Wildflower Season Has Begun

Prepare yourselves for a lot of purple!  It's wildflower season once again.

Grass widows are back

Blooming grass widow flowers herald the arrival of spring in the Eastern Columbia River Gorge.  The first wildflower to boom, these tiny, purple beauties begin to cover slopes adjacent to the river.

The riversides are covered in purple dots

In early March, reports of the wildflowers getting started began to circulate on social media.  Time to take a break from skiing and check things out!

Grass widow frenzy

I picked a sunny day for my visit, and drove nearly two hours to the Catherine Creek area on the Washington side of the Gorge.

These little flowers herald the arrival of spring

Being on the eastern side of the Cascades, this area is much warmer and drier than the Western Gorge, and has much earlier wildflower blooms.  It has the reputation of being the first place to see spring wildflowers.  In milder winters, I've seen flowers sprout as early as mid-February.  However, they usually hold off until March rolls around.

Nice cluster

The Catherine Creek area boasts many trails for hikers and wildflower lovers to explore.  Its steep, mostly treeless slopes rise steeply above the Columbia River, offering spectacular views for those hardy enough to tackle the uphill climb.

Blooming amongst the rocks

After parking, instead of heading straight uphill, I decided to first check out the 1-mile paved loop trail on the opposite side of the road that wandered through the grasslands adjacent to the river.  This turned out to be a great choice, as these slopes were colored with thousands of tiny purple dots.  I'd hit the bloom at it's peak!

A lighter shade of purple

After slowly sauntering along this path, taking in spectacular river views as well as taking copious photos, it was time to cross the road and explore one of the higher trails.

Looking back towards the river

The grass widow bloom on this side of the road didn't disappoint either!  From the very beginning I was treated to a wonderful display of tiny, purple blooms, coloring the open slopes.

Twins

I picked a familiar trail that took me towards a sturdy bridge crossing Catherine Creek.  From there, I climbed steeply up the creek's opposite canyon to a great viewpoint of the Columbia River, the Oregon side of the Gorge, and Mt. Hood's very tip.

Mt Hood anchors the horizon

Although I was enjoying the sunny skies and great light, the only downside was the wind.  The Columbia River Gorge has a breezy reputation that it lived up to today!  The wind made taking close up images of the individual blooms difficult.  However, with a bit of patience I was able to capture a few that turned out.

Growing in the shadow of a downed tree

Following a user path further uphill, I came to the top of a tall canyon.  By now it was well past noon, so I found a sunny spot to sit and enjoy my PB & J sandwich amongst the wildflowers.

So dainty and colorful!

After wandering uphill for more than a mile, it was time to return to the parking area.  I followed another path through a grove of oak trees, all the time keeping an eye out for the Lewis woodpeckers that make their home here.  (I heard one but was never able to spot it.)

Catherine Creek rock arch

Further downhill, the path led me through the heart of the canyon created by Catherine Creek.  I  passed by an old fence and corral area, part of a bygone ranch.  Looking uphill to the east, I was treated to views of a spectacular basalt cliff and a well-known arch formed by erosion.

In the spotlight

A wildflower hike in the sunny eastern Gorge was a good use of this beautiful spring day.  I came home with a memory card full of cheerful purple flower images.  

May all these grass widow photos brighten your day!

Frozen Falls

As I've posted many, many times before, Oregon's Columbia River Gorge is home to a great number of lovely waterfalls.  They are wonderful to visit any time of the year (and I do!) but when a winter cold snap hits, these frozen cascades are especially stunning.

Latourell Falls

Many times the waterfalls freeze during winter storms, which also bring terribly icy roads that make visiting difficult, if not risky.  In mid-February, a gusty east wind began to blow through the gorge.  East winds in winter are particularly brutal, as they carry frigid temperatures from the colder interior of Oregon to the temperate west side.  But one positive result - these chilly gales caused the waterfalls in the gorge to freeze but didn't affect the roads.  Taking advantage of the good driving conditions, I packed up my camera one blustery morning and headed over to check things out.

