Bald Eagle perched on a lodgepole pine in Hope Valley, Alpine County, California

 A young bald eagle flew onto a branch of a lodgepole pine tree while we were getting in a little bit of cross-country skiing before the snow melted. This 2022-2023 rainy season was record-breaking, so the ski season extended well into May. The ski was completely overcast and it looked like more precipitation was on its way. We were about to pack up the skis when we saw this big bird coming right toward us before swooping up into the tree. You can tell this eagle is not mature yet because of the brown streaks on the head. As they mature, the feathers covering the head will become all white. 

Hope Valley is the largest valley in the Sierra Nevada mountain range. It's located in Alpine County, south of Lake Tahoe after you pass over Luther Pass.

Remember it's not just a picture, it's a story!

"Corridor of Color" Fall Colors in Hope Valley, Alpine County, California

Fall colors are starting in Hope Valley in Alpine County, California, south of Lake Tahoe.  This "corridor of color" is along Highway 88 near the Wylder (Sorenson's) Resort.

The fall colors in Hope Valley are from aspen trees and cottonwoods losing chlorophyll and allowing xanthophylls and other pigments to show through as the temperature drops and the sun's intensity and day length diminish as the Autumn season progresses.

Remember, it's not just a picture, it's a story.

Water ouzel (dipper) in Silver Creek, Alpine County, California

 

Over the Labor Day weekend, we went to Alpine County, California, an area where Rick worked in the Toiyabe National Forest on the trail crew. There was a fire south of us in Slinkard Valley, so we couldn't stay overnight, but we did get a chance to look at the east fork Carson River where Silver Creek joins it. We found this water ouzel (dipper) bird that lives along river rapids and eats insects that live in the rapids. I happened to catch this image of the bird with an insect in its mouth. This species of bird walks around in the rapids with no apparent concern for its safety. It can even dip underwater when looking for its food and walk on the river bottom. We've even seen these birds dipping into the Merced River in Yosemite, during the winter. It doesn't get cold because it has so much oil in its feathers, it doesn't get wet. 

Remember, it's not just a picture, it's a story!