Winter on the North Coast

Winter on the North Coast

The north coast of California is a place of wonder and beauty. Most people know there are redwood forests and breathtaking ocean vistas here. What many might not realize is that Del Norte and Humboldt counties are treasure troves of wildlife viewing. Elk, sea lions, river otters, bald eagles, peregrine falcons, and white-tailed kites are but a few of the wildlife species commonly seen here.

"Eyes on the Prize" by Loree Johnson Photography. This bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) knows what it wants and is going for it.Eyes on the Prize

After spending last winter in the desert, this winter I was drawn back to the Pacific coast of northern California. The deserts of New Mexico, Arizona and southern California have their charm, for sure, but the Pacific Northwest calls to me like no other region I’ve visited.

"Papa Otter" by Loree Johnson Photography. Adult river otter (Lontra canadensis) taking a break on the rocks in the Smith River Estuary, California. Papa Otter

Although it’s been wet and chilly sometimes, most days there is nowhere I’d rather be. And all the rain has helped me track down the leaks in my RV!

"Sea Lion with Catch" by Loree Johnson Photography. California sea lion gorging on steelhead trout amid the winter run on the Smith River, California. Sea Lion with Catch

According to many of the animals I’ve observed over the last few months, the fishing here is really good! From seals and sea lions catching steelhead to otters catching flounder and shorebirds catching tiny baitfish, the food chain is truly on display.

"Heron with Fish" by Loree Johnson Photography. Great blue heron (Ardea herodias) with a freshly caught fish from the Smith River in northern California. Heron with Fish

If you travel to the north coast of California to enjoy the beautiful sights, make sure you take time to notice the creatures that make these incredible places their home.

"Spiky Elk" by Loree Johnson Photography. A Roosevelt Elk (Cervus canadensis roosevelti) cow trying out one of the trendy new spiky hairstyles after the rain at Prairie Creek Redwoods, Humboldt County, California. Spiky Elk

As humans, we sometimes get caught up in the beauty and grandeur of a landscape, while forgetting that it’s also a habitat for other living things. And, at other times, we notice nature’s diverse assortment of beings and forget the habitat required to support them. My time in these places has reminded me that we are all connected to each other and the earth.

"Mist in the Redwoods" by Loree Johnson Photography. After the rain, the sun shines through the mist deep in the redwood forest. Photographed at Prairie Creek Redwoods, Humboldt County, California. Mist in the Redwoods

"Eagle Flying at You" by Loree Johnson Photography. Bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) in flight toward the camera. Eagle Flying at You

 

 

Best of 2015

Best of 2015

Another year gone by and time for the obligatory “Top Ten” post. Since 2015 was the first full year I spent on the road, it’s a pretty amazing variety. From Arizona to Washington and many places in between. It was tougher to narrow it down to ten this year, probably because of all the wonderful memories associated with each photo. But I’ve attempted to be as objective as possible, judging the final product more than the process, although the two are inexplicably connected from my perspective. So, without further ado, I give you my top ten photographs of 2015.

10.) Angelic

angelic; great egret; ardea alba; breeding plumage; clear blue sky; angel; heaven; wading bird; wild; wildlife; nature; natural; soaring; wings; wingspan; feathers; Gray Lodge Wildlife Area; butte county ca; california; and; the; over; with; under; above; against; in the; on the; at the; Loree Johnson

Great egret (Ardea alba) in breeding plumage in flight against a clear blue sky.

This image was photographed at Gray Lodge Wildlife Area in central California. I was ever so fortunate to find a rookery where great egrets, great blue herons, and double-crested cormorants were preparing their nests in the midst of breeding season. This photo made the list on account of its unique perspective of one of my favorite birds, as well as the beautiful green lore and elegant tail feathers known as aigrettes, which are characteristic of breeding plumage.

9.) Peeking Peak

Peeking Peak; Grand Teton national park; mountains; autumn; storm; snow; high elevation; close up; rugged; jagged; weather; clouds; teton county wy; wyoming; jackson hole; majestic; monochrome; black and white; cold; winter; and; the; over; with; under; above; against; in the; on the; at the; Loree Johnson

In the midst of an autumn storm, the peaks of the Grand Tetons make brief appearances for only moments before disappearing again into the clouds. This is one of those moments.

