Warm, Wet December

Very warm for December, so far.  Lots of rain, well over average, and temperature in the 50's this week.  Pond water temperature 51 Deg today.

Red-Legged Frog. Unusal to see one this late in the season.

First Snowfall for Fall 2010

A light snow today to kick off the winter.  Supposed to be a heavy snow year this winter.  We tend to have more snow at our elevation then the lower regions in the Williamette valley.

Several Red-Legged frogs were seen in the pond as late as last week

Last Green Darner and Fall Pictures

Green Darner Female depositing eggs - last for the year

More Fall Shots

Nice Fall Weather

Late visit from a Crimson Meadow Hawk Dragonfly

Blue Darner depositing eggs

First Day of Fall

More September Rain

Rain on the pond

Water Lillies

A little fall color

Rain Today and Summer Ending

Summer was dry here but rain today, first in two months. Some warm periods this summer but overall cool.  Most alarming was the absence of large numbers of butterflies, dragon flies and insects in general. Also smaller number of frogs as opposed to last year. May have been due to the late, cold weather we had.   Hoping this is not a trend.

Update

Cooling. Daily temperatuers in the 70s this week, after 90s in previous week. 

Picture Update

Common Wood Nymph

Cattails and Other

Cattails Blooming

Damselflies

Color at pondside

Frogs Appear

Small Red-Legged frogs are starting to appear.

Twelve-Spotted Skimmer

Pond Views

Picture Update

Warm and Sunny

Continued good weather.  The color around the pond brings something new every day.  the cold spring has left its mark.  Still fewer than normal pollinators.  Frogs are much fewer this year as well, although the earlier large number of egg sightings was encouraging. 

Observations and Pics

More dragonflies are appearing daily.  Some butterflies are starting to show up but in small numbers so far and there seems to be more bumblebees but still much fewer in number than usual for this time of year.  A number of salamander tads were seen today in the bog pond.  Very hot, in the 90s. 

Eight-spotted Skimmer

Summer Finally Comes to Oregon

As usual our summer started after 4th of July..this year on July 6. The cold, variable weather seemed to affect some of the pollinators and other insects.  Our Bumble bees are almost non-existent so far, but we have hopes for their recovery.  We are seeing many dragonflies, some butterflies and honey bees now that it is warmer.  Temperature in the 80s yesterday and supposed to reach mid 90s this week.  Some pictures:

Mt. Adams on a beautiful first day of summer weather

Three dragonfly species: Common White Tailed, Eight-Spot Skimmer in the center and Cardinal Meadow Hawk to the right. In the background (only visible on the enlarged photo, by clicking on this one) are several Blue Tule Damselflies.

More pictures added on the Dragonfly page above.