Stayed at Bruneau Dunes State Park for a few days.

Part of the C.J. Strike Wildlife Management Area is just a mile down the road from the park. While walking down a path towards the Snake River and duck ponds, I heard a bird I could not identify or see. Finally, I looked above me to see a northern harrier who seemed upset by my presence. It started to dive bomb me. Most of my pictures did not turn out, because it was flying so fast the camera didn’t have time to focus (while I was simultaneously ducking). Luckily I got a few. Harriers often nest on the ground, so I assume it was protecting a nest. I retreated so as not to disturb it any more.

A bird so often heard, but not often seen, a meadowlark.

Below, lark sparrows near the campground.

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.

Drove inland 60 miles from Arroyo City to Alamo, before a three-day cold spell hit. I’m staying at the same rv park I stayed at last year, right next to the expressway. It is hard to find a nice and affordable place to stay in this area. I arrived in about 4 layers of  clothes, because a cold wind had been blowing when I hooked up that morning. The clerk at the rv park asked me if I was cold. It was in the 60′s here, with no cold wind, so I was able to remove 3 of the extraneous layers. In Arroyo City there was very poor internet coverage, so I’m thrilled with the great coverage in a regular city like Alamo.

Was pleasantly surprised on visiting Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge to see a number of birds. There were a large variety of birds in a small lake and marsh. I don’t recall seeing such a variety of birds intermingle before. There were white pelicans, roseate spoonbills, black-necked stilts, egrets, both great and snowy, white-faced ibis’, sandpipers and others. Wonder if it was because of the expected cold spell or maybe strong winds near the ocean pushed them inland. One pelican had a green tag with number 398 on it. So far, no luck in finding its’ origin.

Although it had often been cold since I arrived in South Texas, the three-days of hard freezes at night here in Alamo were the first time it has gotten down to freezing. You can see it damaged some tender plants. Workers were busy in a lot of farm fields harvesting crops before the freeze arrived. It appears to back to the 60′s in the day and 40′s at night now. Texas came out better than Florida.

White-faced ibis’

There were a pair of Altamira orioles eating something in the bark of trees…sap?

Green-tailed towhee An olive sparrow

Long-billed thrasher

Below, picture taken on a rainy day, several days after the others.

Top picture: broad-winged hawk

Bottom two pictures: crested caracara (the Mexican eagle).

House (top) and marsh (bottom) wrens. They are elusive, fast moving guys.

Swamp sparrow

Heron’s have to be the curmudgeons of the bird world.

Below, watched a group of white pelicans work their way along a shore, forming a circle to catch fish. They did this over and over, swimming a few feet, then forming the circle. Reminded me of an old dance movie.

Drove from Riverside to Cave Creek Regional Park above Phoenix, Arizona. When I got to Blythe it seemed to early to stop, so I continued on to the campground. It’s a very nice park with lots of birds. The weather was in the 90′s during the day, however, so I just stayed the one night.

Phainopepla

A black-throated sparrow

Blue-gray-gnatcatcher

Cactus wren

From Phoenix I went on to Cottonwood, Arizona and Dead Horse Ranch State Park. Cottonwood is around 10 degrees cooler than Phoenix. The park is very popular and people are coming and going all the time. It is not just a weekend park.

It is just the second time I’ve driven on the I-17 that connects the I-8 and I-40. It has a significant grade, but it’s worth it to get away from the heat of Southern Arizona.

Gambel’s quail

Canyon wren

A brown creeper