Spring into Summer

Baby quail out and about                                                     © Diane Reed

It's hard to believe it's the first day of summer. We've had several days of rain and unusually cool weather. The bird feeders are full of young finches, we call them Baby Hueys because they seem bigger than the parents. Yesterday a bunch of them were sitting on our deck furniture under the roof overhang looking cold and wet. It seems likely that the parents bring them to the birdfeeders, show them how to get food (sometimes they just peck at the feeder tubes because they can see the seeds, but can't figure out how to get to it). The parents take off and leave them on their own and they hang out near the feeders.

Watching over the chicks © Diane Reed

     The quail have been around with their babies. The male generally serves as the lookout while the female leads them under the bushes and over to the grass under the feeder. There's always seed on the ground for them.

     The last few years we've had one or two white ducks at the pond. They were likely dumped there by people who got baby ducks for Easter and decided they didn't want them. One of them, a female, had quite a few Mallard suitors this year, so it was no surprise when she showed up one day with a flotilla of babies in tow.

Mama duck and her brood        © Diane Reed

It proved to be quite an assortment -- three yellow, three brown and one in between. She is a devoted mother, gathering her brood under her wings at the edge of the pond, quacking fiercely at the Osprey if he dares to dive near her ducklings.

Mama duck gathers her babies under her wings © Diane Reed

For all the young birds there is plenty of peril. Coyotes, cats and people are a hazard. Young ducklings are fair game for Osprey and Blue Herons. The quail and songbirds need to watch out for a variety of hawks that frequent the neighborhood. In the end, it's the smartest ones (and the ones whose parents defend them) who survive.

Swainson's Hawk on the lookout for dinner                           © Diane Reed

Change of Scenery

Newport, Oregon, harbor                                                     © Diane Reed

You're right, this doesn't look at all like Walla Walla! We took a little time out to visit family in Oregon, including several days in Newport, Oregon to visit an aunt and uncle and cousins. It's always great to be on the Oregon coast, although at this time of the  year the weather can be a bit changeable -- rain one minute, sun the next and wind in the middle of it all.

Don Davis Park, Newport          © Diane Reed

     Newport is one of our favorite places on the Oregon Coast, and there's lots to do there. We'd visited the Oregon Coast Aquarium on our last visit, so this time we visited Oregon State University's Hatfield Marine Science Center. It's a great facility, with lots of hands-on tidepools and interesting exhibits. They also had part of a dock from Japan that ended up on Agate Beach just north of Newport.
     Downtown Newport is an interesting mix of maritime industry, restaurants and galleries.  Our cousin Jeannie André has her line of cards and artwork at Oceanic Arts on the Harbor.

Local Ocean Seafoods chef at work     © Diane Reed  

     We also had a chance to have dinner at our favorite Newport restaurant, Local Ocean Seafoods. The restaurant is always busy, and if you've tried their Seared King Salmon over linguini with roasted poblano pepper and Oregonzola cheese topped with tomato saffron sauce you'll know why. They also have a fish market on site. 
      Of course, there's visits to the beach and the local lighthouses to watch for whales spouting (yup, we saw them), seabirds (lots) and enjoying salt air. It was great to visit, but we're always happy to get back to the beautiful Walla Walla Valley!

Yaquina Head Lighthouse, Newport, Oregon                                                                  © Diane Reed  

The Return of the Osprey

We've been waiting for our migrating Ospreys to return to the pond, a bit concerned because we hadn't seen them yet. They usually show up just before the fishing derby held annually at the pond at Lions Park. On Friday they stocked the pond with several hundred trout in anticipation of this morning's event. At 8 a.m. the kids (14 and under) were let in and took up their positions. We enjoy watching the kids catch their first fish, usually within a few minutes (these are hatchery fish, after all).

Some of the kids seem to be old hands at fishing, deftly reeling in their catch and taking it off the hook. Others are not so sure, and wait for parental help. It's a great activity for families, and everyone seems to have a great time.

Mid-morning we glimpse a large bird soaring across the valley toward us and for the first time this spring an Osprey hovers over the pond. He/she  makes several passes but seems disconcerted by all the people around the pond. He makes several circles around the pond and flies off. Later in the morning he's back, and with fewer people fishing he hovers, then dives for a fish, flying off with his prize. Quite a show for the onlookers.

Osprey spend the winter from Mexico through northern South America. There's a great video about tracking Osprey migration at Oregon Public Broadcasting. Remember that Osprey are a federally protected species, and it's illegal to harm or harass them.