I chose this image for its otherworldly quality and the juxtaposition of the jagged peak against the softness of the clouds. Since I had only three days in Grand Teton National Park, and I arrived in the midst of a storm with heavy clouds blanketing the rugged peaks, I was fortunate enough to be in a position to capture this image when an opening in the clouds appeared for just a few brief minutes.

8.) Mount Garfield

mount garfiled; mt. garfield; colorado; grand junction co; palisade co; mesa county co; mesa; geology; peak; interesting; western slope; interstate 70; blue sky; clouds; morning; light; elevation; and; the; over; with; under; above; against; in the; on the; at the; Loree Johnson

Mt. Garfield is a 6765 ft. (2062 m) peak in the Little Book Cliff mountains just to the north of interstate 70 between Grand Junction and Palisade, Colorado. This mountain is more like a mesa and is very geologically interesting. 

I can’t tell you how many times over the last year I’ve been driving my motor home, with car in tow, and seen something I wanted to photograph. This inevitably happens on a narrow road, with no shoulder and no place to pull over my awkwardly large rig. On the day I was leaving the western slope of Colorado to travel north into Wyoming, I saw Mount Garfield bathed in the beautiful morning light with wispy clouds hovering above. Once again, I longed for a place to stop and get out with my camera when all of a sudden, a large pullout appeared. This image was chosen for its serendipity and in honor of all those other missed shots where personal safety took precedence over photography.

7.) Pheasant in Flight

pheasant in flight; ring-necked pheasant; Phasianus colchicus; male; in flight; fly; flying; bird; wild; wildlife; upland game bird; and; the; over; with; under; above; against; in the; on the; at the; Loree Johnson

Male Ring-necked Pheasant (Phasianus colchicus) in flight.

This image made the list as the realization of a long-standing goal. For years I have been fascinated with the ring-necked pheasants and have attempted many hundreds of times to get a photograph of one in flight, but they were just too quick. Then one morning, while driving around lost on an abandoned road in the McNary National Wildlife Refuge of eastern Washington, I surprised a group of these birds roosting in a tree. I also surprised myself with the composure and reflexes to finally capture an image of one of these elusive birds on the wing. And a beautifully colored male, too.

6.) Magical Sedona

Magical Sedona; Cathedral Rock Double Rainbow; sedona az; arizona; sedona; red rock country; desert southwest; mystical; magical; spiritual; heavenly; beauty; nature; natural; sublime; clouds; weather; rain; foreground; reflection; water; pool; and; the; over; with; under; above; against; in the; on the; at the; Loree Johnson

Double rainbow over Cathedral Rock in Sedona, Arizona. Recent rains have left pools of water, creating an opportunity to capture a reflection of the famous, mystical rock in the foreground. 

Sedona was an unexpected destination in my travels this year as I had originally planned to go to Bryce Canyon in May after spending time at Zion National Park. The weather turned unexpectedly cold and snowy in southern Utah and I changed plans to go farther south. My first evening in Sedona was spent at Red Rock Crossing, which is purportedly the most photographed spot in Arizona. I was thrilled to find a puddle that was big enough to capture a reflection of the famed Cathedral Rock, but when a double rainbow appeared, I was utterly astonished.

5.) Dawn at Tipsoo Lake

Dawn at Tipsoo Lake; First Light on Mount Rainier; Mt. Rainier; Lake Tipsoo; sunrise; dawn; reflection; water; Mount Rainier National Park; Washington; Pierce County wa; scene; scenic; travel; and; the; over; with; under; above; against; in the; on the; at the; Loree Johnson

Tipsoo Lake reflects Mount Rainier at Dawn. Mt. Rainier National Park, Washington.

Sunrise is possibly my favorite time of day to capture landscape photographs and this image is one of my favorite dawns. Mount Rainier is one of the most beautiful peaks in the Cascade Range and the perfectly still water gave my eyes and camera double the pleasure of it in the morning’s first light. I also captured a horizontal version of this scene, but I chose the vertical because it incorporates a closer view of the mountain in all its glacial glory.

4.) Sedona Moon

Sedona Moon; sedona az; arizona; red rock country; cathedral rock; full moon; sunset; evening; light; spires; pillars; desert southwest; unforgettable; vortex; spiritual; nature; natural; orange; red; sky; formation; rocks; and; the; over; with; under; above; against; in the; on the; at the; Loree Johnson

Watching the full moon rise between the spires of Sedona, Arizona’s Cathedral Rock is a truly unforgettable experience.

