silver Star Mountain

IMG_7791Insect along Bear Creek – Eagle Cap Wilderness

IMG_0149My brother and I used to call these “weird things”; I have no idea what it actually is – Trinity Alps Wilderness

Damsel flyDamsel fly – Denman Wildlife Area

IMG_8876Damsel fly – Hemlock Lake

IMG_4843Dragon fly – Goat Marsh Lake

IMG_5430Dragon fly – Siskiyou Wilderness

Dragon flyDragon fly – Siskiyou Wilderness

IMG_7975Dragon fly – Eagle Cap Wilderness

IMG_8117Dragon fly along the Wallowa River – Wallowa Homeland

IMG_8716Dragon fly – E.E. Wilson Wildlife Area

IMG_8871Dragon fly – Hemlock Lake

IMG_2635Dragon fly – Sky Lakes Wilderness

Snail on the Rock Creek TrailSnail – Rock Creek Trail

Snail on the Payette TrailSnail – Applegate Lake

SnailSnail – North Siouxon Trail

SnailSnail – Julia Hansen Butler Wildlife Refuge

IMG_6043Snail – Siskiyou Wilderness

IMG_2814Snail – Cascade Head

IMG_3254Slug – Larch Mountain Trail

Slug on a flowerSlug (and a fly) – Susan Creek Trail

IMG_1364Slug – Fish Lake

Slug on lupineSlug on lupine – Julia Butler Hansen Wildlife Refuge

Slug and an unfortunate earth wormSlug and an unfortunate earth worm – Rock Creek Trail

Worms on the trailWorms – Chehalem Ridge Nature Park

MillipedeMillipede – North Siouxon Trail

MillipedeMillipede – Rock Creek Trail

Milli or centipedeMillipede – Illahee Rock

MillipedeMillipede – Eagle Cap Wilderness

Woolly bear caterpillarWet caterpillar – Yakona Nature Preserve

IMG_3245Dry version – Larch Mountain Trail

CaterpillarCaterpillar – Julia Butler Hansen Wildlife Refuge

IMG_5393Caterpillar – Siskiyou Wilderness

IMG_5584Caterpillar – Siskiyou Wilderness

IMG_3169Caterpillar – Larch Mountain Trail

IMG_3240Caterpillar – Larch Mountain Trail

IMG_3243Caterpillar – Larch Mountain Trail

Moth?Moth – Klickitat Trail

IMG_7092Moth -Eagle Cap Wilderness

MothMoth – Twin Lakes

IMG_6645Moth – Eagle Cap Wilderness

IMG_7670Moth – Eagle Cap Wilderness

20220714_094512Moth – Eagle Cap Wilderness

IMG_9093Moth – Wolf Creek Falls Trail

IMG_3002Moth – Cascade Head

Propertius duskywing - Erynnis propertiusPropertius duskywing (Erynnis propertius) – Klickitat Trail

