earthlings: fauna: arachnid

earthling sighted: the tiniest white garden spider.

location: a small sunflower in our backyard garden, willamette valley, oregon.

This miniscule earthling from the arachnid clan was about the size of an aphid and a perfect, glowing snowy white color. 

According to the Oregon Department of Agriculture, "Oregon may have at least 500 species of spiders, but there is no current comprehensive list".  Which probably explains why I had no luck identifying this teeny tiny fellow.

 

 I think his most charming feature are those beautiful sky blue eyes...

Any arachnid experts out there?

 Let me know if you recognize this little guy in the comments section of this post. Thanks!

 It's a beautiful and crazy planet.

Go forth and ramble!

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Susan Faye on Pinterest

destination: haystack rock marine garden

What: Haystack Rock Marine Garden and National Wildlife Refuge at Cannon Beach, Oregon.
   
Where: Haystack Rock is located off of the Oregon Coast Hwy (U.S. Route 101),  about 1.5 miles (2.4 km) south of downtown Cannon Beach and is about 80 miles (130 km) west of Portland.   

Ramblers: Susan, Mary and Emilia

Season: Spring 

Haystack Rock is an impressive monolith that towers 235 feet over the beach. It is home to nesting seabirds in the spring and summer,  and to tidepool creatures all year long. The tidepools at the base of Haystack Rock are accessible by foot, but  only during low tide.

You can check daily times for low tides at Cannon Beach HERE

 

The Haystack Rock Awareness Program is a mobile environmental education program that visits the beach during low tides in the spring and summer months.

Trained, knowledgeable, and friendly volunteers are happy to point out easily missed wonders such as....

...Nudibranchs!  (small, fancy sea slugs) like this Opalescent Nudibranch which is swimming upside down.  This particular one was spotted by Emilia, after we were educated as to what to look for.

The area surrounding Haystack rock was designated as a Marine Garden in 1990 and as part of a National Wildlife Refuge in1976. All climbing is prohibited on Haystack Rock- as is operating low flying aircraft (including gliders) near the rock. This protects the seabirds (especially ground-nesting seabirds) that nest on the rock.

TIDEPOOL ETIQUETTE: "No poking, prodding, prying, removing, eating, squashing, stomping, kicking, licking, collecting, crushing or otherwise injuring plants and animals." Check out the Tidepool Etiquette page to learn more.

Birds that nest on Haystack Rock include Western Gulls, Tufted Puffins, Pelagic Cormorants, Pigeon Guillemots, and Black Oystercatchers.

To learn more about this beautiful sea garden visit the

 Friends of Haystack Rock page.

[ It's a beautiful and crazy planet.

Go forth and ramble!]

Follow me!

Susan Faye on Pinterest

earthlings: fauna: insect: dragonfly: flame skimmer

scientific name: libellula saturata
aka: flame skimmer dragonfly, firecracker skimmer dragonfly
habitat:  ponds, streams, hot springs in the Western United States.
sighting: in our backyard, willamette valley, oregon.
(we are lucky to have two different neighbors close by with small ponds in their yards).

all photos copyright Susan Faye 2015

This beautiful earthling often visits our backyard in the late afternoon when tiny bugs are abundant in the warm air.

He has a few favorite perches where he quietly waits for tiny insects to pass by, then he swoops and grabs them in mid-air.

 

Here he is chewing up his tiny tasty treat. Yum!

Mother Nature certainly outdid herself on the wing design, don't you think?

 It's great to be a winged thing!

 

For more information, visit  

BugGuide.net: Flame Skimmers

( It's a beautiful and crazy planet.

Go forth and ramble! )

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Susan Faye on Pinterest

destination: klickitat river trail, washington

What: The Klickitat Trail is a trail for hikers and cyclists that follows the first 31 miles of an old railroad corridor that once linked the towns of Lyle and Goldendale in Washington State.

Where: The Klickitat River empties into the Columbia River at Lyle, where you will find the lower trailhead with parking. There are several other trailheads located to the north along Highway 142, which parallels the river.  
 Click here for downloadable Klickitat Trail map in PDF format
 

Ramblers: Susan and Dave

Season: Spring 

Earthlings encountered: Bald eagles, poppies, lupine, cornflower (bachelor buttons), pollinators
Field Notes: We walked the first 2 miles of the trail to the Fisher Hill Trestle Bridge. BEWARE: There was poison oak EVERYWHERE! Stay on the trails and keep your kids and dogs at your side.

 For more information, click here: 

Klickitat Trail Conservancy

It's a beautiful and crazy planet.

Go forth and ramble!

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Susan Faye on Pinterest

sightings: feathered friends: baby earthlings

where:   Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge, Sherwood, Oregon, 97123

sighted: Canada goose goslings!

field notes: There were 8 - 10 pairs of adult geese, each with 5 to 15 goslings. Spotted in the ponds south of the water delivery channel at the south portion of the main refuge. The goose families were in a protected area that is permanently closed to the public, however, the goslings were visible from the seasonal trail and just barely within range of my telephoto lens (bring your binoculars!). This part of the trail is closed to the public October 1 - April 30 to protect wintering waterfowl, and had just re-opened on May 1.

There were mallard ducklings too!

 More goslings galore...

 It's a beautiful and crazy planet.

Go forth and ramble!

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Susan Faye on Pinterest

earthlings: flora: western skunk cabbage, part 2

more photos. 

because it's just so pretty, unlike its name.

[See "skunk cabbage, part 1" here.]

 It's a beautiful and crazy planet.

Go forth and ramble!

Follow me!

Susan Faye on Pinterest

good deeds: reduce your kitchen footprint

Tip #1: Eat lower on the food chain.

Why? Fruit and vegetable production is generally better for the planet than meat production.

To find out more, read "Plants for Supper? 10 Reasons to Eat More Like A Vegetarian" by Bonnie Liebman here

For a huge list of great tips for living a greener life inside and outside of your home, visit the Greenpeace Green Guide.

Copies of my whimsical 8" x 10" art print are now available over at my Ramble & Frolic Etsy Shop. Click here:  Eat Your Veggies Print

 (it's a beautiful and crazy planet.

go forth and ramble!)

Follow me!

Susan Faye on Pinterest