Osprey Baby Picture!

Posted on May 30, 2013 by foresterartist

I’ve been watching, taking pictures and watching some more to get a shot of the osprey chicks. Mostly, what I got was this.

Osprey, photography, nature, wildlife, osprey chick

The Look! Are you lookin’ at me!

Sitting on the poles eating fish. It’s all good fun but where are the chicks?

What’s for lunch? Fish of course.

Then yesterday a chick got high enough on the nest to get a shot. I have seen them through the nest since last week, but I couldn’t get a clear picture.

Finally, a baby picture!

Not the sharpest picture, but a start. It looked like she was feeding two, but I never got a look at another.

Blue skies from now on.

I was planning a sketch of the view through the nest from last week, since I couldn’t get a shot. This was the rendition I was planning. A quick and dirty sketch of the scene with a few less sticks.

Osprey, pen and ink, ink, nature, wildlife, osprey chick

Feeding Time

This is also my Thursday drawing for Z’s challenge for art at Zeebra Design.

FIRE At The Mill!

Posted on May 23, 2013 by foresterartist

We weren’t expecting to have a fire threaten the mill. The photos below tell the story.

Firefighters in pencil.

I added this sketch of the firefighters after “Z” at Zeebra Designs called for folks to draw in her post Time Out For Art – YOU CAN DO THIS. Here you go Z!

The rain has been replaced by wind and dry conditions once again. Fire returned, only this time instead of in the woods, it was at the mill. With winds blowing 25 to 30 mph a fire broke out at the mill next door and was being blown right at our site.

fire, mill, photography, wildfire, firefighters

The fire started next door.

It was all hands on deck. The crew poured in from all over the plant site to fight the fire.

Everybody pitch in.

Hoses were laid and water was flowing onto the fire. Soon, the regular fire crews arrived on scene.

This firefighter is patrolling for spot fires.

We were afraid the fire would spread into the pole stacks, or God forbid, the chip pile.

fire, mill, photography, wildfire, firefighters, fireline

Clearing fireline.

Our dozer was building a fireline in case the fire tried to jump the canal.

fire, mill, photography, wildfire, firefighters, logging truck

The logging trucks had to stop while the fire was being fought.

The air tanker arrived ready to drop fire retardant.

Air tanker

The effort continued on the ground and we held the fire at the edge of our mill site.

Eating smoke.

Then the Helicopter arrived with the Bambi Bucket.

Air support.

The helicopter was scooping water from the Sacramento River to dump onto the fire.

fire, mill, photography, wildfire, firefighters, logging truck, helipoter

Making the drop.

With the spread of the fire was stopped, mop up operations began.

Mop up operations.

fire, mill, photography, wildfire, firefighters, logging truck, fire engine, mop up

Mopping up is putting out all the smoldering embers.

Our crew moved fast to get water on the fire and the fire department responded quickly. Together we were able to stop the fire before it could get into our yard. As a result of everyone’s quick action this wasn’t a big problem for us. I’m not certain how the neighbors fared, but I think they did okay also.

The crew at the other mill were busy battling the fire in their chip pile.

This is just another reminder that we are in for a long fire season this year.

Maybe Baby Osprey

Posted on May 15, 2013 by foresterartist

Osprey

I haven’t posted an update on the osprey for a while so here is a pen and ink for fun. I think we have chicks in the nest, however we can’t see anything yet.

I think this parent is taking caring of a little bundle of joy.

The other parent waits patiently by the nest.

For about the last month a least one osprey has been hunkered down on the nest incubating the eggs. Late last week this pattern changed and now there is a lot of fussing about going on. I think they are feeding chicks or at least one chick. The chicks will hatch about a week apart.

Fussing around in the nest.

Time for some personal grooming.

Osprey parenting.

A view of the nest from the lumber yard.

The weather has been clear warm and windy here. In fact it hit 100 degrees last weekend. That is on the warm side this early in the year. I think it is going to get really hot up on that tower.

Another sunny day and a view out over the back forty.

CAUTION!

Posted on May 6, 2013 by foresterartist

CAUTION Proceed At Own Risk Road Not Maintained During Winter

I don’t think Winter is the problem around here. Maybe we should delete “Road Not Maintained During Winter”, and replace it with something else. Any suggestions? I would love to hear them.

On a side note, it rained here today! No new fires, yay! (Wait, is that a Haiku?)

Sun, Smoke and Oak

Posted on May 2, 2013 by foresterartist

Sun, Sunset, fire, wildfire, smoke, photography

The sun through the smoke. Yes, that is the sun and not the moon.

The first big wildfires of the season broke out here yesterday. The Panther and Cedar fires were burn a ways to the South and just a few miles apart. With a strong dry North wind they made a good run. A huge column of smoke stretched over the valley and the sun was obscurred last night when I took these pictures. Hopefully the firefighters made good progress last night when the winds died down.

Sun through the smoke and oaks.

May first and we are already seeing forest fires. Dry down is well underway here. This doesn’t bode well for this Summer’s fire season. Here we go again.

The Return of the Sandhill Cranes

Posted on April 30, 2013 by foresterartist

Sandhill Crane

The Sandhill Cranes returned to Northeastern California late this Winter. I have been fortunate enough to see them on several occasions.

A lone crane feeding at Poison Lake.

Sandhill Cranes

Poison Lake

Cranes with friends.

Which way do we go?

Solitude

Ruffled feathers

I think Big Bird must have been a crane.

