This Nuttall's cottontail (Sylvilagus nuttallii), also called mountain cottontail, lives under our bunkhouse and entertains us with its antics. #Nuttall'scottontail #nature #mountaincottontail #naturalhistory #mammals #rabbits

Pronghorn (Antilocapra americanna) near our house in Lookout CA (Modoc County). They are often called antelope, but are not antelope. #mammals #naturalhistory #pronghorn #nature

Yesterday, while hiking along the Pacific Crest Trail near Burney CA, this pileated woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus) provided me with a long photo session. I love these "Woody Woodpecker" birds. #birds #nature #naturalhistory #photography

Another late summer/early autumn Asteraceae - rabbit brush (Chrysathamnus nauseosa). Photographed at Ash Creek Wildlife Area near Lookout CA. #wildflowers #Asteraceae #naturalhistory #nature

More late summer wildflowers at Ash Creek Wildlife Area, Modoc County CA - curlytop gumweed (Grindelia squarrosa) and wild sunflower (Helianthus annus). Both are in the Asteraceae Family. #wildflowers #naturalhistory #nature #sunflower #gumweed #Asteraceae

At this time of the year in Modoc County CA there are few wildflowers. Most are Asteraceae. Hiking At Ash Creek Wildlife Area Common madia (Madia elegans) and common chickory (Cichorium intybus) are still in flower. #wildflowers #naturalhistory #madia #chickory #nature

Abandoned homestead at Ash Creek Wildlife Area, Modoc County CA. #photography #landscape

Elk at Deer Creek near Reedsport on the Southern Oregon Coast. There were about 100 elk in the meadow. #OregonCoast #elk #nature #naturalhistory #naturephotography

Harbor seals on the rocks and in the water at Simpson Reef south of Charleston on the Oregon Coast. #harborseal #mammals #nature #OregonCoast #naturephotography

Spent last week at the Southern Oregon Coast. View from Cape Arago on a foggy morning. #OregonCoast #nature #photography

Washington lily (Lilium washingtoniaum) on Fox Mountain near Lookout CA. This lily was named for Martha, not George. #nature #naturalhistory #Washingtonlily #wildflowers #flowers

Sandhill crane (Antigone canadensis) takes flight at Crystal Lake near Cassel CA. #birds #sandhillcrane #naturephotography #naturalhistory #nature

This bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) at Ash Creek Wildlife Area (Modoc County CA) gladly posed for me. #baldeagle #birds #nature #naturalhistory

American white pelicans (Pelecanus erythrorynchos) at Ash Creek Wildlife Area, Modoc County CA. #birds #Americanwhitepelican #nature #naturalhistory

Great blue heron (Ardea herodias) at Cheadle Lake in Lebanan OR. #birds #greatblueheron #nature #naturalhistory

Mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) in Ash Creek Wildlife Area, Northeastern California. #muledeer #mammals #nature #naturalhistory

We have lots of coyotes (Canis latrans) on our property and around our house in Modoc County CA. We welcome them. I love listening to the coyotes sing outside our bedroom window at night. #coyote #mammals #nature #naturalhistory

Barn swallow (Hirundo rustica) outside our house near Lookout CA. Soon these acrobats that entertain me all summer will be migrating for the winter. #birds #barnswallow #naturalhistory #nature #naturephotography

Another jay (western scrub jay - Aphelocoma californica) photographed near Cassel CA. #birds #westernscrubjay #nature #naturalhistory

Steller's jay (Cyanocitta stelleri) photographed near Cassel CA. #steller'sjay #birds #nature #naturalhistory

Western grebes (Aechmorphorus occidentalis) on the Tule River near McArthur CA. #birds #nature #naturalhistory #birdphotography

Indian warrior (Pedicularis densiflora) at Burney Falls State Park CA #indianwarrior #nature #wildflowers #naturalhistory #naturephotography #nativeplants

This white praying mantis (Tenodera aridifolia) most likely molted recently and will turn green or brown, its natural color, as the exoskeleton hardens. Alternatively, it might be a rare variation of the green or brown mantis. #insects #naturalhistory #nature #naturephotograhy

Double-crested cormorants (Phalacrocorax auritus) sunning along the Pit River near MaArthur CA. #double-crestedcormorant #birds #nature #naturalhistory

Tansyleaf suncup (Taraxia tanacetifolia) at Medicine Lake in Northern California. #wildflowers #tansyleafsuncup #nature #naturalhistory #flowers

Pussypaws (Calyptridium spraguea) at Medicine Lake in Northern California. The flower's resemblance to a cat's paw gives this wildflower its common name. Again, my imagination is not vivid enough to "see" a cat's paw. #pussypaws #wildflowers #nature #flowers #naturalhistory

This mule deer fawn (Odocoileus hemionus) is hanging around our ranch near Lookout CA. No mother is is to be seen. The little guy/gal is nibbling the shrubs and tree leaves. We are leaving him alone and hope mama returns. #muledeerfawn #Odocoileushemionus #naturalhistory #wildlifephotography

Least mouse-tail (Myosurus minimus) is a tiny spring plant growing in moist areas. Photographed on our ranch near Lookout CA. #wildflowers #nativeplants #leastmouse-tail #nature

