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Author Archives: Teri J Pieper

Walks with Friends

The dogs and I love walks with friends  – both canine and human. These images are from a couple of walks on the Wildlife Area near Frost Road. It’s really just a mile or two from our house as the raven flies, however there is private land in between here and there. Consequently we have to drive about fifteen miles to get there.

I wonder what Sky is thinking about?
Better quit thinking and catch up with the pack
January? Really?
Look what Sky brought us!
Frida leads the way
A frozen hay field
Here comes Frida!
And Luna is right behind her
Terrific clouds
Looking towards Frost Lake

Two Hawks

Lots of catching up today. My computer is facing another serious meltdown and sooner or later I have to take it in for another new hard drive. I am caught up on work stuff so that should happen soon.

In the meantime here are a couple of hawks I’ve seen from my dining room this month. I think they are both first year birds – a light Red-tailed Hawk and a Sharp-shinned Hawk. If you have other ideas about their ID, let me know.

I think this one is a light juvenile Red-tailed Hawk
I am pretty sure this is a Sharp-shinned Hawk, probably a female since it seems big.

An American Dipper and a Green Growing Plant

One day, earlier this month, we had a short walk in Big Valley. Normally Luna and I would be skiing out there every week. MVSTA grooms a ski trail and dogs are allowed. But with so little snow, there is no grooming at Big Valley this year. Insert big sad face here.

It’s always fun to get to the river in the winter and watch for American Dippers (formerly referred to as Water Ouzels). These amazing birds with short tails ‘swim’ underwater finding insects anytime of the year. In the winter they are on the main river. During high water and breeding season they go to the smaller tributaries to make their nests and raise their young.

The dipper is standing on a rock in the middle of the river, balanced on one foot, and scratching its ear. Birds are amazing.
There are quite a few of these plants growing in a little side channel. Do you know what they are?

We Walk at Home

We walk at home just about everyday. Even if we have a bigger outing, we will often do a quick loop just so the dogs can get their yaw yaws out and I can stretch my legs. And on a sunny day like this one – we go for longer walks.

Luna needs a haircut and more attention
We don’t usually get this close to deer. This one must have been enjoying the sun too.
Peek a boo

Pearrygin Lake Walk

We have had quite a few days of ice fog. That combined with no new snow can make a pretty bleak picture. The little snow we have has been softened and frozen into an uneven frozen track that often makes walking difficult. I put ‘yak traks’ on my shoes just about every time I go out for a walk. One day last week there was a hint that the sun might be shining just a little higher up and the dogs and I had a few minutes before meeting our friends for agility practice. So we went up to frozen Pearrygin Lake to see if we could find the sun and to stretch our legs. There were glimpses of sunshine, sucker holes, but by the time we left, it was just gray again.

We saw some folks walking their goats through the state park
A sun spot/sucker hole on the hillside
Sky at five months and 40 pounds.
Sky and Luna playing
Sometimes she looks distinguished
Bubbles in the ice
This bubble looks like a UFO
There’s that spot of blue sky