Hairy Woodpeckers

Hairy Woodpecker -- Mather Campground, Grand Canyon National Park, AZ
Canon EOS Rebel T5i, EF-S 55-250mm IS II, 1/2000s, f/5.6, ISO: 800

Pongo and I bumped into this hairy woodpecker while we were taking a walk around Mather Campground at the Southern Rim of the Grand Canyon last year.  Cute little guy.  Looking at this photo I was reminded of the other time I ran into a hairy woodpecker at Ruby Beach in Olympic National Park.  Two very different environments.  These birds live all over North America.  Anywhere there are trees, basically.  They look different in the Pacific Northwest, they're gray and black instead of white and black.

Hairy Woodpecker -- Ruby Beach, Olympic National Park, WA
Canon PowerShot SX40 HS

In both cases I recall having to follow the birds as they moved around the tree and struggling to get good light as they moved.  So inconsiderate of them.

Photo selection inspired by Geogypsy's Foto Friday Fun 122, image #907.

The Olympic Range

Olympic National Park, WA
Canon  PowerShot SX40 HS

I took this from the side of Highway 101 in Olympic National Park.  It was early in the morning and the mountains were absolutely glowing.  This photo doesn't quite capture what I recall, but it hints at it.

Down to the River We'd Ride

Elwha River, Olympic National Park, WA
Canon EOS Rebel T5i, EF 17-40mm f/4 L USM, 1/40s, f/6.3, ISO: 100

I posted a photo a few days ago if the Elwha River emerging from a canyon a couple of miles or so from the place where a dam had been removed a couple of years ago.  The river was running gray in the photo,  laden with silt that had backed up over the years behind the dam.  This photo was taken just above where the dam had been.  As you can see, there's still a lot of earth to be removed by the river.  Eventually this view will disappear as the trees return to the riverbanks.

The Muddy Elwha

Elwha River, Olympic National Park, WA
Canon EOS Rebel T5i, EF 17-40mm f/4 L USM, 1/30s, f/5.6, ISO: 400

The waters of the Elwha River run gray these days.  It's not merely a reflection of an overcast sky, the water is full of silt that built up behind a dam that was removed a couple of years ago.  I love the fact that dams are starting to disappear in the NorthWest.  I've heard they're considering removing the dams on the Klamath River as well.  I hope that happens. It's nice to think that at least some of the damage we've done to the environment can be undone.

Hoh River

Hoh River, Olympic National Park, WA
Canon PowerShot SX40 HS, 1/250s, f/4, ISO: 200

There is a bald eagle somewhere in the trees in this picture.  I was following the bird with my camera but it had landed on one of the trees by the time I snapped the shot.  So, yeah, not the most exciting of images but I do love this river.

Photo selection inspired by Geogypsy's Foto Friday Fun 101, photo #8888.