Terry & Diana's
Photography and More

OREGON, WASHINGTON, MONTANA 2013

AUGUST 7 - Diana and I headed to the northwest by first going up US 83. I had planned to go as far as South Datoka but we ran into some severe weather in Kansas so we changed our route through western Nebraska. Our first stop was at Collingsworth Pioneer Park on the Salt Fork of the Red River in Collingsworth County, Texas. Stretched our legs and I looked for dragonflies and damselflies. I did see a few that were of interest. Our first severe weather showed up in Perryton, Texas, so we found a place at Wolf Creek Park to spend the night. We lucked out and missed the severe weather. The campground was closed so we found a parking lot to stay in.

AUGUST 8 - Since we missed getting a camping site, the park did not charge us. We left Wolf Creek at 8:30 am and ate at McDonald's in town. Crossed into Oklahoma at 9:45 am. We ate lunch in McCook, Nebraska at about 2:40 pm. Stopped at Purple Heart Trail Rest Area on I-80 near Sutherland. I only saw two dragonflies. This was a far cry from what we observed in 2010. Minatare Lake State Recreation Area in Scotts Bluff County, Nebraska was our stop for the night. The lake was extremely low and I did not see any odes of any kind. Birding wasn't too bad though. Also saw a couple of Woodhouse's Toads.

AUGUST 9 - Left camp about 8:45 am and headed for the Devil's Tower, Wyoming.

South Dakota prairie on the way to Devil's Tower

Road construction was to be a feature of this trip. Lots of road work and stopping along the way.

Our first stop to photograph Devil's Tower.

The monument was very busy today. There was a big motorcycle rally going on in the Black Hills of South Dakota at Sturgis.

Wyoming: Crook County, Fourche River, Devil's Tower National Monument

Eastern Kingbird at Devil's Tower

Prairie Dogs at the base of Devil's Tower

A trio of Prairie Dogs interacting at Devil's Tower.

American Rubyspot (Hetaerina americana) and Powdered Dancer (Argia moesta)

A Ten-lined Beetle came to restroom lights.

AUGUST 10 - Took a few more photos of the tower this morning and then headed north.

A couple of more views of Devil's Tower before heading out.

Wyoming: Crook County, Little Missouri River near border of Montana.

Stopped to photograph a few damselflies that were supposed to be here.

Variable Dancer (Argia fumipennis) and Blue-fronted Dancer (Argia apicalis)

Rainbow Bluet (Enallagma antennatum) One of my favorite bluets.

Rainbow Bluet (Enallagma antennatum)

female and male Western Forktail (Ischnura perparva)

Our next planned stop was an area in southeastern Montana called Pemberton Ponds off of Pilgram Creek Road near the town of Broadus in Powder River County.

Prairie country in southeastern Montana, Pilgram Creek Road in Powder River County

Pronghorn off of Pilgram Creek Road in southeastern Montana

Pemberton Pond, Powder River County, Montana

Pemberton Pond

Pemberton Pond. This was a very good spot for Meadowhawk dragonflies.

Northern/Boreal Bluet (Enallagma annexum/boreale) It is very difficult to tell these two apart.

Tule Bluet (Enallagma carunculatum)

female and male Eight-spotted Skimmer (Libellula forensis)

Northern Leopard Frog (Lithobates pipiens)

Lyre-tipped Spreadwing (Lestes unguiculatus)

Variegated Meadowhawk (Sympetrum corruptum) The one on the right is very old.

Saffron-winged Meadowhawk (Sympetrum costiferum)

Cherry-faced Meadowhawk (Sympetrum internum)

Red-veined Meadowhawk (Sympetrum madidum) and Cherry-faced Meadowhawk (Sympetrum internum) showing size difference.

Red-veined Meadowhawk (Sympetrum madidum)

Band-winged Meadowhawk (Sympetrum semicinctum)

Plains Gartersnake (Thamnophis radix)

We then headed west towards Butte, Montana. We arrived at Beaver Dam campground, Silver Bow County at about 10:00 pm. I set up bug light and had a little bit of luck.

