Vulture culture

A turkey vulture warms in the morning sun while perched on dead tree with the waning gibbous moon in the background along the Umpqua River near Elkton in rural western Oregon on Friday, April 26, 2019.

On the nest

A barn owl gets comfortable in a nest box in a barn in western Oregon near Elkton on Wednesday, April 24, 2019.  The owl and its mate have had several successful broods of owlets in the barn and there are likely a clutch of eggs in the box with the adult owl. 

Sideband snail trail

A large Pacific sideband snail extends a single eye stalk as it moves slowly over a rock on a rainy morning in western Oregon near Elkton on Saturday, April 20, 2019.  

Sideband snails are found in the Pacific Northwest from Alaska to Northern California. Although the snail is considered common, fragmentation of its natural habitat is considered a threat to its survival.

Turkey time

A pair of male wild turkey display for a group of nearby females in a field on a farm near Elkton in rural Douglas County, Oregon.

Newt mating season

A group of wild rough skinned newts are displayed in a glass container on the bank their pond on a hillside near Elkton in western Oregon on Wednesday, April 17, 2019. The amphibious rough skinned newts are drawn to ponds for mating and egg laying in the spring. The body of the rough skinned newt contains a powerful toxin and the bright color of their underbellies is believed to be a warning sign for possible predators.

Spring birds

A rufous hummingbird feeds from a camellia flower on a dewy morning near Elkton in western Oregon on Tuesday, April 16, 2019. According to allaboutbirds.com rufous hummingbirds are long-distance migrant. They can travel nearly 4,000 miles from breeding grounds in Alaska and northwest Canada to wintering sites in Mexico. They travel north up the Pacific Coast in spring.

A small songbird (possibly a yellow warbler) pauses while feeding from one of the camellia flowers.

Ground squirrel fever

My border collie has come down with a bad case of ground squirrel fever. Symptoms of squirrel fever included: uncontrollable digging, dirt in the oral cavity, mud covered nose, and angry outbursts.

Cute little stinker

A small skunk forages in a pasture on a farm near Elkton in rural western Oregon on Saturday, April 13, 2019. Skunks are omnivorous and have been known to eat  insects, larvae, earthworms, grubs, rodents, lizards, salamanders, frogs, snakes, birds, moles, and eggs. They also commonly eat berries, roots, leaves, grasses, fungi and nuts.

Stop to nibble the flowers

A golden-crowned sparrow feeds on plum blossoms in an orchard on a farm near Elkton in rural western Oregon, on April 10, 2019.

Gourmet wild morel mushrooms

An insect climbs on a wild morel mushroom growing on a hillside near Elkton in rural western Oregon on Thursday, April 11, 2019.  Due to their unique flavor morel mushrooms are prized by gourmet chefs worldwide.

Wild morel mushrooms are displayed after being harvested. One of the best and simplest ways to enjoy morels is by gently sauteeing them in butter, cracking pepper on top and sprinkling with salt.

The wet spring in Oregon seems to have made for a healthy morel mushroom crop.

Heavy Rain Causes Flooding In Oregon

High water rushes over the Winchester Dam on the North Umpqua River near Roseburg on Monday, April 8, 2019. According to the National Weather Service 3 to 6 inches of rain have fallen in the area over the last few days and many local rivers are at or above flood stage.

A man walks near a mudslide blocking Bullock Road near Kellogg in rural Douglas County Oregon on Monday, April 8, 2019. According to the National Weather Service 3 to 6 inches of rain have fallen in the area over the last few days causing mud slides and pushing many local rivers near flood stage.  

A man and his dog check out the rushing river.

Baa, Baa wet sheep

A sheep stands in the rain in a pasture on a farm near Elkton in rural western Oregon on Sunday, April 7, 2019. The National Weather Service has issued a flood watch for much of south western Oregon through Monday. Total rainfall amounts are expected to be 4 to 8 inches from the storm.

Not so fine feathered friends

A pair of free-range roosters have a disagreement in an orchard on a farm near Roseburg in rural western Oregon on Wednesday, April 3, 2019. The roosters appeared to be showing off for several nearby hens.

Ant blossoms

An ant forages on the blossom of a crabapple tree on a farm near Elkton in rural western Oregon on Wednesday, April 3, 2019.

Rainy Daze

Water droplets cling to a clover leaf growing in a pasture on a farm during a rainy morning in western Oregon near Elkton, Ore., on Monday, April 1, 2019.