IMG_5978Duskywing – Siskiyou Wilderness

IMG_5374Northern Cloudywing? – Siskiyou Wilderness

Silver-spotted skipperSilver-spotted skipper – Siskiyou Wilderness

IMG_9637Skipper – Grizzly Peak

IMG_1233Skipper – Rogue-Umpqua Divide Wilderness

IMG_8702Skipper – E. E. Wilson Wildlife Area

A hairstreakHairstreak (bramble?) – Siskiyou Mountains

IMG_5289Cedar hairstreak – Siskiyou Wilderness

Thicket Hairstreak?Hairstreak (possibly thicket) – Eagle Cap Wilderness

Ochre ringlet on fiddleneckOchre ringlet – Jack Ash Trail

IMG_5972Butterfly – Siskiyou Wilderness

IMG_0779Butterfly – Trinity Alps Wilderness

IMG_0813Butterfly – Trinity Alps Wilderness

Butterfly on buckwheatButterfly – Upper Table Rock

Butterfly on scatButterfly – Mule Mountain

IMG_7644Butterfly – Eagle Cap Wilderness

IMG_6852Butterfly – Eagle Cap Wilderness

IMG_9401Butterfly – Mt. Adams Wilderness

IMG_9455Butterfly – Mt. Adams Wilderness

IMG_6555Butterfly – Mt. Ireland

IMG_0243Butterfly – Trinity Alps Wilderness

IMG_8481Butterfly – Silver Star Mountain

IMG_0333Butterfly – Russian Wilderness

IMG_0185Butterfly – Trinity Alps Wilderness

Sara's orangetipSara’s orangetip – Klickitat Trail

IMG_8677Common woodnymph – E. E. Wilson Wildlife Area

IMG_1256Another woodnymph – Rogue-Umpqua Divide Wilderness

IMG_5133Orange sulphur – Siskiyou Wilderness

Mountain ParnassianMountain parnassian – Eagle Cap Wilderness

IMG_8937Clodius parnassian – Hemlock Lake

20220712_102723Western white? – Eagle Cap Wilderness

IMG_0926Western white – Trinty Alps Wilderness

20220824_134541Pine white – Russian Wilderness

IMG_6882Butterfly – Eagle Cap Wilderness

IMG_0311Butterfly – Russian Wilderness

IMG_9418Butterfly – Mt. Adams Wilderness

Possibly a northern checkerspotButterfly – Mule Mountain

IMG_8310Butterfly – Silver Star Mountain

IMG_8508Butterfly – Silver Star Mountain

IMG_8445Butterfly – Silver Star Mountain

IMG_8364Western meadow fritillary? – Silver Star Mountain

IMG_8450A fritillary – Silver Star Mountain

IMG_0210A fritillary – Trinity Alps Wilderness

IMG_0342A fritillary -Russian Wilderness

IMG_1193A fritillary – Rogue-Umpqua Divide Wilderness

Mourning cloakMourning cloak – Klickitat Trail

IMG_5152California tortoiseshell – Siskiyou Wilderness

IMG_6900Milbert’s tortoiseshell – Eagle Cap Wilderness

IMG_7654Lorquin’s admiral – Eagle Cap Wilderness

IMG_9704Common buckeye – Mt. Shasta Wilderness

IMG_2417Hoary comma – Sky Lakes Wilderness

Green comma?Green comma? – Eagle Cap Wilderness

Swallowtails:
Anise swallowtailKlickitat Trail

SwallowtailJulia Butler Hanson Wildlife Refuge

IMG_8127Eagle Cap Wilderness

IMG_0394Tadpoles – Russian Wilderness

IMG_9385Tadpole transforming – Mt. Adams Wilderness

IMG_0479Frog – Russian Wilderness

IMG_4761Frog – Goat Marsh Lake

IMG_5227Tree frog – Siskiyou Wilderness

IMG_0169Frog – Trinity Alps Wilderness

IMG_0171Toad – Trinity Alps Wilderness

IMG_9667Toad – Mt. Jefferson Wilderness

IMG_0354Fish – Siphon Lake

Rough skinned newtRough skinned newt – Yakona Nature Preserve

Western painted turtleWestern painted turtle – Julia Hansen Butler Wildlife Refuge

Garter snakeBaby snake – Miller Woods

Garter snakeGarter snake – Julia Hansen Butler Wildlife Refuge

LizardLizard – Mule Mountain

LizardLizard – Upper Table Rock

IMG_0585Lizard – Russian Wilderness

IMG_5200Lizard – Siskiyou Wilderness

LizardLizard – Klickitat Trail

LizardLizard – Upper Table Rock

Alligator lizardAlligator lizard – Mule Mountain

ChipmunkChipmunk – Observation Peak

IMG_0470Ground squirrel – Russian Wilderness

Ground squirrelGround squirrel – Klickitat Trail

IMG_7344Ground squirrel – Eagle Cap Wilderness

Ground squirrelGround squirrel – Upper Table Rock

SquirrelSquirrel – Rock Creek Trail

SquirrelSquirrel – Twin Lakes

IMG_3250Squirrel – Larch Mountain Trail

IMG_7945Marmot – Wallowa Homeland

Jack rabbitJack rabbit – Denman Wildlife Area

IMG_8674Rabbit – E. E. Wilson Wildlife Area

IMG_8461Pika – Silver Star Mountain

MuskratMuskrat – Julia Butler Hansen – Wildlife Refuge

Otter at Killin WetlandsOtter – Killin Wetlands

IMG_2902Sea lion – Hart’s Cove

DeerDeer – Memaloose Hills

DoeDoe – Miller Woods

DoeMamma – Roxy Ann Peak

FawnFawn – Roxy Ann Peak

Columbain white-tailed buckColumbian white-tailed buck – Julia Butler Hansen Wildlife Refuge

Doe and fawn in Donomore MeadowsDoe & fawn – Donomore Meadows

IMG_5571Three bucks – Siskiyou Wilderness

IMG_6285Buck – Siskiyou Wilderness

IMG_0197Buck – Trinity Alps Wilderness

IMG_0384Doe & fawn – Russian Wilderness

IMG_0496Buck and does – Russian Wilderness

IMG_1923Two bucks – Crater Lake National Park

Elk on Road 200Elk – Yakona Nature Preserve

Bull elk at Julia Butler Hansen Refuge for Columbian White-tailed DeerBull elk – Julia Butler Hansen Wildlife Refuge

Mountain goat below the Mt. Ireland LookoutMountain goat below the Mt. Ireland Lookout – Mt. Ireland

Goat on the other side of Highway 4Domestic goat – Near the Julia Butler Hansen Wildlife Refuge

IMG_6302Black bear – Siskiyou Wilderness

IMG_5594The same black bear making eye contact the day before.