AUGUST 11 - We slept in this morning since it was in the 40's. Saw a Snowshoe Hare in campground. A lot of campers in the campground. They were getting ready for hunting season. We put down the camper and went to the entrance of the Divide Pond trail. On the way to the pond we saw a Bull Moose, but I could not get a picture.

Beaver Dam Campground, Silver Bow County south of Butte.

Divide Pond trail open meadows

Old cabin along the Divide Pond trail.

Paddle-tailed Darner (Aeshna palmata)

Small Wood Nymph (Cercyonis oetus)

Lyre-tipped Spreadwing (Lestes unguiculatus)

Columbia Spotted Frog (Rana luteiventris)

Columbia Spotted Frog (Rana luteiventris)

Black Meadowhawk (Sympetrum danae) and White-faced Meadowhawk (Sympetrum obtrusum)

Mountain Emerald (Somatochlora semicircularis) female

Edward's Fritillary (Speyeria edwardsi) and Great Basin Fritillary (Speyeria egleis)

Clouds came up and looked like rain so we got out of there. It was about 1:15 pm when we left. We ate at a resturant in Deer Lodge. We then stopped at Nimrod exit 138 off of I-90 to check out a spring on the side of the road. I went the wrong direstion, but did find a nice pool with a few odes.

Boreal Bluet (Enallagma boreale) based on abdomen appendages.

Juba Skipper (Hesperia juba) and Western Forktail (Ischnura perparva) female

Columbia Spotted Frog (Rana luteiventris)

Headed for Solmon Lake State Park in Montana. We got there at 6:30 pm. Electricity and a shower was nice. A nice relaxing evening. It was good not to be driving after dark.

Solomon Lake State Park, Missoula County, Montana

Sunset over Solomon Lake State Park

AUGUST 12 - We tried to look for Seely Pond which was supposed to be 3 miles north out of Seely. Finally found the pond after several passes up and down the road. It was hidden by the forest, very difficult to see. When I finally found it, the pond showed evidence of previous observers. There wasn't much flying either.

Seely Pond. Nice looking pond surrounded by sphagnum.

Seely Pond

Variable Darner (Aeshna interrupta)

Common Wood-nymph (Cercyonis pegala) and Northern Spreadwing (Lestes disjunctus)

We really spent too much time looking for areas around Seely for odes. I wanted to get to the National Bison Range early enough to check out the creek at the picnic area and go through the visitor center. We got there too late. Anyway we saw and photographed some of the states big mammals.

National Bison Range after 5:30 pm

National Bison Range late in the afternoon.

A pile of dropped antlers at the National Bison Range.

American Bison at the National Bison Range

American Bison at the National Bison Range

American Bison at the National Bison Range

American Elk

Mule Deer

Mule Deer

Pronghorn

Pronghorn relieving himself

White-tailed Deer

Western Montana Sunset west of Plains

Arrived at Bull River National Forest campground at 10:00 pm. Driving after dark again!

AUGUST 13 - Left campground at 8:45 am. Crossed over into Idaho at 9:00 am and then into Washington at 9:20 am (changed time zone). Headed up to Bunchgrass Meadows in northeastern Washington.

Bull River National Forest campground (picture taken at 8:30 am)

Bunchgrass Meadows is supposed to be one the best places in Washington for dragonflies and damselflies. I didn't have that much luck in numbers. I did get some new ones though.

Bunchgrass Meadows, Pend Oreille County in Kaniku National Forest, Washington.

Bunchgrass Meadows, Pend Oreille County in Kaniku National Forest. Pretty dry.

Sedge Darner (Aeshna juncea) and Subarctic Darner (Aeshna subarctica)

Zigzag Darner (Aeshna sitchensis) One of the few Aeshna that lands flat on a surface.

Subarctic Darner (Aeshna subarctica)

Spruce Grouse with chicks (you can't see them here)

Columbia Spotted Frog (Rana luteiventris)

Ocellated Emerald (Somatochlora minor) and Mountain Emerald (Somatochlora semicircularis)

Orchid (Spiranthes romanzoffiana)

Left Bunchgrass Meadows at 3:00 pm and stopped by Frater Lake Roadside Park on our way to Sun Lakes State Park.