Poison Lake

Sandhill Cranes of Ash Creek Wildlife Area.

Sweet Nellie Left Us Today

Posted on April 23, 2013 by foresterartist

137

These were just a few of our precious moments…

Nellie, Burney Mountain, nature, golden retriever, dog, photography

With Burney Mountain in the background, Nellie strikes a lovely pose. She is one of my favorite models. Nellie is very co-operative and will work for dog biscuits.

Blitz steals a stick from her mom.

Snow dog Nellie.

Redtail’s Nitro Nellie just being “Boopie”

Mary and Tom dog visiting Nellie at the Vet’s office after the snake bite. She was one sick pup, but it sure perked her up seeing us.

golden retriever, hunting, photography, Pheasant

Our oldest son, Chris with his girl Nellie. This was their last pheasant season.

Nellie

The morning ritual, ” Hey I need some attention here!”

The big stick contest. Blitz and Nellie

Nellie in her youth at Iron Canyon Reservoir.

God got a good dog today. We are grateful for the time we had together.

These were some posts that featured Nellie.

https://theforesterartist.com/2012/09/17/nellie-in-watercolor-part-1/

https://theforesterartist.com/2012/09/23/nellie-in-watercolor-part-2/

https://theforesterartist.com/2012/10/06/nellie-in-watercolor-part-3/

https://theforesterartist.com/2012/10/08/nellie-in-watercolor-part-4/

https://theforesterartist.com/2012/11/23/nellie-in-watercolor-part-5-the-rattler/

Loadin’ Logs

Posted on April 22, 2013 by foresterartist

Every logging operation needs a log loader and there are all types of them. This pen and ink is of a Barnhart log loader from back in the railroad logging days. It was a big steam-powered loader for loading big logs.

Barnhart Log Loader, Loader, Barnhart, Pen and Ink, logging, art

The Barnhart Log Loader

Here are some of today’s loaders.

loader, logging, heel-boom, shovel, loggers

The heel-boom loader is today’s log loading staple. It is also referred to as a shovel by the loggers.

Front-end loader, loader, logging, logger, photography

The front-end loader was the standard for years, but is still common in the woods.

log dolly, Front-end loader, loader, logging, logger, photographyy

The logging truck hauls the trailer, also known as a log dolly, in a piggy-back configuration. Here the front-end loader unloads the log dolly.

Self-loading logging truck, loader, logging, logger, photography

The self-loading logging truck has its own loader built-in.

I thought it was odd that the operator lowered the hood when he loaded his truck. I assumed it may be running hot. However, when he finished loading the truck, he went over to the engine compartment and pulled out a stick, which caused the engine to throttle down. He had wedged the stick into the throttle to keep the engine revved up while he was running the loader. He then put the stick in the tool box and said, “I gotta put it up here or the dog will run off with it!” Good thing I left Blitz in the truck.

Loading log truck, loader, loader, logging, logger, photography

In this picture, they used a front-end loader to assist the self-loader. Normally they use the self-loaders when another loader isn’t available.

This old green beast of a front-end loader was barely running, which is why they were using the self-loader. These were two weary old machines.

Blitz is seriously wanting the throttle stick right now.

Turkey Vultures Hatched!

Posted on April 20, 2013 by foresterartist

If you have not read Mary’s latest installment of what is going on in our backyard, here it is. We have new arrivals!

Sneaking Bliss

Happy Hatching!!
Est. hatch date range: sometime April 15-17. Empty shell pieces indicates hatched chicks. the parent is hovering over chick(s). Sorry no images of the chicks, just the empty shells for now. But here is something for you –

Save 15% on No Place for UGLY Birds!
Edit your cart with discount code: 15hatch
Happy Hatching discount code good through 4-22-13.

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Osprey Practice?

Posted on April 15, 2013 by foresterartist

I saw an osprey do the strangest thing the other day. I was driving from the log yard to the pole yard and I saw one of the osprey go into an aggressive dive. Located between the two yards is a canal. I naturally assumed that the osprey was going after a fish in the canal. I drove closer and pulled over to get some shots of the action.

Osprey wheeling around

It was an excellent chance to shoot the osprey. Lately they have been sitting on the eggs and hanging out at the tower. Not a lot of opportunity to get any interesting pictures.

The osprey on approach.

As I started taking pictures, the osprey wheeled around to come in for another swoop. With his sights set on target he banked for the dive.

Gettin’ his dive on!

Then, the osprey did something unexpected! Instead of diving into the canal the osprey dove into an open area. It was fast and low, beautiful to watch. Osprey are fish eaters and to my knowledge they don’t catch rodents. So what was he doing?

Coming in low and fast, but for what!

Up close and personal!

Then, he did the osprey snatch. The osprey grabbed a stringy piece of cedar bark. Bark, why bark? He flew about ten feet and dropped the bark. It all seemed quite purposeful.

The snatch and fly! The osprey with the bark in his talons.

Then the osprey circle back around and headed out.

Coming around again.

He did manage to give me a dirty look as he did his fly by.

Gettin’ the stink eye. I suppose that’s better than the other end.

I’m left with the question, what was the osprey doing? Was he looking for material for the nest? I don’t think so, because they haven’t worked on the nest for weeks and the eggs have been laid. Did he think the bark was an animal? I doubt it and I think they only eat fish. Was he practicing or playing? Maybe, why wouldn’t a well fed osprey engage in a little fun.

Do any of you good folks have any ideas as to what the osprey was doing? I would love to hear your theory.