Categories
Hiking Year-end wrap up

2021 Wildlife Gallery

One of the most enjoyable experiences while hiking is encountering wildlife. Oddly enough it’s also one of the worst (see ticks, mosquitos, and yellow jackets). From creatures great to small we were blessed to see a wide variety of God’s creations this past year. While there remain a number of critters on our “bucket list” of animals we haven’t encountered yet in 2021 we were able to put a check mark by river otters, American bitterns, and raccoons.
River ottersRiver Otters on a boom at Dorena Lake

American BitternAmerican bittern flying over Fern Ridge Wildlife Area

RaccoonsRaccoons at South Slough Estuary

We are working on learning to identify the various birds and butterflies we see and have made our best efforts (guesses), but as with our attempted identification of wildflowers (post) any help and or corrections is appreciated. With that here is a collection of the rest of the wildlife we encountered in 2021 starting with caterpillars, butterflies and moths.

Caterpiller on a common madia

Caterpillar

Caterpiller

Woolly bear caterpillar

Butterflies on the Santiam Lake TrailSeveral species

A crescent butterfly

A crescent butterfly

A sulphurOne of the sulphurs

Sulphur butterflyAnother sulphur

Becker's white on an onionBecker’s white

A haristreak butterflyA hairstreak

Hairstreak butterflyAlso a hairstreak

Buttefly on a sagebrush false dandelion

Butterflies on western snakeroot

Butterflies on groundsel

Butterfly

Butterfly

Butterfly

Butterfly along the Canyon Mountain Trail

Butterfly along the Canyon Mountain Trail

Butterfly along the Levi Brinkley Trail

Butterfly along the Round Mountain Trail

Butterfly on a false sunflower

Butterfly on aster

Cabbage whiteCabbage white

California tortoiseshellCalifornia tortoiseshell

Checkerspot on honeysuckleA checkerspot

Chlosyne acastus - sagebrush checkerspot, femaleChlosyne acastus – sagebrush checkerspot, female

Chlosyne acastus - sagebrush checkerspot?Chlosyne acastus – sagebrush checkerspot, male?

Cloudis parnassianCloudis parnassian

Cedar hairstreakCedar hairstreak

Green commaGreen comma?

Hoary commaHoary comma

Juba skipper - Hesperia jubaJuba skipper – Hesperia juba

Langton's Forester MothLangton’s Forester Moth

Lorquin's admiralLorquin’s admiral

Milberts tortoiseshellMilbert’s tortoiseshell

MothMoth

Moth on hyssopA moth, possibly Gnophaela latipennis

MothMoth

Mylitta crescents - Phyciodes mylittaMylitta crescents

Ochre ringletOchre ringlet

Orange tip butterfly on fiddleneckOrange tip

Possibly a Boisduval's blue - Icaricia icarioidesPossibly a Boisduval’s blue – Icaricia icarioides

Propertius duskywing - Erynnis propertiusPropertius duskywing – Erynnis propertius

Purplish Copper on a false sunflowerPurplish copper

Purplish copperPossibly another purplish copper, Steens Mountain Wilderness 8/17.

Sheep mothSheep moth

Silvery blueSilvery blue?

SkipperA skipper

Swallowtails

SwallowtailAnise swallowtail

SwallowtailIndra swallowtail

SwallowtailPossibly a pale swallowtail -Ninemile Ridge

SwallowtailPossibly a western swallowtail -Devil’s Staircase Wilderness

Viceroy on mock orangeViceroy

Wood nymphs
Wood nymphJuly 19th, Ochoco Mountains

Wood nymphAugust 17th Steens Mountain Wilderness

Wood nymphAugust 19th Steens Mountain Wilderness

Fritillary on an irisOne of the fritillary butterflies I think.

Butterfly and bee on Fuller's teasel

Butterfly and beetle

Bee on gumweed

Bees on thistle

Bee on the Tower Mountain Trail

Bumble bees on penstemon

Bindweed

Wasp nest

Wasp of some sort

Wasps on fireweed

Wasp

Wasps, bees, ants and other insects

Flying ants on Mt. BachelorFlying ants at the summit of Mt. Bachelor

Grasshopper

Grasshopper

CicadaCicada

Ladybug on lupineLadybug

Red osier dogwood and a beetle

Beetle

Beetle and ochre ringlet on yarrow

Beetle in defense position

Beetle on a flowerFind the beetle

Bettle in a flower

Dictyoptera aurora?Dictyoptera aurora?