Paddle-tailed Darner (Aeshna palmata)

Arrived at Sun Lakes State Park and Dry Falls at about 9:30 pm. Picked a site with eletricity, took showers, and went to bed.

AUGUST 14 - Visited Dry Falls overlook and visitor center.

Dry Falls

What Dry Falls possibly looked like during the floods at end of the last ice age.

Dry Falls

We then headed west to Mt. Rainer and Mt. St. Helens. It was much further than we had thought so we only took photos of Mt. Rainer and went to Mt. St. Helens for a more up close look.

Mt. Rainer from US 12 east side of the mountain.

Mt. Rainer from US 12 east side of the mountain.

West of Mt. St. Helens from county visitor center. We were too late for monument visitor center.

Mt. St. Helens

Mt. St. Helens

Mt. St. Helens

On the way back along US 12, we stopped at Rimrock Lake National Forest campground at 10:30 pm to spend the rest of the night.

AUGUST 15 - We then headed over to Horn Rapids county park near Benton City on the Yakima River. I wish we could have been able to get to this campground. Nice area.

Rimrock Lake National Forest campground.

Horn Rapids County Park on the Yakima River. Not many odes about.

Emma's Dancer (Argia emma)

Sachem (Atalopedes campestris) and Juba Skipper (Hesperia juba)

River Jewelwing (Calopteryx aequabilis)

Tule Bluet (Enallagma carunculatum)

Tule Bluet (Enallagma carunculatum)

Pacific Forktail (Ischnura cervula)

Pacific Forktail (Ischnura cervula)

Eight-spotted Skimmer (Libellula forensis) female and male

Cabbage White (Pieris rapae)

Saffron-winged Meadowhawk (Sympetrum costiferum) and Emma's Dancer (Argia emma) from Benton City park

River Jewelwing (Calopteryx aequabilis) from Benton City park.

We left the Yakima River and headed south into Oregon. Got to our next desination Mule Shoe BLM campground at 5:30 pm. Searched the area until dark. This was a nice place to spend the night. Set up the bug light and had mostly caddisflies come in.

Mule Shoe BLM campground along the John Day River in Wheeler County, Oregon

John Day River in Wheeler County, Oregon

Vivid Dancer (Argia vivida)

Tigerbeetle (Cicindela repanda) and Common Ringlet (Coenonympha tullia)

Northern/Boreal Bluet (Enallagma annexum/boreale) One of the two.

Western Fence Lizard (Sceloporus occidentalis) and Acmon Blue (Plebejus acmon)

AUGUST 16 - I spent an hour searching for odes before leaving for our next stop.

Grasshopper and Western Fence Lizard (Sceloporus occidentalis)

We headed for Todd Lake to look for Black Paddletail Dragonflies. I saw one when I first got there but could not get a photograph. As soon as we got to the main part of the lake it started raining. We did not see very much after that.

Todd Lake Recreation area, Deschutes County

Todd Lake Recreation area, Deschutes County and bog orchid

Paddle-tailed Darner (Aeshna palamata)

Paddle-tailed Darner (Aeshna palmata) female ovipositing

Chipmunk and Emerald Spreadwing (Lestes dryas)

Flower at Todd Lake

Went to LaPine for gas and groceries and something to eat. We camped at Crescent Creek National forest campground off of Crescent Creek cut off road. We were the only ones there. Set up moth light with little success. Klamath County.

Ten-lined Beetle

AUGUST 17 - Headed over to Crescent Creek at highway 58 after spending the night at Crescent Creek NF campground. There was supposed to be Great Basin Snaketails at this spot. A plan finally came together.

Crescent Creek National Forest campground

Crescent Creek, Klamath County

Interesting saprophytic plant (Pterospora andromedea) and Tiger Beetle (Cicindela species)

Emma's Dancer (Argia emma) and Vivid Dancer (Argia vivida)

Great Basin Snaketail (Ophiogomphus morrisoni) male and female

After searching Crescent Creek for a couple of hours, we then headed over to Gold Lake Recreation Area. We got propane at Crescent Lake. I searched at the out flow (Salt Creek) for the rest of the morning while Diana read. We finally found a camp site (someone left while I was searching for odes). Diana and I hiked to Gold Lake Bog at the north end of the lake. There wasn't much flying at the bog.

