My year in pictures 2019

It's been an amazing year. Thanks to all who took me along for the ride...

Impeachment eve protest in conservative rural Oregon

Protesters gather along Garden Valley Blvd., in Roseburg as they demonstrate in favor of the impeachment of President Donald Trump on Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2019. The United State House of Representatives is likely to vote on the impeachment on Wednesday.

Roseburg is the county seat of Douglas County.  In the 2016 presidential election 64.6% of the county voted for Trump.

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Lucky ruffed grouse

A wild ruffed grouse feeds on clover in an open field adjacent to a forested area near Elkton in rural western Oregon on Sunday, Dec. 15, 2019. Regional nicknames for the ruffed grouse include include drummer, prairie chicken, and thunder-chicken. 

Birds on a wire

An American kestrel perches on a roadside utility wire during a heavy rain shower near Elkton in western Oregon on Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2019. Kestrels are the smallest, but most common falcons in North America. 

Global Climate Strike in Eugene, Ore.

Several hundred youth march through Eugene, Ore., as they participate in a Global Climate Strike on Friday, Dec. 6, 2019. The strike and march were organized by the Sunrise Movement and was set to correspond with the United Nations annual climate conference currently taking place in Spain.

California sea lions argument

A pair of male California sea lions have a disagreement while relaxing on Simpson Reef in the Oregon Islands National Wildlife Refuge near Charleston on the southern Oregon coast Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2019.

Those awkward teenage years

An immature bald eagle forages in the shallows between rocks on the Umpqua River near Elkton in rural western Oregon on Sunday, Nov. 24, 2019. The bird appeared to be reaching for a fish, but came up empty handed.

Fungus among us

Small mushrooms grow in a dewy pasture on a hillside near Elkton in rural western Oregon on Friday, Nov., 23, 2019.

Wire walker

A small spider climbs along a strand of electric fence on a dewy morning on a farm near Elkton in rural western Oregon on Thursday, Nov. 21, 2019.

Great blue heron in Oregon

A great blue heron spreads its wings while hunting on mossy rocks along the Umpqua River near Elkton in western Oregon on Sunday, Nov. 17, 2019.

A bit later the heron took off for a new spot slightly down stream.

Sleeping beauty

The rusting body of an abandoned car is covered with fall leaves as it rests on the bank of the Umpqua River near Elkton in rural western Oregon on Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2019. The car is possibly a 1941 Chevorlet Fleetline.

Mushroom magic

A large mushroom grows from the trunk of a mossy tree along the bank of the Umpqua River near Elkton in rural western Oregon on Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2019.

Note: The photo is lit from above using a hand-held flash. 

Cheeky Clark's nutcracker at Crater Lake National Park

A Clark's nutcracker snatches a snack from the hand of a tourist at a scenic overlook at Crater Lake National Park in southern Oregon on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2019. According the the National Audubon Society the park is home to approximately 84 bird species. The Clark's nutcracker is a super smart bird. Researchers say it's one of the most intelligent species on the planet. Read more here.

'Twas the night before Halloween

As dusk falls the night before Halloween, a bat yawns as it awakes with its colony as they and prepare for their nightly insect hunting flights on a farm near Elkton on Oct. 30, 2019. 

A cute little guy.

Climate Strike in Vancouver, British Columbia with Greta Thunberg

Swedish teen climate change activist Greta Thunberg prepares to speak to thousand gathered in downtown Vancouver, British Columbia during a rally after a climate strike march. According to Vancouver police about 15,000 people took part in the event.

Thousands took part in the march and gathered in from the of the Vancouver Art Gallery for the rally.

Young Canadians came out in huge numbers for the Climate Strike.

A group of children look on from behind a barricade.

Greta Thunberg leaves the rally behind a protective barrier of volunteers.

Walnut thief

On a wet fall day, a Steller's jay snatches a walnut from the roof of a shed in an orchard near Elkton in western Oregon on Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2019. The bird was using it's powerful beak to break open the nuts and eat the tender meat inside.

A western scrub-jay also got in on the action.

Shake it off

A wild black tailed deer shakes off a thick coating of rainwater while browsing in a field along a country road near Elkton in rural western Oregon on Sunday, Oct. 20, 2019. The deer, and about 10 other does and fawns, were spending the rainy afternoon feeding in the pasture.

Turkey time

A wild turkey walks past a tree covered in colorful fall leaves along the Umpqua River near Elkton in rural western Oregon on Saturday, Oct. 19, 2019.

High surf advisory

A group of people watch from an outcrop as massive waves crash on the rocks at Shore Acres State Park near Charleston on the south coast of Oregon on Oct. 17, 2019. The National Weather Service has issued a high surf advisory for the southern Oregon coast through Friday with the possibility  of breaking waves of 20 to 25 feet. 

Fall flight

As seen through a screen of colorful fall leaves, a bald eagle takes flight from a tree along the Umpqua River near Elkton in rural western Oregon on Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2109.

A cute little stinker

A skunk forages in a pasture along the Umpqua River near Elkton in rural western Oregon on Monday, Oct. 14, 2019. Although skunks have excellent smell and hearing, skunks are known to have very poor vision and can only see objects that are right in front of them.

Fresh sushi for breakfast

A wild bald eagle feeds on a fish while perched on a grassy rock in the Umpqua River near Elkton in rural western Oregon on Sunday, Oct. 13, 2019.

An apple a day

An American robin feeds on an apple on lovely fall day in western Oregon near Elkton on Friday, Oct. 11, 2019.

No Bull

A bullfrog basks in the late afternoon sun while floating in a cattle watering trough on a ranch near Elkton in rural western Oregon on Saturday, Oct. 5, 2019. Bullfrogs are considered an invasive species in Oregon. 

I see you

A wild black bear pauses to look around while foraging in an open area on a hillside near Elkton in rural western Oregon on Thursday, Oct. 3, 2019. The bear appeared to be feeding on acorns. 

Don't try this at home. I took these photos using an extreme telephoto lens from a safe distance.