Beetles on a rose blossom

Crab spider on a nookta roseCrab spider

Spider

Wolf spider

Spider on wallflowerSpot the spider

Millipede

Iris and an insect

Praying mantisPraying mantis

June bugJune bug

Damsel flyDamsel fly

Dragon flyDragon fly

Dragon flyDragon fly

Dragon flyDragon fly

DragonflyDragon fly

Slug

Slug

Slug

Slug

Slug

Slug on a mushroom

Snail

Snail

Snail

Snails on skunk cabbage

Alligator lizardAlligator lizard

Frog

Frog at Bashaw Creek

Ring necked snakeRing necked snake

Snake on FR 99

Tiny frog

Toad near Walton Lake

TurtleTurtle

Western fence lizardsWestern fence lizards

Snake along the Wenaha River Trail

Dunn's salamander?Dunn’s salamander?

Rough skinned newtRough skinned newt

Rough skinned newts and a crawdadCrawdad surrounded by rough skinned newts

Fish in Black Canyon CreekFish in Black Canyon Creek

Harbor sealsSeals

Sea lionsSea lions

NutriaNutria

MoleHindquarters of what we believe to have been a mole.

There are several species of chipmunks in the area and I think these are two different species but I’m not sure which ones.
ChipmunkIndian Heaven Wilderness

ChipmunkBadger Creek Wilderness

Likewise there are several different squirrels and ground squirrels.
Greeter at the Walton Lake TrailheadGolden mantled-ground squirrel

Ground squirrel

Ground squirrel

Ground squirrel

Ground squirrel

Ground squirrel

Squirrel

Squirrel

Squirrel

Pikas at first glance might seem to be related to ground squirrels but they are actually closely related to rabbits.
PikaPika

RabbitMountain cottontail

RabbitEastern cottontail

Snowshoe hareSnowshoe hare

Jack rabbitJack rabbit

Ring-necked duck and a lesser scaupRing-necked duck and a lesser scaup

American coot, spotted sandpiper and mallards on a logAmerican coot, spotted sandpiper and mallards on a log

American wigeonsAmerican wigeons

Green-winged tealGreen-winged teals

Cinnamon tealCinnamon teal

Cinnamon teal, mallards and a pied billed grebeMallards, a cinnamon teal and a pied billed grebe

Common merganserCommon merganser

Merganser and buffleheadsA female hooded merganser? and buffleheads

Northern pintailsNorthern pintails

Northern shovelersNorthern shovelers

DucklingsDucklings

Canada geese familyCanada geese

Western grebeWestern grebe

Bird at the Formal Gardens at Shore Acres State ParkBird at the Formal Gardens at Shore Acres State Park

Possibly at least one snowy egret and a great egretAt least two types of egrets and a bunch of ducks at Malhuer Wildlife Refuge

EgretEgret

Great blue heronGreat blue heron

Black-necked stiltBlack-necked stilt

Dunlins in the pondDunlins

YellowlegsYellowlegs?

White faced ibisWhite faced ibis

WhimbrelsWhimbrels

Spotted sandpiperSpotted sandpiper

SandpiperAnother sandpiper

ShorebirdsA couple of types of shorebirds

White pelicanWhite pelican

Roads End State Recreation SiteSeagull

CormorantsCormorants

KingfisherKingfisher

Dipper (Ouzel)American dipper aka ouzel

A couple of American bushtitsA couple of American bushtits

Bewick's wrenBewick’s wren?

Canyon WrenCanyon wren?

Wren at Horsethief ButteWren? at Horsethief Butte near The Dalles.

Bird above the Alder Springs TrailNo idea, seen along the Alder Springs Trail in Central Oregon.

Bird at Bluebill LakePossibly a flycatcher?

FlycatcherA flycatcher

Flycatcher?Flycatcher?

Bird at Second CreekAnother no clue, seen near a creek in the Ochoco Mountains.

BirdsCrossbills? (based on the crossed beaks)

Black headed grosebeakBlack headed grosebeak

Black phoebeBlack phoebe

California scrub jaysCalifornia scrub jays

Gray jayGray jay

Stellar's JayStellar’s jay

Pinyon JayPinyon jay

Clark's nutcrackerClark’s nutcracker

Brewer's blackbirdBrewer’s blackbird

Yellow headed blackbirdYellow headed blackbird

Red-winged blackbirdRed winged blackbird

StarlingStarling

Cedar waxwingsCedar waxwings

Common yellowthroatCommon yellowthroat

Dark eyed juncoDark eyed junco

Chestnut-backed chickadeeChestnut-backed chickadee

Mountain chickadeeMountain chickadee

Possibly and orange crowned warblerPossibly an orange crowned warbler

Ruby crowned kingletRuby crowned kinglet

FinchA finch

FinchA finch

Rosy (or purple) finchA finch

Green tailed towheeGreen-tailed towhee

Spotted towheeSpotted towhee

Pipit at Fern Ridge Wildlife AreaPipit

Townsend's solitaireTownsend’s solitaire

Robin, western bluebird and swallowsRobin, western bluebird and swallows

Mountain bluebirdMountain bluebird

Lazuli buntingLazuli bunting

Red breasted nuthatchRed breasted nuthatch

Yellow-rumped warblerYellow-rumped warbler

Western meadowlarkWestern meadowlark

Western tanagerWestern tanager – male

Western tanager femaleWestern tanager – female

Western wood-peweeWestern wood-pewee

Rufous sided hummingbirdRufous sided hummingbird

Chipping sparrowChipping sparrow?

