Sauntering Oregon Blog

Brown’s Peony “Paeonia brownii”

koskela50 — Fri, 18 May 2012 07:00:10 +0000

Brown’s Peony “Paeonia brownii” Peony Family (Paeoniaceae). Perennial, Plant 8-24″ tall, flowers 3-4″ in diameter, the petals are red and edged with yellow. Found east of the Cascade Mountains, This is the only native peony in North America and it is both handsome and intriguing. Photo: Near Elgin, OR. 5/04/2007

Western Meadowrue “Thalictrum occidentale”

koskela50 — Thu, 17 May 2012 07:00:01 +0000

Western Meadowrue “Thalictrum occidentale” Buttercup Family (Ranunculaceae). Perennial, plant 1-3′ tall, sepals 4-5, petals none, 6-9 dark red styles 2-3mm long, small multiply divided leaves, moist shady places. Top photo: female plant on Saddle Mt. near Seaside, OR 5/13/2005 and the Bottom photo is a male plant blooming at the same location on the same date.

Yellow-headed Blackbird

koskela50 — Wed, 16 May 2012 07:51:23 +0000

Yellow-headed Blackbird “Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus” Length 9.5″, wingspan 15″ and weight 2.3 oz. Adult males have a white patch of white feathers on the leading edge of their wings. Found throughout OR and WA but not along the coast. These birds are found among the cat tails in swampy areas and are conspicuously raucous. Top Photo: Male near Burns OR 5/07/2012, Middle Photo: Females near Burns, OR 5/07/2012 and Lower Photo: Male near Burns, OR 6/18/2009

Golden Eagle “Aqula chrysaetos”

koskela50 — Tue, 15 May 2012 07:38:10 +0000

Golden Eagle “Aqula chrysaetos” Length 39″, wingspan 80″ and weight 10 lbs. Found in mountainous areas throughout the Pacific Northwest. This gorgeous bird is giving me the keen eye and it flew away shortly after I took the picture. Photo: Near Burns, OR 5/07/2012

Clark’s Grebe “Aechmophorus occidentalis”

koskela50 — Mon, 14 May 2012 07:52:08 +0000

Clark’s Grebe “Aechmophorus occidentalis” Length 25″, wingspan 24″ and weight 3.1 lbs. Similar to Western Grebe which has dark feathers around the eye. These attractive red-eyed birds engage in dramatic water walking” during the breeding season but the actual courtship involves rising high in the water and touching their breasts and beaks together for several seconds. Photo: Near Burns, OR 5/07/2012

California Quail “Callipepla californica”

koskela50 — Fri, 11 May 2012 07:00:06 +0000

California Quail “Callipepla californica” Length 10″, wingspan 14″ and weight 6 ounces. Top Photo: Malheur Field Station near Burns, OR 5/06/2012 and Bottom photo 3/14/2012

Yellow Warbler “Dendroica petechia”

koskela50 — Thu, 10 May 2012 07:35:24 +0000

Yellow Warbler “Dendroica petechia” Length 4 inches, wingspan 8 inches and weight 0.33 ounces. Photo: Malheur Wildlife Refuge near Burns, OR 5/06/2012

Sagebrush Violet “Violet trinervata”

koskela50 — Wed, 09 May 2012 07:09:30 +0000

Sagebrush Violet “Violet trinervata” Violet Family (Violaceae). Perennial, plant 2-3″ tall; leaves leathery; 2 purple upper petals and 3 violet lower petals with yellow throat. Spring flowering in sagebrush areas in Central WA & OR and near the OR./ID border. Photo: Near Maupin, OR. 4/06/2007

Lewis Woodpecker “Melanerpes lewis”

koskela50 — Tue, 08 May 2012 07:00:18 +0000

Lewis Woodpecker “Melanerpes lewis” Length 10″, wingspan 21″ and weight 4oz. This brightly colored woodpecker’s diet consists mostly of flying insects. Photo: Malheur Wildlife Refuge south of Burns, OR 5/06/2012

Dutchman’s Breeches “Dicentra cucullaria”

koskela50 — Mon, 07 May 2012 07:50:53 +0000

Dutchman’s Breeches “Dicentra cucullaria” Bleedingheart Family (Fumariaceae). Perennial, 6-15″ tall, leaves divided in multiple segments, flowers resemble inverted pantaloons and they are white to pink. Blooms in late spring in moist rocky areas in the Columbia River Gorge and Northeast Oregon. Photo: Mt. Emily near La Grande, OR 7/13/2007