Latourell Fall's icy base area

The first cascade on my winter tour was the always scenic Latourell Falls.  Access to the base area's splash pool required a quarter mile walk down a paved path.  With the high winds blowing the waterfall's spray everywhere, the last hundred feet of this path had a thick layer of ice covering everything.  Luckily, from past experience, I'd brought traction for my feet in the form of a pair of microspikes.  These devices acted as chains on my shoes, keeping me safe from slips and falls.

Frozen creek below the falls

Most people visiting the falls wore street shoes and wisely stopped short of the icy path.  But my microspikes enabled me to walk down to Latourell Fall's base area for some great shots of the ice-covered splash pool.  I encountered one man without any type of traction who had gingerly slipped down to this same area.  (I have no idea how he managed to get there without falling and injuring himself!)  However, when the time came for the man to walk back uphill, the path was so slippery he couldn't ascend.  Lucky for him, the trail was a loop, so he was able to return to the parking lot via a longer route in the opposite direction.

Ice coats everything in the splash pool

Although the water cascading down Latourell Falls wasn't freezing, the spray blowing off it was.  It coated everything around it in a thick layer of ice.  Some of the features created by these wind-borne water droplets were quite beautiful.

But the spray caused problems for me.  It formed a fine layer of frost on my camera lens that required continuous wiping to keep clear.  Although I was wearing gloves, my hands became quite cold.  Standing in the strong wind that was blowing icy water all around, it didn't take long before my entire body was chilled.  Time to head back to the car and warm up!

Mother Nature's ice sculptures over Wahkeena Creek

After sitting in my car with heater running for a bit (and firing up my heated seats - the best!) I headed over to visit Sheppard's Dell Falls and then Bridal Veil Falls.  Although I took photos at both places, they didn't have the interesting ice features that Latourell did.  After warming up a bit after each waterfall, I then headed down the road to Wahkeena Falls.  And here I struck gold!

More fancy icicles

To reach Wahkeena Falls required a half mile uphill hike.  However, I first found icy beauty right next to the parking area.  Wahkeena Creek flowed downhill past the roadway and the bushes dangling above the water sported numerous delicate icicles.  This fun photography session delayed my trip to the waterfall by several minutes.

Large icy branch at the base of Wahkeena Falls

But the best was yet to come!  Finally reaching Wahkeena Fall's base area I was blown away by the amazing ice sculptures surrounding this cascade.

Icicles coat the waterfall's sides

Huge icicles had formed on a large branch sticking out of the splash pool.  Rounded ice features littered the walls surrounding the creek.  And many more icicles dangled from the cliffs on either side of Wahkeena Falls.  The entire area around this waterfall was coated in a thick layer of white ice.  It was a thing of beauty to behold!

The entire area is coated in white!

Although I'd planned to end my trip at Multnomah Falls, the grand dame of the gorge waterfalls, by the time I had finished photographing Wahkeena Falls, my body was chilled to the bone.  Time to head home and warm up for good.  

Another view of Wahkeena Falls

The following day the entire Portland metro area was hit with a snowstorm.  Although only receiving an inch or two of snow, it was enough to mess up the roads everywhere.  In the gorge, a large amount of accidents on the freeway near Multnomah Falls ended up stranding over 100 vehicles.  I was doubly glad I'd ventured out to see the frozen waterfalls before the storm hit.

Slippery paths, icy spray coating camera lenses, cold hands and feet, and frigid wind chilling a body to the bone.  These are things we photographers endure to capture these stunning creations of Mother Nature.  Hope you enjoyed the photos!

More Drama at the Duck Pond

Are you all ready for part two?

I often take walks around a local suburban park hoping to see aquatic birds fishing for dinner.  In case you missed my last post, I shared photos captured at this neighborhood duck pond of two cormorants fighting over a fish one of them had just caught.  

This little Pied-billed grebe caught a large carp

A couple weeks after my first photo encounter, I was back again scanning the pond surface for diving waterfowl.  I spied a Pied-billed grebe near one end and began to watch the little guy repeatedly dive and surface.  I hoped he'd eventually come up with a fish.