White crowned sparrowsWhite crowned sparrows

Savannah sparrowSavannah sparrow

SparrowSparrow

SparrowSparrow?

Lark sparrowLark sparrow

Downy woodpeckerDowny woodpecker?

Lewis's woodpeckerLewis’s woodpecker

Northern flickerNorthern flicker

Red breasted sap suckerRed breasted sapsucker

WoodpeckerA woodpecker

WoodpeckerA woodpecker

KilldeerKilldeer

Mourning doveMourning dove

GrouseGrouse, leaning toward sooty

GrouseNot sure which type of grouse this is.

Ruffed grouseRuffed grouse?

Sage grouseSage grouse

California quailCalifornia quail

Turkeys at the Mitchell Point TrailheadTurkeys

RoosterRooster at Cape Arago State Park

CrowCrow

Turkey vultureTurkey vulture

Hawk? and a magpieA magpie and some sort of hawk

HawkA hawk

HawkHawk in flight

Coopers hawk?Cooper’s hawk?

HawkHawk in the Pueblo Mountains

Red tailed hawkRed-tailed hawk

Small raptor of some sortHawk or?

Northern harrierNorthern harrier

Osprey with a fishOsprey (with meal)

Bald eagleBald eagle

Great horned owlGreat horned owl

American kestralAmerican kestral

Common nighthawkCommon nightwawk

Northern shrikeNorthern shrike

CoyoteCoyote

Wild horses at Steens MountainWild horses at Steens Mountain

Cows near Elk Flat CreekNot wild cows along the Little Malhuer Trail

Deer at Ridgefield Wildlife RefugeColumbian black-tailed deer

DeerColumbian white-tailed deer

FawnMule deer fawn

Elk on McClellan MountainElk in the Aldrich Mountains

Mountain goatMountain goat

At the top of our list of animals we haven’t seen is a cougar (at a distance please), beaver, and porcupine along with a number of others. Good luck out there in 2022 and Happy Trails!

Categories
Hiking Year-end wrap up

2019 Wildlife Gallery

We had so much fun in 2018 putting together posts of the different species and varieties of wildlife and wildflowers we’d seen that year that we decided to do it again for 2019. While we didn’t see a lot of larger animals this year we did see a lot of pikas, frogs and toads, and a number of new birds.

In the spirit of Leave No Trace principles we do our best not to cause any distress to the wildlife we see by keeping our distance, not feeding them, and doing our best not to disturb or startle them in any way.

Starting out small-
Beetle on a blue dicks

Ladybug on a thimbleberry leaf

Beetle

Beetle in a rose

Green beetle

Green beetle

Dragon fly

Dragon fly

Bug shenanigans

Bee on showy phlox

Bumblebee on thistle

Wasp

Catapiller

Caterpillar

Wooly bear caterpillar

Millipede

Snail and a millipede

Slugs on skunk cabbage

Slug

Wolf spider

Crab spider

Spider on bluedicks

Spider fight

We didn’t see as many different moths and butterflies this year but we saw quite a few of several types.
Moth on the Boulder Lake Trail

Moth on rainiera

Blue copper

Blue copper on aster

Some sort of copper butterfly

Ruddy copper

Skipper

A skipper of some sort or a duskywing

Skipper

Buttefly on the Hertiage Trail

Butterfly on aster

Butterfly on the Tarbell Trail

Butterfly

Fritillary butterfly

Butterfly along the Wenaha River Trail

Butterfly on valerian

Butterfly

Butterfly

Butterfly on stonecrop

Butterflies on aster

Butterfly

Butterfly on a flower

It was a good year for reptiles and amphibians, especially frogs and toads.
Cascade toad

Toad

Western toad at Temple Lake

Frog

Frog

Frog

Frog

Frog

Frog on moss

Tree frog

Tadpole

Rough skinned newt on Amanda's Trail

Northern alligator lizard

Western fence lizard

Sagebrush lizard

Pygmy short horned lizard

Snake with an attitude

Water held a couple of creatures.
Crawdad

Fish in the Clackamas River

We had good luck with birds this year as well, being the one animal where we saw quite a few varieties for the first time (that we know of).
American goldfinch