It’s ironic that two of my top ten photos this year are from Sedona since it wasn’t one of my favorite places. Cathedral Rock is, however, a truly beautiful and majestic sight, and more than worthy of two top-ten spots. The orientation of the rocks are such that when you are facing the them, the sun sets behind you. There are just a few moments each afternoon when the light of the setting sun reflects and causes the red rocks to “glow.” This image is the result of quite a bit of meticulous planning and a little bit of luck. Mapping out and finding a place where the full moon would rise over the rock at sunset was the planned part. The moon rising just between the spire and the monolith was the luck part.

3.) Bald Eagle Swoosh

Bald eagle swoosh; Haliaeetus leucocephalus; american; perch; taking flight; atop; tree; sacramento NWR; national wildlife refuge; california; glenn county ca; blue sky; wings; wingspan; bird of prey; raptor; wild; wildlife; in flight; flying; majestic; and; the; over; with; under; above; against; in the; on the; at the; Loree Johnson

American bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) taking flight from its perch atop the tree.

I’ve already blogged about this image in my “Stories Behind the Images” series, but it made the top ten because it is probably the sharpest, clearest eagle in flight photo I’ve ever captured. And because they are just awesome birds.

2. Storm View

Storm View; cedaredge overlook; colorado; grand mesa; mesa county co; delta valley; thunderstorms; storm; stormy; clouds; weather; rain; vast; vista; showers; dramatic; and; the; over; with; under; above; against; in the; on the; at the; Loree Johnson

Dramatic view from the Cedaredge Overlook on Colorado’s Grand Mesa on a stormy summer afternoon.

Another of my favorite things to photograph is dramatic weather. While scouting out places to photograph fireworks on 4th of July, five thousand feet above the valley floor on Colorado’s Grand Mesa, this thunderstorm developed. The fireworks shots were a bust, but the location scouting and dramatic weather gave me one of my best images of the year, which even made World View on The Weather Underground.

1.) Eagle Mesa Storm Clouds

Eagle Mesa Storm Clouds; glowing; monument valley; arizona; utah; desert southwest; red rock country; navajo nation; az weather; ut weather; rock formations; sagebrush; sand; light; sunset; dusk; evening; and; the; over; with; under; above; against; in the; on the; at the; Loree Johnson

Storm clouds glowing just before sunset behind Eagle Mesa in Monument Valley.

I have to admit that coming up with the top ten this year was much more difficult than last year. Even more difficult was deciding which image would be number one. After much deliberation, I choose this view of Eagle Mesa in Monument Valley. It gets the top spot because of the glow and shape of the clouds, and also because it is a view of Monument Valley that is less common and less photographed than the traditional “mittens.”

This year has been a wonder of experiences and places for me. I’ve learned a lot about photography, RV’ing, and life. Opening my eyes and heart to the wonders of the world has truly made me feel young again. I look forward to 2016 and another year of discovery, growth, and education. Happiest of New Years to all of you!

Stories behind the images – Bald Eagle Swoosh

Stories behind the images – Bald Eagle Swoosh

This “story behind the image” is about an eagle in flight shot that almost never was. I was at the Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge for the second time and there were many eagles out and about that day. I was very fortunate to have spotted the dilute plumage juvenile bald eagle that had been seen at the refuge. Some were calling it the “caramel eagle.” There is some debate among the birding community as to whether this eagle is leucistic or dilute plumage, and whether or not the two terms are interchangeable. I’ll leave that to the experts and just say that I was very pleased to have the opportunity to photograph this rare bird.

Leucistic Bald Eagle; Caramel Eagle; Haliaeetus leucocephalus; rare; leucistic; leucism; pale; albino; light; unique; pigment; bird; bird of prey; bald eagle; juvenile; perch; gold; golden; sacramento national wildlife refuge; sacramento NWR; california; Willows ca; glenn county ca; and; the; over; with; under; above; against; in the; on the; at the; Loree Johnson

Caramel Eagle

Unfortunately, she didn’t do much while I was watching her, so all I got were perching photos. (I have no idea if it is a he or she, but I’m calling it “her” because she looks rather feminine.)

After my good fortune on the first trip around the auto tour loop, I decided to go around again. I had already seen three or four adult bald eagles, and a couple of juveniles in addition to the caramel one.

