Faith has been broken, tears must be cried
Let’s do some living, after we die
Wild horses couldn’t drag me away.
Wild orchids, lilies, song birds, raptors, a beautiful spring day – – – it would take more than wild horses to drag me away.
At times I’m truly amazed at the diversity of beauty in the Portland area. In mid-April my destination was the eastern foothills of the Coastal Mountains. A 14-mile trail (1,450 feet of cumulative elevation gain) travels around Henry Hagg Lake, the impoundment behind Scoggins Valley Dam.
There are five creeks flowing into the 2 1/2 mile long reservoir, providing outstanding habitat for song birds, wildflowers and butterflies. What a pleasant way to spend a sunny six hours of exercise and fun.
Osprey on the hunt
Red-flowering Currant
Fawn Lily (a favorite of your humble scribe)
Calypso Orchid
Spring Azure Butterfly enjoying a solo puddling event (this little beauty is about the size of your thumbnail)
Reflection in the lake
Sitka Willow Tree
Pair of Osprey on their huge nest
fantastic shots!
Thanks. Spring in the Pacific Northwest is amazing!
I love your pictures! I was wondering, is the picture of the osprey nest the nest next to the Scoggins Creek Picnic area?
Thanks for the kind words. I think the osprey nest in the photo was closer to Tanner Creek, right next to the road. But, I don’t recall seeing the nest when hiking around the lake a few weeks back.
Thank you for responding! The nest that I’m thinking of at Scoggins Creek fell this last winter, and I’ve been looking around for a picture of it. The nest was huge, like the one in your picture, and was in a dead pine tree. https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=145314952319431&set=a.145310745653185.1073741833.137459759771617&type=3&theater
This is a picture of the tree that the nest was in.
That sounds like the same nest. I recall thinking that it was gone when I last hiked around the lake.
Very cool! The Ospreys now have a nest in a cottonwood across the road. It can be seen across Scoggins Creek from the road on the other side.