Jackson Bottom Wetlands

This past Saturday, we journeyed to Jackson Bottom Wetlands Preserve in Hillsboro, Oregon. The 635 acre wetlands is named after the Hyer Jackson family, who came to Oregon in 1854. 

Back in 2020, during the COVID peak, we visited this preserve's 4.5 miles of trails and observed many wildflowers, native plants, wildlife, and birds. On this trip, we saw several native plant and flower species, herons, killdeer, swallows, deer, bunnies, and squirrels.

Jackson Bottom is a great place for bird watchers. There are over 200 species of birds on the preserve. Some species of birds can only be observed during certain times of the year, depending on their migration periods. We saw numerous Great Blue Herons on our most recent trip. Most were in flight. They are an elegant bird, and they have a very distinct call. They stalk their prey by waiting patiently and motionless then they strike their prey quickly. 

Great Blue Heron

Abundant wildlife can be observed within the preserve. From Black-tailed Deer to Bobcats to Fox Squirrels. 

We were blessed to observe this Black-tailed Deer meandering through the fields along Pintail Pond. Black-tailed Deer are part of the mule deer family and are most active in the early morning or evening. They bed down during the heat of the day.

Black-tailed Deer

There are over 300 native plant species and wildflowers within the preserve. We were blessed to see a few of the wildflowers still blooming, such as madia, moth mullein, yarrow, nightshade, tarweed, clarkia, hardhack, chickory, and aster.

This will not be our last journey to Jackson Bottom Wetlands. The migration of several species of birds in the fall is on our watch list at this amazing preserve. 

Until Next Time

Happy Creating and Hiking!

Have a blessed week!

God Bless,

Killin Wetlands Nature Park and the Quilt Barn Trails in Oregon

 

Killin Wetlands Nature Park

We ventured north today up along Hwy 47 towards Banks, Oregon. Our first stop was the Killin Wetlands Nature Park Trail. The park was formerly a dairy farm built in 1941. It is over 370 acres of peat soil wetlands and scrub-shrub marshes. It is a great trail for bird watching, wildlife viewing, observing wildflowers and other native plant species. The trail is short. It is only 0.7-mile long. The trail does not get close to the water, so make sure that you bring a long binoculars or a spotting scope to view the birdlife and wildlife in the area. If you plan on taking pictures of any of the wildlife or birds on the trail, you will need a good zoom lens for your camera at least 500mm. My 300mm didn't even get close enough to capture the four bald eagles and the great blue heron we were so blessed to see on this outing. The area is known for the sightings of American Bittern, Greater Yellowlegs, Mallards, Double-Crested Cormorants, and many other species of birds and elk.

Killin Wetlands

Adult Bald Eagle

Juvenile Bald Eagle

Great Blue Heron

Honey Bee

Curly Dock

Chamomile

Queen Anne's Lace

Queen Anne's Lace

Pine Cone

Wild Oat

Wild Sweet Pea

Quilt Barn Trails of Oregon

The restored barn at the beginning of the Killin Wetlands Nature Park trailhead features one of the giant quilt blocks of one of Oregon's Quilt Barn Trail. The Oregon Quilt Barn Trails are four trails located throughout Tualatin Valley in Washington County. All of the wooden quilt blocks are located on the sides of barns scattered throughout Banks, Forest Grove, Gaston, Hillsboro, Cornelius, North Plains, Helvetia, Aloha, Scholls, Sherwood, and Tualatin. The wooden quilt blocks are hand-painted in traditional quilt patterns that hold some significance to the farm owner or history of Oregon, the history of the surrounding area, or the history of the farm. We were able to view a few of the quilt blocks on the west part of the Quilt Barn Trail, but we plan on checking out more of the quilt blocks in the near future. It was a great time and a way to learn more about the farms in the Tualatin Valley.

The Killin Wetlands Kistner Barn Quilt Block's theme is “Doves in the Window.” It represents birds, as Killin Wetlands is a bird sanctuary.

 

Doves in the Window

The L Bar T Bison Ranch Quilt Block's theme is "Eight-pointed star." It represents the pattern made by women crossing the Oregon Trail.

The Walta Farm Quilt Block's theme is "Corn and Beans." It represents the sweet corn and green beans grown in rotation on the farm.

Corn and Beans

The Rohrer Farm Quilt Block's theme is "Chasing Geese." This design was chosen by the Rohrer's due to the many geese in the area, and also to honor the six tribes of Native Americans that made their home very near to the site.

Chasing Geese

Until Next Time

Happy Creating and Hiking!

Have a blessed weekend!

God Bless,

Blue River Reservoir, Aufderheide Scenic Byway, and Cougar Reservoir in Oregon

Charred Tree on the Aufderheide Scenic Byway 

Memorial Day Weekend

This past Memorial weekend, we traveled south to the McKenzie River Corridor area near Blue River, Oregon. Blue River is east of Eugene and Springfield. In 2020 the town of Blue River was decimated by the Holiday Farm Fire/Rainbow Fire as it tore through the McKenzie River Corridor. It was one of the largest wildfires in Oregon history. My husband was one of the volunteer fire fighters who helped fight that fire. It burned and destroyed more than 173,000 acres and over 500 homes and businesses along the McKenzie River Corridor. You can check out this link to see what devastation the fire did to the town of Blue River and the nearby businesses. Destination Oregon: Blue River, one year after the devastating fires 

However, life is slowly returning amidst the charred ruins, and people have rebuilt homes or are in the process of rebuilding their homes. Though the forest throughout this whole region may be littered with charred tree remains, life is blooming amidst the devastation.

Aufderheide Scenic Byway 

The Aufderheide Scenic Byway is part of the 220-mile West Cascades Scenic Byway. Along the Aufderheide Scenic Byway (Forest Service Road 19) is Cougar Reservoir. The byway was closed further up past the French Pete campground due to winter weather.

 

Blue River Reservoir

Amidst the charred remains of the Holiday Farm fire is the Blue River Reservoir. The reservoir is located 45 miles east of Eugene and 1 mile north of Oregon Route 126 in the Willamette National Forest. Turning up the exit to Blue River Reservoir, one can see the fire damage where trees and homes once stood, but God's beautiful creation was abounding throughout the area.

spotted sandpiper

H.J. Andrews Experimental Forest

H.J. Andrews Experimental Forest is located north of Blue River Reservoir and was established in 1948 by the U.S. Forest Service. The research includes watershed processes, forest ecology, old-growth Douglas-fir forests, and plantation. There were many wildflowers in bloom on our travels there, and snow drifts still covered some of the upper roads melting off into the streams and small waterfalls.

Until Next Time

Happy Creating and Hiking!

God Bless,