About 3/4 of the way around the loop, I noticed a refuge employee wrapping up his day’s work out in one of the closed areas. He was using a loader and was heading for the main road, which I was on. As I passed one of the locked gates, he was opening it in preparation to bring the loader through. It was about that time I spotted an adult bald eagle in a tree a few hundred yards ahead. Since I was driving into the sun, I decided to try and drive past the tree so I could shoot the eagle with the sun behind me.

Regal Eagle; american bald eagle; Haliaeetus leucocephalus; survey; territory; atop; tree; perch; bird of prey; raptor; wild; wildlife; sacramento NWR; national wildlife refuge; glenn county ca; california; adult; mature; blue sky; and; the; over; with; under; above; against; in the; on the; at the; Loree Johnson

Regal Eagle

So far, so good. I always try to get at least one shot of the bird perched before it inevitably flies away. The only problem was, it had no intention of flying away! You see, at the Sacramento Wildlife Refuge, and other refuges in the area, it’s strictly forbidden to get out of your car while on the auto tour route. Not only that, but the birds seem to know it! So, we were at a stand off. Me sitting there waiting for the eagle to fly and the eagle staring at me knowing there was nothing I could do but sit there and point my camera out the car window. Then I heard the loader coming. Ha, I thought! I bet that thing will make you fly! But then…it stopped. What?

I looked down the road and there was the loader, stopped. It turns out, the polite refuge employee saw that I was photographing the eagle and didn’t want to wreck my shot! Little did he know, I already had shots of the eagle in the tree. I wanted shots of the eagle flying!

So, I frantically motioned out the window of my car for him to keep coming. But he didn’t. Now I was in a stand off with both the eagle and the loader. I decided to wait them out. I must have sat there for ten minutes before the loader operator finally got tired of waiting on me and proceeded up the road.

Prepare for Takeoff; american bald eagle; Haliaeetus leucocephalus; raptor; bird of prey; wild; wildlife; sacramento NWR; national wildlife refuge; california; glenn county ca; bird; wings; blue sky; and; the; over; with; under; above; against; in the; on the; at the; Loree Johnson

Prepare for Takeoff

And, just as I had suspected, the eagle that was immune to cars passing did indeed react when a piece of heavy equipment came along. And I was ready!

Bald eagle swoosh; Haliaeetus leucocephalus; american; perch; taking flight; atop; tree; sacramento NWR; national wildlife refuge; california; glenn county ca; blue sky; wings; wingspan; bird of prey; raptor; wild; wildlife; in flight; flying; majestic; and; the; over; with; under; above; against; in the; on the; at the; Loree Johnson

Bald Eagle Swoosh

I already knew that patience is one of the keys to wildlife photography, but that day I learned that sometimes you have to be patient, not only with the animals, but the humans as well.

 

Folks, we have an adventure!

Folks, we have an adventure!

I set off on an adventure, and an adventure is what I got! It all started this past Saturday when I went out to take the dog for a walk. I closed the laptop to put it to sleep and took the dog across the road to the park. We had a nice time playing fetch the tennis ball and when I came back I opened the laptop to work on some more photos. But, nothing happened. I tried restarting, unplugging, taking the battery out and putting it back in, and still nothing. I got in touch with Dell warranty support (the laptop is only 3 months old) and they took me through some troubleshooting steps, which were mostly all the things I’d already tried. It was determined that I would need a new motherboard and DC input and they would send an on-site service technician to do the repair–at my RV. My warranty coverage is “next business day” service, but I’m still unclear as to what that actually means. I waited all day Monday, only to find out that the part had been shipped and service would be scheduled for Tuesday. When nothing happened on Tuesday, I sent a message to Dell. I received a message back that the parts had arrived late and service would be scheduled for Wednesday. Meanwhile, on Tuesday, the weather took a turn for the worse and the wind began blowing–hard. So, I sat here wondering if the trees around me were firmly rooted and fearing one would come down on top of me. The trees around here are pretty big!

Starvation Creek Falls; columbia river gorge OR; framed; surrounded; pacific northwest; large; trees; autumn; waterfall; colors; leaves; leaf; beauty; scene; scenic; nature; natural; and; the; over; with; under; above; against; between; in the; on the; at the; Loree Johnson

Starvation Creek Falls

After spending the day worrying and fretting and checking the weather forecast, I decided I needed to relax a bit. So, I crawled in bed and read a few chapters of “Walden” by Henry David Thoreau. It helped to put things in perspective and I realized that this adventure wouldn’t be much of an adventure if everything was predictable and comfortable all the time. The next morning, I woke up feeling quite a bit more optimistic. Until I turned on the water and nothing came out. It had frozen overnight due to the cold temperatures and the “brisk” wind. Nothing to do but wait until the sun rose high enough to shine on the water connection and thaw it. That happened around 11 am, which was right about the same time the computer repair guy showed up. At least I had time to brush my teeth!

