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Flooding on Rock Creek!

Yes, I am sad to say this was sister Kay's outfit as we headed out to check the creek level at the farm.


Me, gasping at Kay's outfit.


Standing water in the lower fields.


Standing water in the orchard.


Another shot of the fields.


Bridge.
Upstream from the bridge.


Thank goodness nobody saw us (except for drones!).


Kay and I walking in the field water.


Don't know if this is the water from underground or from the sky . . . or both.


Swimmin hole.








Snow and High Water

Coyote tracks on the bridge.


Rock Creek from the bridge.


Another shot of Rock Creek from the bridge.


More snow coming?


Swimmin Hole.








2017 and snow



Hwy 34 from Philomath to the farm was mostly ice, but nothing but untouched snow out here.

C-o-l-d

Thirty two degrees with intermittent icy rain and snow. Strategically placed heaters are doing a good job of keeping pipes from freezing. All is well, but it is cold out here with icy rain and snow falling.

Rock Creek is high

As you can see, Rock Creek is pretty high! There was evidence on the banks that it had been higher in recent times.

December 6, 2016 at the farm

A gentle dusting of snow makes everything pretty and cold.






Sid, this may be some new electrical work.


Diana's solo tree removal

What?! A massive tree across the Rock Creek trail! Armed only with a saw, Diana cut it and cleared the path.


The l-o-n-g moss strand supposedly has health benefits.


See the cute little salamander (lower left corner)?

Hiking up the Rock Creek Trail and New Garage

See how debris is catching in the big log placements? Just according to plan.


Another big log placement on Rock Creek.


Kay and I hiked up the Rock Creek trail and faced this difficult crossing on Griffith Creek.


Kay insisted that we walk across the slippery logs to get to the other side of Griffith Creek. Here she is en route.


Here I am, safely across!


We need more gravel on this spot. The water is going over, instead of through, the gravel.


New garage with windows protected from the rain.




Wet in October

The woods are wet and the toadstools/mushrooms are everywhere!




I love this view.

Researcher Neil

A photo of our researcher! Really nice kid with a great British accent.

Cluster Flies

The cluster flies are back, but seem to limit invasion to Unk's room. These two photos show a 4 day collection on the two window sills in Unk's room. They die fast, because I vacuumed up a ton of dead ones when I first got here, and 4 days later vacuumed up this batch - all but about 2 were dead.




Kay and I went to Springfield and searched the Mount Vernon Pioneer Cemetery for Edwin Moneta's marker. No luck this time, but we will try again.

Kay and Diana and the Ranger

The farm skunk found another bee's nest in the ground. This time in the lower field. I will fill it in. It is a hazard!


Kay looking for skunk holes.


Log placement holding well in higher water in Rock Creek.


Recent rain has made Rock Creek flow increase.


Swimming hole is a sight to see!








Lower part of swimming hole.


Log jam again.


Griffith Creek natural log jam.


Griffith Creek log placement structure.


Me near Griffith Creek, standing next to a dead snag much enjoyed by woodpeckers.


It isn't my failure to focus, it is Kay's speed as she drives the Ranger across Griffith Creek!


Irish Blackthorne, struggling to survive.




Early Fall at the Farm

I heard the coyotes up close and personal last night. Then this morning I found fresh scat. Coyote or local dog? When I moved it off of the road the inside was pumpkin colored.






Oil? Didn't appear to be a roof leak.


Sorry this is sideways. Only one of the garage doors had water coming in under the door.


Could this be the cause?


You can see the dampness under the door edge. It didn't seem to be coming from the ground. Maybe somebody opened the door and the rain simply ran off of the open door?


Rain has come in from the windows. No surprise there.




Most scraggly of the blueberry bushes.


A thriving blueberry bush.

Further info from the Oregon Extension service



What nocturnal animal would disturb a yellow jacket nest?

Asked July 2, 2013, 2:06 PM EDT



Found a yellow jacket nest in the ground coming out of a plant. The next day, there was a hole where the nest was, most yellow jackets were gone, with a few misplaced. This client was wondering what type of nocturnal animal would dig up a nest and eat the bees?



Clackamas County Oregon wildlife damage management

1 Response



Hello and thank you for your question.

Given your description, my first guess is that a skunk dug up the nest. Skunks are well known for nocturnal raids on domestic bee hives. They "roll" the individual bees beneath their palms to subdue them and then can consume them. I can imagine the same set of behaviors working well for yellow jackets slowed by nighttime temperatures. So skunk is my first guess. If tracks are still evident, we could try to ID that way as well.

Hope this information is helpful,

Dana

Danaandstregaaug2013_thumb Dana S.