Yellow monkeyflower (Erythranthe guttatus) at Ash Creek Wildlife Area CA. The common name originated because someone thought the flower resembles a monkey's face. My imagination is not that vivid. #nature #naturalhistory #monkeyflower #wildflowers #nativeplants

We came across a ponderosa pine bent over by the winter snow (Widow Valley near Lookout CA) with the new growth at the tips of the branches a good example of geotropism. #geotropism #naturalhistory #nature #ponderosapine

White plectritis (Plectritis macrocera) along the Pacific Crest Trail near the Crystal Lake Fish Hatchery in NE CA. #whiteplectritis #wildflowers #nativeplants #nature

We spend a lot of time across the road from our ranch at Ash Creek Wildlife Area CA - 14,000 acres of personal "playground". Yesterday this willet (Tringa semipalmata) welcomed us to our hike. Mount Shasta in the background. #willet #MountShasta #birds 🪶 #nature #AshCreekWildlifeArea

Canby's lomatium (Lomatium canbyi) is endemic to the NE California area. The root can be dried and ground into a flour, hence another common name - Canby's biscuitroot. #wildflowers #nativeplants #Canby'slomatium #nature #naturalhistory

I can watch Bullock's orioles (Icterus bullockii) building nests in the box elder (Acer negundo) outside my study window. Knotting vegetation, horsehair, bailing twine, fishing line, string, etc. they create a hanging basket. This nest is just begun. #birds #nature #Bullocksoriole 🪶 #naturalhistory

Hooker's balsamroot (Balsamorhiza hookeri) at Ash Creek Wildlife Area NE CA. The entire plant is edible. However, I find the taste a little too resinous to truly enjoy. #wildflowers #Hooker'sbalsamroot #nativeplants #naturalhistory

Wilson's phalaropes (Phalaropus tricolor) will swim in circles on shallow ponds creating a vortex that brings food to the surface. Ash Creek Wildlife Area CA. #birds #Wilson'sphalarope #naturalhistory #nature 🪶

Another wildflower blooming in our native plant garden is whitestem frasera (Frasera albicaulis). I love the combination of green and lavender on white in the flower. #whitestemfrasera #wildflowers #nativeplants #nature 🌻

One of my favorite wildflowers (and I have MANY) is bitterroot (Lewisia rediviva). It grows on dry scab land. This specimen is in my husband's native plant garden near Lookout CA. #bitterroot #wildflowers #nativeplants #nature #naturalhistory

The great-tailed grackle (Quiscalus mexicanus) range is beginning to expand into NE California. This is the first one I have seen in Ash Creek Wildlife Area (CA), near where we live. #birds #great-tailedgrackle #naturalhistory #nature

American bitterns (Botaurus lentiginosus) are masters of camouflage. This one at Ash Creek Wildlife Area CA was easy to spot. #birds #Americanbittern #nature #naturalhistory 🪶

Mourning dove (Zenaida macroura) on a fence outside my window in NE CA. When Eurasian collared doves (Streptopelia decaoto) moved into the area, the mourning doves moved further out into the wild. Mourning doves are finally returning. #birds #mourningdove #nature #naturalhistory #naturephotography

Hooker's balsamroot (Balsamorhiza hookeri) at Ash Creek Wildlife Area CA. All parts of the plant are edible, but I find it too resinous to enjoy eating. #nature #nativeplants #wildflowers 🌻 #naturalhistory

The osprey (Pandion haliaetus) near Crystal Lake in NE CA are repairing their nests from last season. #osprey #birds #nature #wildlife

Great Horned owls (Bubo virginianus) begin to breed early here in NE California - as early as January in the snow. I am already seeing fledglings, like this one at Ash Creek Wildlife Area this morning. #birds #greathornedowl #nature #naturalhistory

Several Lomatium species are commonly called desert parsley. Another name for these native plants is "biscuitroot" because the fibrous roots can be dried and ground into a flour. Modoc County CA. #wildflowers #naturalhistory #nativeplants #nature

The song of a yellow-headed blackbird (Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus) is a "hoarse, harsh scraping" that may be the "worst of any North American bird". Perhaps, but no one can miss identifying this bird by its calls. I like to hear it. NE California #yellow-headedblackbird #birds #naturalhistory

Bullock's orioles (Icterus bullockii) return to our yard in NE California around May 1st. Yesterday (May 3rd) we saw our first oriole of the year. According to my records they have arrived as early as 4-22 and as late as 5-6. #bullock'soriole #birds #naturalhistory #naturephotography

Granite prickly phlox (Linanthus pungens) is a low, branching shrub native to Western North America. Growing on dry, open, sandy or rocky soil from 3,600 to 13,100 feet, this early spring flower is common here in NE California. #pricklyphlox #wildflowers #nativeplants #naturalhistory

Daggerpods (Phoenicaulis cheiranthoides - post from a couple weeks ago) are already past bloom. This early flowering member of the Mustard Family produces seeds in siliques (dry fruit composed of two fused capsules). #wildflowers #nativeplants #naturalhistory #daggerpods

Spring gold (C multicaule from several days ago) and California goldfields (Lasthenia californica) look similar. Spring golds have a basal rosette and alternate cauline leaves while these goldfields, blooming later, have no rosette and opposite cauline leaves. #wildflowers #nativeplants