Trying to swallow the fish....but it was too big

After about 5 minutes, my patience paid off.  The grebe surfaced with a good sized carp in his beak.  He swirled it around in the water, and then tried to swallow his catch.  But it appeared the fish was too big for the little grebe's throat.  The grebe hoisted the fish into his beak again and again, but to no avail.

Then two cormorants tried to take the fish away

Now for the drama.....two cormorants suddenly appeared out of nowhere and began to harass the grebe.  They wanted his fish.

Lots of mayhem ensued!

But the little grebe wasn't giving up without a fight.  He swung his fish-laden beak around and around, and swam as fast as he could hoping to evade the thieves.

The grebe tried in vain to evade his attackers

When he wasn't dodging his attackers, the grebe tried desperately to swallow his fish, hoping to get it down before it got taken away.

Then the grebe tried desperately to swallow his catch

Sadly, the fish was too big for the grebe's mouth, and try as he might, it wasn't going down.

Another frantic swallowing attempt

After about about 5 minutes of commotion, one cormorant was able to swoop in and grab the grebe's fish, and immediately gulp it down.  The entire thing happened so fast, and was so unexpected, I wasn't able to capture it with my camera. 

In the end, the cormorants made a successful steal

Defeated, the grebe dejectedly swam away, to begin diving for another (hopefully smaller) fish.

And a blue heron coming in for a landing

And just as I was ready to head for home, a blue heron flew across the pond, and landed on a nearby rock.  Since my camera was still set from the fishie drama, I was able to catch him in flight.

Hope you've enjoyed this installment of "drama at the duck pond!"

Drama at the Duck Pond

Time for a few wildlife photos!

As I've mentioned in prior posts, there's a neighborhood park close to my home with a large pond.  This water body is home to all types of waterfowl.  Since ducks are there year-round, long ago my family nick-named it the "duck pond."  But not only ducks, this suburban park is home to all types of feathered fauna.

A cormorant caught a nice fish

During winter months, cormorants and pied-billed grebes dive for fish that live in the pond.  I enjoy strolling around the pond with my camera, in hopes to catch one of these birds with a fish in their beak.

Flipping his catch around

Every once and awhile I get lucky.  One day in mid-January I was watching two cormorants as they dived underwater.  After several minutes of observation, one of them came up with a good-sized bullhead in his beak.  

Catching the fish in his mouth

This was the photo op I'd been waiting for.  Training my lens on the bird, I fired off multiple shots.  The cormorant didn't eat his catch right away.  He flipped the fish around and dipped it in and out of the water.  I think he was positioning the fish for ease of swallowing.

Another cormorant tried to steal the fish

Suddenly another cormorant burst out of the water and tried to steal the fish from his buddy.

The first bird beat a hasty retreat

Lots of wing flapping and splashing ensued.  Luckily, I had my lens focused on the birds, and furiously snapped away. 

"Stay away from my lunch!"

The first cormorant tried to get away from his aggressor.  With some quick swimming moves, and a bit more flapping, he beat a hasty retreat. 

Quickly swallowing the fish 

With the second bird in hot pursuit, the cormorant had no choice but to hastily swallow his catch to prevent it from getting stolen.

An amused blue heron looks on

What a great bit of drama to capture!  I've discovered the more I visit the duck pond, the greater my chances are of catching these waterfowl in action.  

And that's not the only excitement I've recently witnessed here.  Come back for my next post and I'll share photos from another encounter with my feathered friends.

A Winter Waterfall

I love to photograph waterfalls.  Lucky for me, Northwest Oregon boasts many beautiful cascades, many just a short drive from home.  Although waterfalls make wonderful photo subjects any time of the year, I think winter is the absolute best time to capture them.

East Fork Hood River surrounded by frosty trees

Located in the Northeast foothills of Mt. Hood, Tamanawas Falls is hands down the top waterfall to visit during winter months.  Merely a 2-mile hike (or snowshoe) to reach, it's also quite accessible.

More white beauty

One late December day, I saw that the mountain had received a fresh coat of new snow.  Time for a trip to my favorite wintertime waterfall!

