The Eastern Sierra~

On By cindy knokeIn Conservation, MY PHOTOGRAPHS, REVERIES, Wild Life131 Comments

Got slammed with 111 inches of snow in the most recent 5 day storm.

UC Berkeley’s Snow Lab records this as the snowiest 5 day stretch in 40 years.

But the Sierras are once again,

silent,

still,

serene.

Even the twin waterfalls are sleeping!

Life perseveres, waiting for spring thaw.

The White Mountains (in the back), are home to the few surviving California herds of wild mustangs who are now going to be captured and removed by helicopter roundup and bait water trapping. See prior post on these magnificent wild creatures and their keystone place in the wild habitat:

Wild Mustangs of Mono Lake~

The US Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management are moving forward with plans to capture and remove approximately 500 wild horses from their home near Mono Lake in California’s Eastern Sierra. The mustangs have lived here since the 1800’s. The Forest Service and BLM claim the horses are a danger on roads and disturb sensitive habitats.

Interestingly, cattle are allowed to graze in much of this “sensitive habitat.” Reports indicate wild mustangs are consuming habitat allocated for privately owned cattle. In more than 50 years I have never seen a wild mustang on a road, and neither have my friends and family, some whom live in the area, and had no idea they were even here.

https://americanwildhorse.org

https://www.easternsierrawildhorses.com

Cheers to you from The Eastern Sierra and her not long remaining, wild & free mustangs~

What To Do in The Desert?

On By cindy knokeIn Conservation, MY PHOTOGRAPHS, REVERIES, TRAVEL REVIEWS279 Comments

When an atmospheric river,

dumps torrential rain,

spawning dozens of high mountain waterfalls,

that crash down right by the door of your condo rental,

creating flash floods?

What to do?

Get wet,

and take photos too!

It is an amazing experience because it happens so incredibly quickly. It starts with serious torrential downpours that are fast in onset, next you hear roaring, go outside, and see dozens of waterfalls falling from the 8000+ peaks of The Santa Rosa Mountain Range, to the sea level and below, and since your vacation condo sits at the foot of these mountains, the show is quite spectacular! The photos can’t do it justice in the midst of the storm. Lakes and rivers have formed where dust and lizards were sunning yesterday! Now I personally see why you do not want to be in a narrow desert canyon in a flash flood situation. It’s way too fast and way too intense.

Cheers to you from the flooding desert~

Sonoran Badlands~

On By cindy knokeIn Conservation, MY PHOTOGRAPHS, REVERIES, TRAVEL REVIEWS205 Comments

(click/tap to enlarge)

Stark,

stunning,

solitary,

soulful.

Badlands have a beauty,

that calls you back,

year after year.

Be safe & well. Cheers to you from The Sonoran Desert~

Blue Footed Boobies~

On By cindy knokeIn Birds, Conservation, MY PHOTOGRAPHS, TRAVEL REVIEWS255 Comments

(click/tap to enlarge)

Are grace,

in the sky,

and charmers up close.

Mexico,

off season without the tourists.

Arte de Mexico,

on every street and every home.

I have been flying around like the birdies and am not posting quite as frequently, but just like the birds, I will always drop by to see what you’re up too!

Cheers to you from Mexico & Hope you are safe & well~

We See You~

On By cindy knokeIn Birds, Conservation, HOLLER HAPPENINGS, MY PHOTOGRAPHS, REVERIES, Wild Life273 Comments

(click to enlarge)

You bird watcher,

you.

You think,

you watch us?

Our lives depend,

on watching you.

We appreciate,

your jelly,

but we don’t really trust you.

You are a human after all.

Cheers to you from the wise and wonderful Holler Hooded and Bullocks Orioles~

For more on these orioles see:

https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Bullocks_Oriole/overview

https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Hooded_Oriole/overview

Blooming~

On By cindy knokeIn Conservation, Flowers, MY PHOTOGRAPHS, REVERIES, TRAVEL REVIEWS214 Comments

Squirrely is waiting for the blooms to turn to berries.

The cherry blossoms,

and shallon blooms will soon make him fat & happy.

The rhododendrons,

are a blooming,

glory.

While the iris,

are dramatic divas.

Piers Japonica looks like sci-fi critters ready to up-root and walk away!

Cheers to you from blooming Washington & Oregon~

Columbia River Gorge (Oregon & Washington Side)~

On By cindy knokeIn Conservation, Flowers, MY PHOTOGRAPHS, REVERIES, TRAVEL REVIEWS189 Comments

The Astoria-Megler Bridge is the longest continuous truss bridge in North America, connecting Oregon and Washington State and spanning The Columbia River.

On the Oregon side is Fort Clatsop,

and the temperate rain forests of The Pacific Northwest.

It is the home of the rebuilt Fort Clatsop which was the winter home of Lewis & Clark in 1805-1806.

On The Washington side, Cape Disappointment in the south west corner of Washington State, is where the mouth of The Columbia River meets The Pacific Ocean. The Cape was named by a British fur trader who was searching for the mouth of The Columbia River, but mistook it for a bay after he was unable to navigate his ship through the treacherous sand bars protecting the mouth of the river. He didn’t know he actually had found the river mouth he was looking for.

North Head Lighthouse on The Cape was built in 1897 and is still in operation.

Washington state is blessed with beautiful volcanos like Mount Adams,

and views across the river,

of Mt. Hood.

Driving along The Columbia River Highway on the Oregon side, you have clear views across the river to Washington.

Cheers to you from the thimbleberry flower in Washington State~

Columbia River Gorge (Oregon Side)~

On By cindy knokeIn Conservation, Flowers, MY PHOTOGRAPHS, REVERIES, TRAVEL REVIEWS, Wild Life232 Comments

We are staying in The Gorge Hotel built in 1921 where my grandparents once stayed,

with the wildflowers blooming,

driving up to find the views,

my grandfather painted in his Columbia Gorge paintings.

This observant robin didn’t let me distract him,

from his worm,

and this friendly elk licked our car windows!

Cheers to you from the gorgeous Gorge~

Elkish Attitude~

On By cindy knokeIn Conservation, MY PHOTOGRAPHS, REVERIES, TRAVEL REVIEWS, Wild Life206 Comments

Who do you think you are?

Can’t you see we’re busy?

You are not a member of our clicque!

We have a hard enough time getting along with each other.

You are just toooo much!

We just want to rest in peace,

but you human, are not getting the message…..

and you are NOT invited for dinner.

Besides we are much more handsome than humans.

Cheers to you from the handsome haughty herd of Cannon Beach Oregon~