It’s mid-September, and the morning air smells like fall (or is that smoke?). Many migratory birds are already on their way to southern places, and leaves on trees and shrubs …
Underwater in Mayberry Park
After a long week working from home in front of the computer, I snuck down to Mayberry Park Friday morning for a walk. It’s been too long! Sunflowers and rabbitbrush were blooming, the …
Photos: Drought on the upper Truckee
It is now late August in our fourth year of drought, and there has been no outflow to the Truckee River via the Lake Tahoe Dam since last October. Here are some photographs …
Fugitive Turtle: A Red-eared Slider in the Truckee
One morning last week, I was walking along the Truckee River in downtown Reno, and stopped to check out a Double-crested Cormorant that was sitting on a rock near the …
Mustang Sunrise
Just after 6am, the sun begins to rise over the darkened peaks of Clark Mountain and the Virginia Range, throwing pink and yellow light over the calm channel of the Truckee …
Under the Bridge in Crystal Peak Park: Cliff Swallows
Under the bridge of Old Highway 40 in Crystal Peak Park in Verdi, I hear chirping. Overhead, high in the concrete rafters, Cliff Swallows fly in and out of clusters …
Fish for breakfast? A visit to the West 4th Street Osprey nest
Last week, while driving past the West 4th Street exit on I-80, I saw a pair of Osprey perched near a large stick nest at the top of a telephone pole. Tuesday morning, I …
Exploring Truckee River Trails: East of Prosser Creek
Some Truckee River trails are paved and maintained; others are earthen footpaths of questionable origin, traveled by fishermen, deer and other unknown wanderers. These wild trails are where you’re most likely …
A week of rain and a muddy river
A week of afternoon downpours helped to ease my craving for summer T-storms, but probably wasn’t much help to the fish, I thought, as I looked out over the muddy …
Milkweed in Macro
There are more than 100 species of milkweed in North America, but only two are common along the Truckee River: Showy milkweed (Asclepias speciosa) and Narrow-leaved milkweed (Asclepias fascicularis). If …