Monday Ibis Blogging

Ibises (Modoc NWR) - Modoc County  2017

Anyway, I think that these are ibises . . .

Taken with an Olympus E-M10 with a 75-300mm zoom lens. The lens was extended full-length, which I think you're not supposed to do.

[Update: Yes. Barbara confirms the bird ID!]

Leaving Alturas - Sightems

Sunflowers from Highway 395 - Lassen County  2017

Most Likely Cafe - Modoc County  2017

 A little tricky taking the sunflower photo . . . had to come to a complete stop right on the highway, at a certain spot (to avoid electrical wires). But very light traffic in back, so I was able to pull it off.

Cafe: Yelpers report this location has closed.

Leaving Alturas

Camero (Alturas) - Modoc County  2017

Sears Catalog Sales (Alturas) - Modoc County  2017

A few last photos taken in the AM before I headed south on highway 395. Very interesting area . . . will need to plan a return trip in a different season.

Monday Dog Blogging

Dog (Alturas) - Modoc County  2017

Seen as I walked from my hotel to the Wild Mustard, a local coffee shop, for coffee and an apple fritter.

Good.

Harold's Frosty

Diner Items (Alturas) - Modoc County  2017

Diner Interior (Alturas) - Modoc County  2017

Nice burger!

Government Buildings

Tulelake City Hall (Tulelake) - Siskiyou County  2007

Modoc County Courthouse (Alturas) - Modoc County  2017

2007 and 2017.

On a similar theme: the Bridgeport courthouse.

Modoc NWR - 4

Reeds, Mountains, Clouds (Modoc NWR) - Modoc County  2017

Reeds, Furrows, Clouds (Modoc NWR) - Modoc County  2017

The empty fields in the distance are apparently used by sandhill cranes when they pass through.

Like I said, I had the whole place to myself. Some of these photos might make nice prints. Wouldn't want to push the drama too far though.

Toyota RAV (Modoc NWR) - Modoc County  2017

Modoc NWR - 3

Marsh, Reeds (Modoc NWR) - Modoc County  2017

Marsh Detail (Modoc NWR) - Modoc County  2017

Top photo a two-photo (top and bottom) merge using the E-PL7 / Panasonic lens combo.

Bottom photo taken with the Olympus E-M10 with a 75-300mm zoom lens.

Modoc NWR - 2

Marsh, Reflections (Modoc NWR) - Modoc County  2017

Marsh, Reeds (Modoc NWR) - Modoc County  2017

Dramatic lighting effects. Top photos taken with an Olympus E-PL7 and a Panasonic 12-60mm zoom lens.

As far as I could tell, I was the only person there.

Self Portrait (Modoc NWR) - Modoc County  2017

Sunrise

Sunrise, Sunflowers, Ranch Buildings - Modoc County  2017

I set out early in the morning for a return visit to the wildlife refuge. Nice to see that the rain had reduced the smoke substantially and that there was a nice cloud cover.

Monday Heron Blogging

Heron (Modoc NWR) - Modoc County  2017

Nice overcast light after the rain. Still some sprinkles, but nothing major.

I followed this fellow as he made his way across the pond, then turned around for a profile photo.

Alturas Rain

Cloud from Motel (Alturas) - Modoc County  2017

Rain from Motel (Alturas) - Modoc County  2017

Distant thunderheads loomed high above the town when I returned to the motel (with burger and fries).

Later, a loud drumming noise outside: I opened the door to my room to discover a major downpour was going on!

Cedarville, Dorris Reservoir

Cedarville Grocery - Modoc County  2017

Cloud, Dorris Reservoir - Modoc County  2017

Continuing on over the Warner Mountains, one comes to Surprise Valley, and Cedarville, which will be deserving of a return trip.

Finally, a visit to the Dorris Reservoir. No wildlife, except for a lone egret down by the shoreline.

But some amazing clouds were starting to make an appearance.

Warner Mountains Excursion

Forest (Warner Mountains) - Modoc County  2017

Pine Trees (Warner Mountains) - Modoc County  2017

In an effort to cram in as much scenery as possible I left Devil's Garden and headed for the Warner Mountains, just east of Alturas. Very close, in fact . . . an amazing change in topography and vegetation.

Signs

Surprise Valley - Modoc County  2017

Take Jesus Seriously - Modoc County  2017

Above: signs seen during my recent trip to Modoc County.

Below: sign seen during my 2007 camping trip to Lava Beds National Monument.

Honor Your Oath - Siskiyou County  2007

Devil's Garden Excursion

Truck (Devil's Garden) - Modoc County  2017

Sign (Devil's Garden) - Modoc County  2017

I got a sandwich, chips and a soda in town, then headed west to the Crowder Flat Road, paved at first, then dirt, then into the Devil's Garden area.

It could very well be that this area is quite nice in the spring . . . abundant water, flowers and wildlife. (Wild horses are said to roam the area, but I didn't see any.)

But not in August, alas. In August it seemed as if the washboard road was going to rattle the Toyota to the point that it would start to come apart. I finally stopped at an intersection and had lunch under the noontime sun, among the lava and junipers, listening to some military jets far above.

Modoc NWR - 1

Pond (Modoc NWR) - Modoc County  2017

Sunflowers (Modoc NWR) - Modoc County  2017

Morning at the Modoc National Wildlife Refuge. A warm day, somewhat smoky and glary. I hiked around this pond and liked the reflections and sunflowers, but didn't see any wildlife. Not surprising given the walking path around the circumference which is also open to dogs.

Monday Egret Blogging

Egrets (Modoc NWR) - Modoc County  2017

August is probably not the correct month for premium birding, although I really don't consider myself a birder. However, I did take along with me an Olympus 75-300mm zoom lens, which is equivalent in 35mm film terms to 150-600mm. So the reach was pretty far out there; you just needed to remember to set a pretty high shutter speed to avoid lens shake.

There were a number of egrets at the refuge, though, posing in groups, above, or alone, below.

Egret (Modoc NWR) - Modoc County  2017

County Road 59

County Road 59 - Modoc County  2017

In order to get to the turnoff to the Modoc National Wildlife Refuge I went a little farther down the road than I should have. But that was good, because I found this scene on the way.

Consists of three vertical photos combined using Photoshop.

Every now and then, flights of geese overhead:

Geese - Modoc County  2017

Alturas Sightems

Pit Stop - Alturas  2017

Gracepoint - Alturas  2017

Very photogenic town.