Wild Wednesday … Mystery Butterfly!

I’ve been sitting in the middle of I5 for nearly 3 hours. They’re clearing an overturned big rig with a load of steel I-beams. I’m trying to think of something soothing. How about a butterfly. This one showed up on the porch this morning. Good thing the kitten wasn’t around.  Does anyone know it’s name?Normally, I’d have my sketch pad, but not today. I have a project to finish too. Instead I’ll have to settle for a butterfly. 

Wild Wednesday … Goose Goose!

geese, Canada geese, pen and ink, drawing

A pair of Canada Geese in pen and ink.

This was drawn from a pair of geese on the mill pond.  Canada geese are great subjects for pen and ink. They’re already black and white.

Canada Geese, honkers, photography, nature, birds, birding

Canada geese can be found on the mill site constantly.

This gaggle spotted Sailor and Bliss over on shore. They decided to come over and cause trouble for my goldens, who were minding their own business.  Typical rabble rousing degenerate geese!

Canada Geese, honkers, photography, nature, birds, birding

You had to know this would happen.

Sailor couldn’t take it anymore and swam out to say hello.  What’s a boy to do.

Canada Geese, honkers, photography, nature, birds, birding

Well this isn’t going well.

What we have here is a failure to communicate.

Forestry Friday … Winter Waiting

Winter logging is already hit or miss with the wet weather shut downs. This year is off the charts. Trucks parked with no place to go has been a pretty common sight this season.

Logging trucks, Loggers, winter, winter logging

Logging trucks in the fog. All fueled up with no place to go.

Wild Wednesday … Bear Skull

drawing, bear skull, black bear, pen and ink, pen drawing, wildlife

Bear Skull in pen and ink.

This skull intrigued me with its bleached bone and hard shadows. I wondered what happened to cause it to be here. It was wild and dirty, and crying out to be drawn. So draw it I did!

bear skull, black bear, pen and ink, pen drawing, wildlife

The bear skull sitting on the running board of an older D6 Cat.

On our way into camp we often stop in a particular landing to give everyone a break from the ride. A D6 Cat tractor was parked there for several months. A local logger had been using it for road repair and erosion control work. During one stop at the landing we found a bear skull. It wasn’t a large skull, probably from a young bear or a sow.

bear skull, black bear, pen and ink, pen drawing, wildlife, D6 Cat

The Cat was parked in the landing for a few months. The skull is sitting on the floor in the entrance. Can you see it?

I couldn’t resist placing the skull in the tractor for the loggers to find. It sat there for weeks undisturbed. Until one day, while we were coming through, it had disappeared. Somebody or something must have taken a fancy to it and packed it off. When I first saw the skull I wondered what it’s story was, but it seems that it’s story may not be done. I wonder where it is now.

California Black Bear, Ursus americanus

One of the locals. A relative perhaps?

 

Castle Crags 

Castle Crags, granite, rock climbing, nature photography

Castle Crags, taken last week. I used to rock climb here with my brother and friends when I was younger, much younger.

It’s situated next to the Upper Sacramento River north of Northern California (Jefferson).

Wild Wednesday … Spring Teaser!

The buttercups started blooming a little over a week ago. When they arrive it means Spring is beginning to tease us here.

But winter is still trying to wash California away. Here are some pictures of the Sacramento River in the Northern California.

sactoriver04

Looking across the Sacramento River at Balls Ferry.

sactoriver03

Jelly’s Ferry bridge in the high water. The river bank is normally out past the beginning of the first steel arch.

sactoriver02

The river is wide. Looking across the Sacramento River in northern Tehama County.

Finally, I was able to get out in the woods yesterday and enjoy a little sunshine!