White trees close-up

Arriving at the trailhead, I noticed a good six inch layer of powder covering everything.  From past visits, I knew this popular winter trail often got packed solid quickly and snowshoes weren't always necessary.  However, the snow looked deep enough, and since I wasn't sure what conditions would be further up the trail, I elected to strap on my snowshoes anyway.  Better to have them than not!

Snowmen surround the Cold Spring Creek bridge

From the parking area, the trail first crossed over the East Fork of Hood River via a tall, wooden footbridge.  The trees lining the river were coated with frost, making it a most lovely scene.  Although I'd planned to head straight to the waterfall, I couldn't resist taking a few minutes to make several images of all this beauty.

Cold Spring Creek, even more lovely with snow

Beyond this first bridge, I trudged a half mile uphill before losing all that elevation, as the trail took me downhill to a crossing of Cold Spring Creek.  

Someone built snowmen on the bridge rails!

Cold Spring Creek is a gorgeous little stream, bubbling though mossy rocks, its waters an icy blue hue.  The creek bank was lined with an impressive forest of fir and cedar trees.  I always make it a point to stop here and get a few photographs.

Upstream view of Cold Spring Creek

A surprise was waiting for me.  Someone had built a dozen small snowmen at one side of the footbridge crossing Cold Spring Creek.  Not only that, three tiny snowpeople had also been perched on the bridge rails.  Seeing these cute snow creations, I couldn't help but smile.

Mother Nature's flocking

From Cold Spring Creek, I trekked onward.  As suspected, despite the prior night's snowfall, the trail was packed solid snow.  Although they provided some traction, my snowshoes were not necessary.  However, having no way to strap them to my backpack, I elected to keep snowshoes on my feet for the duration - easier to wear than carry.

First view of the falls

The trail followed Cold Spring Creek as it rushed along its snowy banks.  Powder-dusted bushes and trees lining the creek were all quite lovely.  I navigated a large rockslide slope, clambering up a very steep and slippery grade - thankful that my snowshoes provided sufficient traction.

The waterfall is surrounded by white vegetation

And just when I was starting to wonder if I'd ever reach that waterfall, I rounded a corner and there it was!  Plunging 100 feet over a tall basalt cliff at the end of a picturesque mountain valley, Tamanawas Falls was a sight for sore eyes.

Tamanawas Falls base area

The waterfall was surrounded by a forest of white-shrouded trees and bushes.  Although it had been snowing the prior evening, early winter temperatures had not been cold enough yet to form icicles from its top.  (Later in the winter these ice formations can be quite dramatic.)  But the newly fallen snow made for a gorgeous winter scene.

Looking good in white!

I shuffled up to the waterfall's base area hoping for some close up photos.  But if I got too close the cascade's spray began to freeze on my camera lens.  In the end, my best images came from further away.

More Cold Spring Creek views on the return trip

I sat, enjoyed a snack, and admired the beautiful waterfall I'd snowshoed 2 miles to see.  During that time a few other people came and went - most just snapped a few pictures before heading right back.

Snow-covered leaves

After a good hour spent photographing and generally admiring this wonderful winter scene, it was time to trek back to my car.  I clomped along the packed snow trail, feeling a bit sheepish for wearing snowshoes when nearly everyone I met were using microspikes or yaktrax.  However, I did see a few people without any kind of traction devices on their feet, and wondered how they would be able to climb that slippery slope through the rockslide area.

This fallen log gives an idea of snowfall amount

I took my time on the return trip, stopping to photograph a few interesting spots I'd noticed on the way in.  Back at the Cold Spring Creek bridge, I was disappointed to see that someone had knocked down the cute snowmen from the bridge rail.  Seems like there's always one grinch that ruins it for everyone!

Another view of the footbridge

Approaching the trailhead once again, the midday sun was now out in full force, quickly melting the morning's frost from all the tree branches.  Now I was thankful that I'd photographed the trees at the beginning of my hike.

Parting view as the snow was starting melt

It was a great morning to be outside in a winter wonderland and visit a favorite waterfall.