Yellow Bells “Fritillaria pudica”

January 26th, 2012

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Yellow Bells “Fritillaria pudica” Yellow Bells,  Lily Family (Liliaceae). Perennial, Small scaly bulbs, plant 4-10″ tall, bright clear yellow flowers turn orange to dull red as they age, early spring in moist areas that dry up in Summer. Cascade Mts. and eastward in OR & WA and the Siskiyous.  Photo: Catherine Creek near Lyle, WA in the Columbia River Gorge  3/13/2007

Prostrate Ceanothus “Ceanothus prostratus”

January 25th, 2012

Prostrate Ceanothus “Ceanothus prostratus” Buckthorn Family (Rhamnaceae)  Prostate shrub 2-8′ wide, leaves green, leathery and conspicuously toothed, small blue to white flowers in many clusters.  Blooms early summer in S.E. OR and in the OR Cascades.   Photo:  Near Mt Bachelor, OR 6/06/2011

Green Manzanita “Arctostaphylos patula”

January 24th, 2012

Green Manzanita “Arctostaphylos patula” Heath Family (Ericaceae) Shrub, 3-7′ tall, leaves leathery and green, flowers pink and urn shaped, berries dark brown to black.  Blooms late spring in the Oregon Cascades.  Photo:  Near Mt Bachelor, OR 6/07/2011

Grass Widow “Olsynium douglasii var douglasii”

January 23rd, 2012

Grass Widow “Olsynium douglasii var douglasii”, Iris Family (Iridaceae). Perennial, plants 6-12″ tall, flowers lavender, occasionally magenta or white,  3/4-1″ diameter, blooms in early spring in moist open areas that dry out in summer.    Widespread in the Pacific Northwest with the exception of N.W. OR. and S.W. WA.   Photo: Catherine Creek near Lyle, WA. 3/13/2007

Carey’s Balsamroot “Balsamorhiza careyana”

January 22nd, 2012

Carey’s Balsamroot “Balsamorhiza careyana” Sunflower Family (Asteraceae)  Perennial, 8-24″ tall, leaves heart shaped with white venation, 8-13 yellow ray flowers.  Blooms late spring in S.E. WA and N.E. OR.  Photo: Near Stein’s Pillar east of Prineville, OR  6/062011  

White Crowned Sparrow “Zonotrichia leucophrys”

January 19th, 2012

White Crowned Sparrow “Zonotrichia leucophrys”,   Length 7 inches, wingspan 9.5 inches and weight 1 ounce.  Widespread in the Pacific Northwest.  Photo:  Cape Lookout near Tillamook, OR  4/03/2008

Great Blue Heron “Ardea herodias”

January 18th, 2012

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Top Photo is a Great Blue Heron that walked along side my car for about 80 feet and I took a picture up close and personal.  03/04/2011

Great Blue Heron “Ardea herodias”  Length 46″. wingspan 72″ and weight 5.3 lbs,  This long legged bird is commonly seen wading in shallow ponds throughout the United States.  Bottom Photo: Ridgefield Wildlife Sanctuary near Vancouver, WA 01/18/2012

 

Fetid Adder’s Tongue “Scoliopus hallii”

January 17th, 2012

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Fetid Adder’s Tongue “Scoliopus hallii”, Lily family (Liliaceae). Perennial, plant 2-5″ tall, flowers approx 1/2″ diameter, sepals yellow and mottled purple, narrow upright petals, early spring in deep shaded woods west of the Cascade Mts.  The bright yellow is pollen in an anther that has split open. Photo: Wilson River Hwy near Tillamook, OR 3/13/2009

Bufflehead “Bucephala albeola”

January 12th, 2012

Bufflehead “Bucephala albeola”  Length 13″, wingspan 21″ and weight 13 oz.  The head in the male is dark and iridescent and the back of the head is white.  The female is gray with a white cheek patch and she nests in tree cavities.  This is our smallest duck.  Photo:  Ridgefield National Wildlife Reserve near Vancouver, WA 3/21/2011

Northern Harrier ‘Circus cyaneus”

January 11th, 2012

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Northern Harrier “Circus cyaneus”  Length 18″, Wingspan 43″ and weight 15 oz.  This is a female (males are gray with black wing tips). This hawk is generally seen flying low over fields and marshes and is easily identified by its conspicuous white rump when it is in flight. Photo:  Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge near Vancouver, WA 01/11/2012