Category: wildlife

Ridgefield Wildlife Refuge

On By stefrobrtsIn birds, photography, wildlifeLeave a comment

I spent a bit of time at Ridgefield this year enjoying capturing photos of the birds. I have not been doing much photography, and I thought birding might be something I would enjoy. I do enjoy it, I enjoy watching birds and photographing them, but the need for ever longer lenses is a real handicap in pursuing it as a hobby. What I can get with my 200mm lens has been nice. In the winter the Refuge is very much a target-rich environment, particularly if you like Blue Herons:

Swans are seasonal visitors.

The deer here are some endangered Columbia River variety

Also: little brown jobs

Egrets, I think?

Coyotes

And, if you are lucky enough to see them, raptors:

And the most rare and exciting sight, owls!

He brought his own lunch!

Red Breasted Sap Sucker

On By stefrobrtsIn birds, photography, TheRancho, wildlife1 Comment

May 2023

This guy showed up in my backyard and I got a few shots of him. Apparently they drill holes in a tree, and then lick up the sap that runs out. So I don’t know if they are bad for trees (this guy was on my neighbor’s Birch Tree. I hope not! Cute little bird though, and he didn’t seem to mind me coming out into the yard to get closer for a picture.

Possum!

On By stefrobrtsIn barclay, mighty, navi, sake, sitka, wildlifeLeave a comment

Sake and Sitka were visiting a couple weeks ago when I heard the dogs going absolutely nuts in the backyard. I ran out to see what the big deal was, and there was a giant Possum crossing the waterpark!

He was HUGE!
And in true possum fashion, he decided the best thing to do was freeze. Which allowed the dogs to go nuts even longer than if he had just continued across the field.
I finally called the dogs inside, and then he continued his slow meander to go hide in the clump of trees at the North end of the field.
Mighty was just glad the dogs were harassing someone other than her for a change.
_