Bald Eagle

Bird along the Boulder Lake Trail

Black-headed grosbeak

Bullock's Oriole

Canada geese

Chickadee

Clark's nutcracker

Duck on Monon Lake

Duck on Russ Lake

Ducks

Egret and great blue heron

Golden eagle being chased by a smaller raptor

Gray jay

Grouse

Hummingbird

Hummingbird on a mountain ash

Junco

Killdeer

Kingbird

Lazuli bunting

Lewis's woodpecker

Little bird along Trail 5

Mergansers

Merlin

Mountain chickadee

Northern flicker

Nuthatch

Osprey with Mt. Adams in the background

Ouzel at Sawmill Falls

Pied-billed grebe

Pileated woodpecker

Raven

Red breasted nuthatch

Red tailed hawk

Red-breasted sapsucker

Red-winged blackbird

Robin

Sparrow

Stellar's jay

Scrub jay

Swallow and a sparrow

Turkey

Turkey vulture

Varied thrush

White crowned sparrow

White pelicans

Wilson's snipe

Wood Ducks

Woodpecker

Wren

Yelllow rumped warbler

Yellow breasted chat

Yellow warbler

Yellow-throated warbler

Spotted towhee

Black-throated warbler

Small furry creatures included a number of our personal favorites the pika.
Pika

Chipmunk

GOlden-mantled ground squirrel

Ground squirrel

Belding's ground squirrel

Marmot

Squirrel

Rabbit

Finally the larger mamals which included the wildlife highlight of the year, watching a group of big horn sheep roughhousing on the far side of the Wenaha River canyon.
Big horn sheep

The deer near Wallowa Lake got into the roughhousing as well.
Deer in front of the Edelweiss Inn

Didn’t see many elk but these were at Zumwalt Prairie.
Elk

We spotted two coyotes in the brush at the Umatilla Wildlife Refuge. One’s head can be seen here as it was running off.
Coyote in the grass

There are still a handful of animals (that we are aware of) that we haven’t seen yet but continue to keep an eye out for. At the top of that list are cougar, bobcat, beaver, otter (Apparently there was one swimming in Crabtree Lake (post) while we were there this year but we didn’t notice it.) porcupine, wolf, and wolverine. The odds of seeing any of these are not in our favor, but they are out there and have probably seen us. Keeping an out for these and all the other animals we’ve seen or have yet to see is an additional motivation to get out and explore. Happy Trails (and tails)!

Categories
Coastal Range Hiking Oregon Trip report

Henry Haag Lake – 9/13/2019

A cloudy forecast with a chance for showers and a weekday off during the school year provided the perfect combination to visit Henry Haag Lake. The man made lake is located in the eastern foothills of the Coastal Range near Forest Grove and would be our 92nd featured hike from Sullivan’s Oregon Coast & Coast Range guidebook. The lake tends to be crowded during the summer and on weekends from Spring to Fall. Additionally the trail around the lake reportedly gets very slick and muddy during the wet seasons so a mid-September visit seemed like a good time to minimize encountering those conditions.

After paying the $7 day use fee for Scoggins Valley Park we drove across Scoggins Dam and parked at the Elks Picnic Area Trailhead.
IMG_8991

There are several trailheads around the lake but we chose this one due to it being close to the park entrance and giving us an opportunity to start with the walk across the dam which we preferred to get out of the way early.

It was an overcast morning but it was free of precipitation as we began our dam walk.
IMG_8997

It turned out to be a fairly entertaining half mile as we were treated to several bird sightings including at least one osprey diving for fish, a kingfisher noisily flying around, and a great blue heron standing on the rocks.
IMG_8998

IMG_9000The osprey flying over the water (All my zoomed in tries were super blurry.)

IMG_9004The kingfisher (also fairly blurry)

IMG_8996The heron

We had been following a path on the opposite side of the guardrail from the road but had to step over it to go around a fence at the end of the dam to reach a trail marked by a post.
IMG_9017

The trail around Haag Lake is broken up by several road walks and parking lot crossings, but when it was trail it was often surrounded by nice forest. For example beyond the dam the trail spent just over a tenth of a mile in the forest before popping out on a road to a boat ramp and the Dam Overlook.
IMG_9019

IMG_9020

IMG_9021

IMG_9023

The trail resumed at another post (the signage was very good all the way around the lake as long you ignore all the unmarked side trails down to the lake shore.
IMG_9024

For the next 1.2 miles the trail stayed in the forest before arriving at the Eagle Point Recreation Area.
IMG_9026

IMG_9028

IMG_9030

IMG_9032One of the side trails heading down to the left to the lake.

