was had by all on a lovely and calm morning, captured on my ritual early morning ride.
Female Mallard Duck (Anas platyrhynchos) and juveniles, this image and below.
Infinite shades of green...
are present in the verdant and water-saturated wetlands in eastern Washington, a welcome relief to the red tones burned deep into my retinas after spending months in arid red rock country.
The easily recognizable American Robin...
is the most abundant landbird in North America with an estimated population of 370 million individuals. Here’s just one.
American Robin (Turdus migratorius).
This rockfall was predicted...
last summer by yours truly, the humble author of this pointless blahg. This basalt column along the Fish Lake Trail was toppled during the wet spring season, likely promoted by freeze/thaw occurring in the joints. Here’s the situation I encountered on the first ride after my return to eastern Washington.
High in the Uintah Mountains...
lie two large limestone caves, each of which swallows a stream fed by snow melt runoff, and because of this, both are particularly treacherous to enter. Both cave entrances, the insurgences, occur at a little over 8,000 feet in elevation, with Big Brush Spring, more than 5 miles away and 2,000 feet lower, serving as the resurgence for these subterranean waters .
Big Brush Creek Cave.
Little Brush Creek Cave.
Celebrating Independence Day...
in the style of small town USA with a parade of fire equipment in Castle Valley, Utah.
The annual parade is led by fire chief Ron Drake.
An opportunity to cool off on a hot day!
Long time resident and historical oracle Dave Vaughn.
Spectacular dawn on Independence Day...
in Castle Valley, Utah. Nature’s fireworks on the 4th of July. Gotta love those crepuscular rays!
Click on image to enlarginate.
A napping sparrow...
catching a siesta in the shade on another hot afternoon.
A long shadow accompanies me...
on both my early morning and evening rides. It’s a wonderful time to be out on both ends of the day.
Self portrait early this morning during the cool, calm and quiet dawn.
Casting a long shadow as sunset approaches.
One overheated bunny...
trying to cool off on a hot, 97° F, afternoon. This little one has scratched a patch in the soil on the shaded side of the house.
Desert cottontail (Sylvilagus audubonii).
Stem tips ablaze...
from the summer heat, well, maybe that’s an exaggeration. The only splash of bright color in the high desert in early summer is provided by the vibrant broom snakeweed seen below.
Broom snakeweed (Gutierrezia sarothrae).
The heat is coming...
next week, with triple digits in the forecast, triggering my migratory instincts to head north. Not many days left in Castle Valley so I’m grabbing an early morning ride.
A complex cloudscape...
slowly drifting across Porcupine Rim today.
Warming in the early sunshine...
this small, non-venomous bullsnake was extended across the trail this morning. It’s even smiling for this snapshot.
Bullsnake (Pituophis catenifer sayi).
These beautiful blue birds...
continue to hang out at the feeding stations, much to my delight.
Breeding male Lazuli Bunting (Passerina amoena).
A quick re-shoot...
was necessary for the final edit of a video volume of original narrative poetry by local Rory Tyler. We got out early this morning in the cool soft light of dawn in Castle Valley.
This dapper Spotted Sandpiper...
is keeping a watchful eye on junior, as the fledging juvenile explores along the banks of the Colorado River early this evening.
Spotted Sandpiper (Actitis macularius).
Alfalfa is on the menu...
this evening for Bugs Buddy. Constantly entertaining.
Desert cottontail (Sylvilagus audubonii).
The Pace homestead in Castle Valley, Utah...
was settled circa 1920 by John and Ann Pace.
A napping Flammulated Owl...
no larger than a soda can. Caught catching a little shuteye on my neighbor’s patio chair on a shaded porch. Quite tiny. And enormously cute.
Flammulated Owl (Psiloscops flammeolus).