/blogs/mbalame/ Natural History on the Oregon North Coast en-us 2008-08-26T17:56:33+00:00 /blogs/mbalame/archives/2008/08/sadmt20080826.html Michelle and I climbed up to the saddle of Saddle Mountain today. This is Michelle's first time hiking up the very steep trail and she did very well. Next time we'll try going all the way to the top.... mbalame 2008-08-26T17:56:33+00:00 /blogs/mbalame/archives/2008/08/brpe20080822.html There were large numbers of BROWN PELICANS reported by multiple observers at Newport, OR this weekend. I photographed this group from the South Jetty of Yaquina Bay. Most appear to be juveniles.... mbalame 2008-08-24T18:07:30+00:00 /blogs/mbalame/archives/2008/08/hebo20080808.html I was up on Mt. Hebo bright and early this morning. The advantage of early is you get to see stuff that's kind of unusual. This is the first living porcupine I've ever seen west of the Cascades (my mom... mbalame 2008-08-08T18:24:04+00:00 /blogs/mbalame/archives/2008/07/bloy20080731.html I found a pair of BLACK OYSTERCATCHERS with 2 very young chicks at Boiler Bay yesterday (July 3).... mbalame 2008-07-31T22:05:20+00:00 /blogs/mbalame/archives/2008/07/elte20080729.html There have been reports of ELEGANT TERNS up and down the Oregon Coast for the last two weeks or so. Reports have also come from Grays Harbor in Washington and Vancouver Island in British Columbia. Can you find any Elegant... mbalame 2008-07-29T13:29:52+00:00 /blogs/mbalame/archives/2008/07/howr20080713.html I got photos of a pair of House Wrens carrying food to a nest in the top of a large snag at Beneke Creek, near Jewell. Both adults were actively bringing food to the nest.... mbalame 2008-07-13T15:40:26+00:00 /blogs/mbalame/archives/2008/07/quiz20080704.html This photo was taken today at Brownsmead Answer: larval Molothrus ater... mbalame 2008-07-04T12:37:58+00:00 /blogs/mbalame/archives/2008/06/lazb20080624.html For the second year in a row we have found territorial pairs of LAZULI BUNTINGS at Stanley Lake in Seaside.There are at least 2 males and 1 female in the area which is not a spot I immediately think to... mbalame 2008-06-24T13:17:54+00:00 /blogs/mbalame/archives/2008/06/urtica20080622.html I can remember, as a young Boy Scout, herding even younger scouts through the thickets of Urtica dioica in search of the ever elusive “snipe” that inhabitated the riparian edges of the Big River at Cougar Bend. Most folks know... mbalame 2008-06-22T09:49:21+00:00 /blogs/mbalame/archives/2008/06/toso20080615.html This is one of two TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRES seen near Nicolai Mountain on Sunday... mbalame 2008-06-17T16:53:03+00:00 /blogs/mbalame/archives/2008/06/sadmt20080614.html Kathleen Sayce led a botany hike up Saddle Mountain on Saturday. We were greeted by below normal temperatures and overcast, but the wildflowers were a spectacular mix of species slowed up by the cold spring and more typical early June... mbalame 2008-06-15T10:54:12+00:00 /blogs/mbalame/archives/2008/06/quiz20080612.html Here are two easy ones from today's banding. Or are they???Answers Here... mbalame 2008-06-12T15:01:26+00:00 /blogs/mbalame/archives/2008/06/plevan20080608.html I went north to Pacific County and the Willapa National Wildlife Refuge this morning. My goal was to find the elusive VanDyke's Salamander (Plethodon vandykei). The nature trail at the the refuge headquarters is as much an art walk as... mbalame 2008-06-08T12:25:23+00:00 /blogs/mbalame/archives/2008/06/myst20080601.html Here's a mystery bird that should shake some folks up.The answer.... mbalame 2008-06-01T14:09:51+00:00 /blogs/mbalame/archives/2008/05/cedw20080520.html I managed to get photos of an interesting courtship behavior between CEDAR WAXWINGS in a apple tree near the Brownsmead Dike Road bridge. These two went on passing petals back and forth for several minute. Another pair in a different... mbalame 2008-05-20T11:22:06+00:00