IMG_9036

IMG_9039

The cloud cover was breaking already breaking up as we arrived at Eagle Point.
IMG_9040

IMG_9041

After passing by an alien snag we once again entered the forest.
IMG_9043

IMG_9044

The trail bowed out and around an arm of the lake. It took a little over two miles to hike around this arm.
IMG_9048

IMG_9054

In the middle of the stretch was a brief stint on Scoggins Valley Road where a sign for Cedar Grove marked an abandoned section of trail.
IMG_9058

The current trail was a few hundred feet further along the road.
IMG_9059

IMG_9060

IMG_9061

IMG_9063

IMG_9064Scrub jay

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This pattern was repeated four more times over the next 7 miles around arms at Tanner, Wall, Scoggins, and Sain Creeks. The scenery changed consistently with signs of former farmland amid the creeks and stretches of forest.
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IMG_9092Spider in the forest.

IMG_9100Starting around the Tanner Creek arm.

IMG_9103An egret and a heron.

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IMG_9116Apples

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IMG_9131Deer across Scoggins Valley Road

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IMG_9153Canada geese

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IMG_9163Herons and geese at Wall Creek.

IMG_9167Road walk over Scoggins Creek.

IMG_9168Scoggins Creek

IMG_9173Scoggins Creek

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IMG_9187Coming up to the fishing pier and Recreation Area C.

IMG_9191Pacific University building.

IMG_9195Sain Creek Recreation Area

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IMG_9212Sain Creek

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After rounding the Sain Creek arm we entered the “dangerous” disc golf course.
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IMG_9218One of the disc golf holes.

IMG_9224Poison oak

After passing a grassy hillside the trail entered the nicest section of forest of the day.
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About a quarter mile from the Elks Picnic Area and our car we passed the Rainbow View parking area where we had one more good look at Henry Haag Lake before finishing with a road walk back to our car.
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IMG_9245Geese and seagulls on an island.

Road walks are always hard on the feet so when we were finally done with what our GPS said was a 14 mile loop ours were really sore. The hard pavement hadn’t been the only hard surface as the trail was often also very hard. The clay that can be so slick and muddy when wet also gets very hard and packed when it’s dry. Despite the sore feet (and what seemed like unending uphill climbs, although it was only about 500′ of total elevation gain) it did turn out to be a great time for the hike. We didn’t run into anyone else using the trail all day. There were a number of folks fishing, boating and hanging out at the parking areas but that was it. With the numerous parking areas it would be easy to break this up into shorter hikes over several trips.

Happy Trails!

Categories
Hiking Year-end wrap up

2018 Wildlife Gallery

We encountered a large variety of animals during our travels in 2018. A number of the animals we had not previously seen including a badger near Borax Springs (which we failed to get a photo of). Below is a sample of the many critters we encountered this year.