Autumn at Shepards Dell; oregon; columbia river gorge; columbia gorge OR; shepards dell OR; waterfall; falls; water; autumn; scene; scenic; travel; pacific northwest; lush; flowing; between; and; the; over; with; under; above; against; in the; on the; at the; Loree Johnson

Autumn at Shepards Dell

With the computer up and running, I could now finish working on the photos I took the week before along the Historic Columbia River Highway. By now I knew that most of those colorful leaves were likely on the ground thanks to the high winds, so I was glad I went out shooting when I did.

There were also some images from Monday’s trip to Beacon Rock and the Bonneville Dam that hadn’t even been uploaded from the camera yet. I had decided to set up my camera for wildlife that day because there were no clouds and the landscapes would be harshly lit. And even though I didn’t see a lot of wildlife on the trip, I did see this eagle near the Bonneville Dam just when the sun was beginning to set.

Sunset Eagle; bald eagle; Haliaeetus leucocephalus; perched; columbia river gorge; pacific northwest; bonneville dam; washington; north bonneville wa; nature; natural; wild; wildlife; bird of prey; raptor; afternoon; golden; sunset; evening; and; the; over; with; under; above; against; in the; on the; at the; Loree Johnson

Sunset Eagle

Today, it’s been snowing and blowing and the temperature never got above freezing. But, at least I have water for now because I’ve left a trickle running in the bathroom sink. Everything outside is cold and covered with white. It’s not one of those pleasant snows, with big feathery snowflakes like you see on Christmas cards. More like one of those stories on the Weather Channel about the epic storm that they’ve decided to name. But, I’m warm and toasty inside my home on wheels with a propane furnace and an electric heater. I have food and blankets and I’m on an adventure! Things can change quickly in the Pacific Northwest!

Postcard from Oregon; multnomah falls; perfect; recognizable; columbia river gorge; columbia gorge OR; multnomah falls OR; waterfall; autumn; fall; color; colorful; scene; scenic; beauty; beautiful; pacific northwest; and; the; over; with; under; above; against; in the; on the; at the; Loree Johnson

Postcard from Oregon

So, as I sit here looking out at the snow piling up and blowing around outside, I admit I will be a little sad to leave on Saturday (weather permitting, lol). The Columbia River Gorge is like no place else, and it’s been a part of my adventure I won’t soon forget.

 

Photographer refuge

Photographer refuge

Ok, so really it’s a wildlife refuge. The Klamath Basin National Wildlife Refuge to be exact. Most people go out there this time of year to see the bald eagles. And it’s not surprising when you consider there are more bald eagles at this refuge than anywhere in the United States, except Alaska. I admit, I go out there to see and photograph bald eagles as well, but there is much more to this place than just bald eagles. On a recent visit I saw literally hundreds of hawks, a couple of coyotes, and even a great egret, which according to the species list put out by the refuge, is uncommon, at least in winter. I also saw several bald eagles. There is a stand of large cottonwood trees along the auto tour route where you can pretty much count on seeing eagles. However, these big trees are very bushy, even without their leaves, so it’s difficult to get a clear, unobstructed photograph. For that, you must venture out into the marshes and agricultural areas, where the eagles like to perch on fence posts and utility poles while they hunt for rodents and waterfowl.

bald eagle, barbed wire, american, eagle, west

Wild West

It’s been very cold so far this year, leaving most of the marshes and lakes frozen solid. I saw these coyotes out looking for something to eat on the frozen lake.

Two Coyotes on a Frozen Lake, winter, wildlife, ice

Two Coyotes on a Frozen Lake

In all my visits to this wildlife refuge, this was the first time I have ever seen a great egret. What a beautiful bird!

Great Egret, Winter, snow, bird, flight, fly

Great Egret in Winter

This red tail hawk was keeping an eye on me when I stopped at one of the parking areas to get out of the car and stretch my legs.

red tail hawk, raptor, flight, fly, stare, look, wildlife

The Look

 

 

 

 

Pin It on Pinterest