Headed up the I-5 in Oregon and turned east on I-84 into the Columbia River Gorge. Immediately encountered strong winds that demonstrated the fact that the gorge acts as a tunnel for winds. Planned to stay at a state park near Portland, but that didn’t happen. Ended up at The Deschutes River State Recreation Area that I stayed at before just past The Dalles. Next time, for sure, I’ll stay near Portland and explore the forests and waterfalls in that area.

Above, the John Day Dam as seen from the Washington side of the river and wind turbines on the Washington side. They are going to get all the power they can get.

Part of a Google data center on the Columbia River in The Dalles. There are no signs identifying the complex as Google, but I got the address from searching on Google and a nearby business confirmed it. It is surrounded by a fence and there were several security patrols. The structure on the roof surrounds pipes.

A very large family of Canada geese at the campground. Had to watch where you stepped on the grass because of all the geese.

Lincoln sparrow, above, goldfinch below.

Traveled another stretch of a little over 100 miles to Southwest Idaho to visit  Deer Flat National Wildlife Refuge. This area, outside Boise, is made up of farmland and housing developments along the Snake River. There are many developments with roads put in and maybe one or two houses surrounded by weeds. The race to cover all the land with housing developments appears to have come to an abrupt halt.

The predominant birds in the area seem to be blackbirds and quail. Above, a male and a female yellow headed blackbird. Below, quail posing for me at the rv park I’m staying at.

Started seeing magpies in Southeast Oregon.

Osprey nest at the refuge.

Wild rose seen all over the area. They have a cinnamon-like smell.

Below, American goldfinch.

I came to Eureka to see the Humboldt Bay Wildlife Refuge. Noticed a lot of egrets and saw that there was a rookery across the road from the refuge on private property in a grove of tall trees. The egrets are going to the refuge for food and water and then flying back to the trees with one twig. It will take a lot of trips to make a nest at that rate. There was constant traffic to and from the rookery. I walked up to the trees, but you can’t see much, the egrets are so high up. You can hear a lot of activity going on. While they are safe from ground predators, there are eagles, hawks, crows and vultures circling above the trees.

Barn swallow at the refuge visitor center.

Song sparrow

Went to visit the Arcata Marsh and Wildlife Sanctuary that is part of their wastewater treatment system. The marsh wren above was singing away. Did not seem to mind my presence.

A large flock of (Caspian) terns on the sand spit at the mouth of the Klamath River

Love seeing pelicans fly in formation.

A sweathouse on Yurok ceremonial grounds located a mile or so from the rv park at the mouth of the Klamath River.

Newton B. Drury Parkway in Prairie Creek Redwood State Park.

Fern Canyon at Gold Bluffs Beach in Prairie Creek Redwood State Park. Water running down the sides of the cliffs have allowed ferns to grow for thousands of years. Next time I’ll remember to bring water sandals and a tripod.

A varied thrush  seen near Fern Canyon with a worm and insect in its’ beak.

Largest antlers seen at Gold Bluffs Beach.

Lots of goldfinches (below) seen near the coast. Not a great picture, but the only one I could get.

Scenes from the Olympic Discovery Trail. That is the Dungeness River by the Dungeness River Audubon Center. The last picture shows the Johnson Creek Trestle near Sequim Bay State Park. The trail cuts through the center of the park.

Stayed at Sequim Bay State Park a few days. It’s a nice park, but for some reason it is not always full, like nearby Fort Flagler and Fort Worden State Parks. Top picture is Sequim Bay at low tide and the lower picture is a trail leading down to it through tall trees and ferns.

Dark eyed junco. It has a worm in the lower picture.

Have not seen a lot of birds here. Mid-summer is not the best time of year for bird watching. There are lots of robins, swallows, and goldfinches. Have seen a couple of eagles, but they have been high up on tall trees where it was hard to get a good picture. Saw a few blue herons, but restrained myself from taking a picture.

Anderson Lake State Park, a day use park, was just a mile or so from where I stayed in Chimacum. It was closed to boating, fishing and any physical contact with the water because of a toxic blue-green algae bloom. There were no birds on the lake or any signs of fish. Several dogs died from drinking the water.