June 17, 2015
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| We had a quick stop in Wasco County to let the dogs go to the bathroom and to watch nesting Peregrines and White-throated Swifts. |
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| Another quick stop to look through an abandoned house and look for rattlesnakes. I did see (well, mostly heard it speed off through the sagebrush) a snake on the way in but the snake found shelter too fast before I could get a good look at it. |
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| Looking South just east of the Cascades. |
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| Continuing on and leaving Mt Hood further behind. |
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| The only picture I have from the town of Lonerock, which was a rocky dirt road, a couple bigger structures, a few houses and a big lone rock. There was a Red-Tailed Hawk and Golden Eagle chase. Eventually, there was also a fence across the quickest route towards the Umatilla National Forest, our final destination for camping away from the heat. Oh yeah, there were some of these Blanket Flowers too. |
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| Taking Buttermilk Canyon Road, the long route, to the Umatilla National Forest. Some Canyon Wrens were here. |
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| Some Killdeer (pictured through binoculars) and dragonflies were here. |
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| Some deer over here. |
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| And more abandoned buildings everywhere. |
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| Western Blue Flag Iris growing in the Umatilla National Forest. |
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| After a restless sleep in the truck and a quick pack-up, we were off to Condon for coffee. Near Ruggs on highway 26 there was a Chukar on the side of the road, a couple deer crossing the road in front of a "deer crossing" sign and a harrier with a bird in its talons. A couple miles later and there was something in the road. |
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| A Western Rattlesnake. Crappy picture through binoculars. |
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| I have been looking for rattlesnakes this year and am stoked to have finally come across my first one, safely, in the wild. |
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| Sights along Quinn Road before heading back towards home. |
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| Back home waiting for the sunset over Swan Island and Forest Park. |