Gold Lake, Klamath County from our camp site.

Variable Darner (Aeshna interrupta)

Pipsissewa or Prince's Pine (Chimaphila umbellata) and English Sundew (Drosera anglica)

Northern/Boreal Bluet (Enallagma annexum/boreale)

Immature Gray Jay

Pacific Treefrog (Hyla regilla) and Pacific Forktail (Ischnura cervula)

Hudsonian Whiteface (Leucorrhinia hudsonica) and Great Basin Snaketail (Ophiogomphus morrisoni)

Grappletail (Octogomphus specularis) male and female

Cascades Frog (Rana cascadae) immatures

Ringed Emerald (Somatochlora albicincta) and Mountain Emerald (Somatochlora semicircularis)

Mormon Fritillary (Speyeria mormonia) and Common Gartersnake (Thamnophis sirtalis)

Steller's Jay

AUGUST 18 - We left Gold Lake at 9:00 am, 49 degrees, and headed back to Todd Lake to see if I could get another chance at a Black Paddletail. Very crowded today. I searched from 10:30 am to 1:15 pm.

Ringed Emerald (Somatochlora albicincta) and Black Meadowhawk (Sympetrum danae)

We had to leave and start our trip back home. Got to McDermott, Nevada at 7:45 pm and spent the night at William's Trailer Park.

AUGUST 19 - We left early and headed south to I-80, Winnemicca. From there we traveled east to Carlin Canyon and the Humboldt River. I was looking for Olive Clubtail, but did not find any.

Rocky Mountain Bee Plant (Cleome serrulata)

Tule Bluet (Enallagma carunculatum)

Western Pondhawk (Erythemis collocata)

Northern/Boreal Bluet (Enallagma annexum/boreale)

Melissa Blue (Lycaeides melissa) and Field Crescent (Phyciodes campestris)

Continued heading west. Crossed into Utah at 5:09 pm then to Salt Lake City on I-80 then to loop 215 to I-15 and south on US 6 to Price Canyon. We got there at 9:00 pm.

AUGUST 20 - After taking a few photos in Price Canyon National Forest Recreation area, we headed southeast.

Price Canyon National Forest Recreation area, Utah

Price Canyon National Forest Recreation Area campground, Utah

We stopped at the Green River, Green River on business I-70, Emery County, Utah. Saw a few lizards and few odes.

Western Whiptail (Aspidoscelis tigris) juveniles

Western Pygmy-blue (Brephidium exile) one of the smallest butterflies in the US.

White-belted Ringtail (Erpetogomphus compositus) and Band-winged Meadowhawk (Sympetrum semicinctum)

Continued southeast toward Moab, Utah and the Colorado River.

Southeastern Utah and an afternoon thunder storm.

Several minutes of waiting in Southerneastern Utah

Wilson Arch, Grand County, Utah

I got out at a couple of spots along the Colorado River to look for odes (Brimestone Clubtail, nope) off of UT 128

Powdered Dancer (Argia moesta) The only ode photographed at this site.

Woodhouse's Toad (Anaxyrus woodhousii)

We crossed over into New Mexico at 5:50 pm

Shiprock, New Mexico just before dark as we were traveling along the road.

Decided to camp at Angel Peak BLM Campground south of Bloomfield, New Mexico. Lots of thunderstorms with lightning when we arrived.

Angel Peak BLM Recreation Area, rainbow and rain in the distance.

Sunset from Angel Peak

Sunset from Angel Peak. Do you see the jet trail?

AUGUST 21 - Left camp at 8:30 am after taking a few more photos from the park.

New Mexico badlands from Angel Peak

New Mexico badlands from Angel Peak

Diana wanted to see Valles Caldera National Preserve in Jamez Mountains.

Valles Caldera National Preserve, New Mexico

Juvenile Mountain Bluebird from the Caldera

We had a long drive back to Texas. Crossed the border at 10:00 pm. Stayed at Quality Inn in Fort Stockton.

AUGUST 22 - Stopped by Troy's house to see Cheyenne before going on home. Got home mid-afternoon. 5902.7 miles on trip.

Dingy Purplewing (Eunica monima)