Seals in Nehalem BaySeals in Nehalem Bay

FrogTree frog – Patterson Mountain

Garter snakeGarter snake on Patterson Mountain

Crab spiderCrab spider – Lookout Creek Trail

Green beetle on the Carpenter Mountain TrailBeetle – Carpenter Mountain

ButterflyPale crescent near Macks Canyon

Gopher snakeGopher snake near Macks Canyon

Crowded thistleBeetles on thistle near Mack’s Canyon

CaterpillarCaterpillar along the Black Butte Trail

Green tailed towheeGreen tailed towhee on Black Butte

PigeonRock pigeon – Deschutes River

Merganser familyMerganser family – Deschutes River

Dragon flyDragon Fly – Deschutes River

LizardSagebrush Lizard – Deschutes River

PronghornPronghorn – Malheur Wildlife Refuge

Yellow headed blackbirdsYellow headed blackbird – Malheur Wildlife Refuge

Horned grebesHorned grebes – Malheur Wildlife Refuge

Great horned owlGreat horned owl – Malheur Wildlife Refuge

Lewis's woodpeckerLewis’s woodpecker – Malheur Wildlife Refuge

White Faced IbisWhite faced ibis – Malheur Wildlife Refuge

Yellow warblerYellow warbler – Malheur Wildlife Refuge

Western meadowlarkWestern meadowlark – Malheur Wildlife Refuge

Bullock's orioleBullock’s oriole – Malheur Wildlife Refuge

RabbitRabbit – Jordan Craters

MarmotMarmot – Jordan Craters

ChukarChukar – Leslie Gulch

CricketCricket – Leslie Gulch

Monarch butterflyViceroy- Leslie Gulch

Swallowtail in Timber GulchSwallow tail – Leslie Gulch

CicadaCicada – Leslie Gulch

Burrowing owlBurrowing owl near Leslie Gulch

Dragon flyDragon fly – Three Forks

ButterflyFritillary butterfly – Three Forks

PheasantPheasant – Pillars of Rome

Side blotched lizardSide blotched lizard – Chalk Basin

Collard LizardCollard lizard – Chalk Basin

Sandhill CranesSandhill Cranes near Steens Mountain

Jack rabbitjack rabbit – Borax Hot Springs

Horned lizardDesert horned lizard – Alvord Desert

Long nosed leopard lizardLong nosed leopard lizard – Alvord Desert

LizardWestern Fence Lizard – Pike Creek

SwallowtailSwallow tail – Myrtle Creek

ButterflySheridan’s hairstreak – Myrtle Creek

Orange- tip ButterflyOrange-tip butterfly – Myrtle Creek

Western kingbirdWestern kingbird – Cove Palisades State Park

Cascade toadCascade toad – Browder Ridge

Gray jayGray jay – Browder Ridge

HummingbirdRufous hummingbird – Horsepasture Mountain

GrouseGrouse – Horsepasture Mountain

WrenWren – French Creek Ridge

Butterfly on stonecropCheckerspot butterfly – French Creek Ridge

ChipmunkChipmunk near Hidden Forest Cave

Pygmy short horned lizardPygmy short horned lizard near Pictograph Cave

CaterpillarsCaterpillars – Strawberry Mountain Wilderness

Fish in Little Strawberry LakeTrout – Little Strawberry Lake

Doe at Slide LakeDoe – Slide Lake

Megarhyssa nortoniMegarhyssa nortoni

Great blue heronGreat blue heron – Newport Bay

SnakeSharp-tailed snake – Newport Bay

OspreyOsprey – South Beach

PikaPika – Mt. Jefferson Wilderness

HawkNorthern goshawk – Elkhorns

HawkRed tailed hawk – Elkhorns

Mountain goats across Lower Twin LakeMountain goats – Elkhorns

Mountain goat grazing near Lower Twin LakeMountain Goat – Elkhorns

Golden-mantled ground squirrelGolden mantled ground squirrel – Elkhorns

Mourning cloakMourning cloak – Elkhorns

Beetle at Summit LakeBeetle – Summit Lake

Bee on coneflowerBumble bee – Crawfish Lake

FinchFinch – Crawfish Lake

Bald eagleBald Eagle – Waldo Lake

WoodpeckerHairy woodpecker – Rigdon Lakes

Blue copper butterflyBlue copper – Rockpile Lake

Buttefly at Carl LakeTortoiseshell butterfly – Carl Lake

Varied thrushVaried thrush – Carl Lake

Frogs on a logFrogs – Table Lake

Clarks nutcrackerClarks nutcracker – Mt. Jefferson Wilderness

OuzelOuzel – Pamelia Lake

JuncoJunco – Pamelia Lake

FrogFrog – Taylor Lake

Birds on the beachSanderlings – John Dellenback Beach

SquirrelDouglas squirrel – John Dellenback Dunes Trail

EgretGreat egret – Mud Lake

Bird at Mud LakeWilson’s snipe – Mud Lake

Elk along Elk River RoadElk on the way to Barklow Mt.

StarfishStarfish – Bandon, Oregon

CrabCrab – Bandon, Oregon

AnemonesAnemones – Bandon, Oregon

Turkey vultureTurkey Vulture – Bandon, Oregon

Seagull and a marbled godwit in the Coquile RiverSeagull and a marbled godwit in the Coquile River

Black turnstones along the North JettyBlack turnstones – North Jetty, Bandon, Oregon

PelicansBrown pelicans – Bullards Beach State Park

MinkMink – Sprague River

White pelicans and a seagullWhite pelicans – Tule Lake National Wildlife Refuge

Snowy egret at Tule Lake National Wildlife RefugeSnowy egret – Tule Lake National Wildlife Refuge

Stellars jayStellar’s jay – Fish Lake

MuskratMuskrat – Lake of the Woods

Dragon flyDragon fly – Lake of the Woods

GeeseCanada geese – Lake of the Woods

CaterpillarCaterpillar – Lake of the Woods

CormorantsCormorants – Link River

American cootsAmerican coots – Link River

MallardsMallards – Pond near Lake Ewauna

Northern shovelerNorthern shoveler – Pond near Lake Ewauna

Northern flickerNorthern flicker – Link River Trail

Scrub jayScrub jay – Link River Trail

Western grebeWestern grebe – Link River

Hooded mergansersHooded mergansers – Link River

BuffleheadsBuffleheads – Siltcoos Lake

Rough skinned newtRough skinned newt – Jessie M. Honeyman State Park

SparrowSparrow – Jessie M. Honeyman State Park

Anna's hummingbirdAnna’s hummingbird – Jessie M. Honeyman State Park

Ring-necked ducksRing-necked ducks – Jessie M. Honeyman State Park

Spotted towheeSpotted towhee – Jessie M. Honeyman State Park

That’s a pretty good sample of the different wildlife we spotted this year, but we still often wonder how much wildlife we don’t notice on our hikes. Happy Trails!