Al Larson Photography

On the road from Jordan Valley, OR to DeLamar, ID we pass through a short narrow canyon with rocks on either side. I shot this photo about an hour before sunset.

Exploring the deserts of Idaho will give a person a different perspective on what is often called a “barren waste.” Beauty lies at your feet in the spring with nearly every step. Here we have the beautiful Bitterroot (Lewisia rediviva). The leaves of this plant appear quite early in the season but wither away as it bursts into bloom. It looks like the blossoms rise directly from the soil.

Fourth  of July is the time to display patriotic colors. With the cooperation of our favorite bird we find here the red, white and blue. Mr. Mountain Bluebird helps us celebrate the Fourth.

Keep your camera at the ready and capture moments like this. When you are out and about you never know what you will find. How many times have you heard, “Oh rats! I left my camera in the car?”

High in the Owyhee mountains at this time of year, especialliy after a wet spring, we occasionally come across a beautiful flower garden. Many species of flowers are in bloom. Here we have Lupine and Indian Paintbrush. In the distance we see the Snake river plain.

I’ve heard many times from people traveling through southern Idaho that it is only sagebrush and lava rock. They would tell a different story if they would  get off of the beaten track and open their eyes.

 We have had a lot of rain recently. Saturday morning, early, there was a down-pour. This photo shows Mores Creek mid-morning. It looks like tons of sediment are being washed downstream. Dunnigan Creek is at the upper right hand side. The rains have made the vegetation lush and green.

Here is a view from my back yard looking toward upper Daggett Creek. Yesterday storm clouds dumped two inches of snow here. Today the sun came out, temperature rose and the snow melted. The huge cumulus clouds to the west indicate, “There is still moisture in the air.”  I enjoy shooting these massive picturesque formations.

When spring weather finally softens we will be out birding, checking bluebird boxes and doing fieldtrips. This shot was taken the last of May two years ago. We were on a fieldtrip to Prairie, ID to check a few nestboxes and do some general birding. The Golden Eagle Audubon Society members enjoy getting out in Nature’s great wonderland. In this scene we paused at the rim of the South Fork of the Boise River canyon. It was fascinating to peer down several hundred feet at the fast flowing stream below. At this time of year it is common to see White-throated Swift, Violet-green and Rough-winged Swallow in the canyon. Turkey Vulture, Golden Eagle and Prairie Falcon soar in the updrafts over the high cliffs on the horizon.

Wild flowers bloom in profusion on the hillsides along the road. Many members of our club enjoy finding a rare or unusual flower. Where there are flowers there are butterflies, another treat.

Beware at the edge of the canyon though. That first step into space is a long one!

Mallards are so common that I hesitate publishing photos of them. However, they are beautiful birds and I enjoy them. Here we have a pair resting on a very small island. Since there are just the two of them I assume that they planning to begin nesting. It is still a bit early in the season to start a family so I assume they are, at present, just enjoying each other’s company while basking in the sun.

Here is another shot from the Kitchen Window. Oh, how I enjoy eating my breakfast with scenes like this in front of me! Cottontails seldom make themselves visible here at the ranch. I took this picture several years ago in the dead of winter. Some of our excess Christmas decorations (pyracantha) were placed in the snow beside the woodshed and adds a bit of color. Each year after Christmas I set our tree outside near the feeders. Just press the trunk into the snow and it will stand and stay green until the spring melt. This gives the birds added protection from marauding predators.

Our house makes a wonderful blind. Here is a scene from the bedroom window this forenoon. It had a pardner in the field across the creek.  This guy wandered slowly around stopping, watching and listening. I never saw it pounce on any prey. There are plenty of gophers around here and this hunter is welcome to help himself.