Yellow-headed blackbird (Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus) at Ash Creek Wildlife Area in Modoc County CA. I love this bird's raucous call. #birds #yellow-headedblackbird #nature #naturalhistory

Prairie starflower (Lithophragma bulbifera) at Ash Creek Wildlife Area, Modoc County CA. #prairiestarflower #wildflowers #nature #naturalhistory

West coast painted lady (Vanessa annabella) at Ash Creek Wildlife Area near Lookout CA. #butterfly #westcoastpaintedlady #insects #nature #naturalhistory

#NoKings #KlamathFallsOR

Spring gold (Crocidium multicaule) at Ash Creek Wildlife Area near Lookout CA. #wildflowers #springgold #nature #naturalhistory

A pygmy rabbit (Sylvilagus idahoensis) has been hanging around our machine shed - Modoc County CA. #mammals #pygmyrabbit #nature #naturalhistory

Sakura (cherry blossoms) are a required part of visiting Japan in the spring. These were in Naruto/Takashima. #sakura #cherryblossoms #flowers #nature #Japan

Yellow bells (Fritillaria pudica) at Ash Creek Wildlife Area, Modoc County CA. The earliest wildflowers are finally blooming here on the high desert. #wildflowers #nature #naturalhistory #yellowbells #flowers #Fritillariapudica

Eurasian teal (Anas crecca) in the lotus root fields of Takashima Japan. They are very similar to the green-winged teal (Anas carolinensis) found across Northern North America. #birds #Eurasianteal #nature #naturalhistpry

Back from visiting family in Japan. The oriental stork (Ciconia boyciana) is an endangered species, extinct in Japan, but being reintroduced. These are two of 17 in the lotus root fields of Takashima. All are hoping there are eggs in the nest. #birds #nature #orientalstork #endangeredspecies

This coyote (Canis latrans), and sometimes its mate, visit us almost every day, often several times a day. They are welcome.

Townsend's solitaires (Myadestes townsendi) are moving closer to our house in Modoc County CA this winter. Usually they stay in the more remote areas of our ranch. #Townsend'ssolitaires #Myadestestownsendi #birds #nature #naturalhistory

Bird's-nest fungi along the Headwaters Trail at Burney Falls State Park CA. The peridioles (spore cases) look like eggs in the nest-like cup. This is a tiny fungus, about 1/4 inch diameter. #fungi #mushrooms #bird's-nestfungi #nature #naturalhistory

Bushtit (Psaltriparus minimus) on a lilac tree in our yard near Lookout CA. These tiny birds remain here throughout the year. #bushtit #nature #naturalhistory #birds

Prairie falcon (Falco mexicanus) photographed at Ash Creek Wildlife Area near Adin CA. #nature #prairiefalcon #birds #naturalhistory

They are late returning to NE California this year. Finally the rough-legged hawks (Buteo lagopus) are back. #birds #naturalhistory #nature #rough-leggedhawk

Yesterday, just north of Lookout CA, we came upon these wild turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo), part of a flock of about thirty. #birds #wildturkey #nature #naturalhistory #birdphotography

The tundra swans (Cygnus columbianus) have returned to Big Valley CA (Modoc County). #tundraswan #birds #waterfowl #nature #naturalhistory

Guess who was looking into our bedroom window this morning. A curious mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus). I came up to the window and this young guy just kept watching me. #muledeer #nature #naturalhistory #naturephotography

We are having a wet late autumn. More fungi and lichens than we have had in years are appearing. This lichen, a Cladonia species, was photographed at Burney Falls State Park CA. #lichen #Cladonia #nature #naturalhistory

Nuttall's woodpecker (Picoides nuttallii) at Baum Lake in Northeastern California. #birds #Nuttall'swoodpecker #nature #naturalhistory #naturephotography

Belted kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon) along the Tule River near McArthur CA. #birds #nature #naturalhistory #beltedkingfisher

This magnificent mule deer buck (Odocoileus hemionus) has been following this doe around our yard for the past few days. Still no contact. Maybe tomorrow. #muledeer #mammals #naturephotography #naturalhistory

With winter approaching, white-crowned sparrows (Zonotrichia leucophrys) have returned to NE California. #birds #naturalhistory #nature #white-crownedsparrow

Without leaves the young great horned owls (Bubo virginianus) are easy to spot. #birds #nature #naturephotography #naturalhistory #greathornedowl

"No Kings" in cherry-red Klamath Falls OR. Lots of support and horn honking. #NoKings #KlamathFallsOR

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