Fairly large cedar in our backyard. Our house is just over 100 years old and I imagine this tree was planted not long after it was built.
Not very many of these were located in the Pack Forest, and many of the ones that I saw had fallen from the wind. They are very distinctive with the peeling bark and the dark red color and the smooth, coffee colored tree under the peeling bark.
Dark back and wings with white spots on the side, underneath each wing is a large red feathered area, white breast. Recognizable long upright dark tail, crow like call recognizable as well.
Habitat description: 30 yr old dense douglas fir stand planted by weyerhaeuser after clear cut, in usual western hemlock-western redcedar vegetation. Patches of deciduous trees, maple, alder, cottonwood. 400ft above sea level south and east facing hill in tolt river watershed where it meets the snoqualmie river. habitat divided into residential forested plots. separated by old logging roads.
Difficult to see in picture but believe to be a juvenile red tail hawk. Found sitting in low branches. Brown with white blotches.Distinct white V coming down from neck towards belly.
Tall Oregon Grape, common in Pack Forest. Observed more Tall than Dull Oregon Grape. Found in areas that also contained Sword ferns and Indian Plum. Not in full bloom at time.
Saw this poking out of the ground among many dead leaves and branches. There were actually a few of these scattered around the same area.
This is a Herb-Robert that has not blossomed yet.
I think this is a Morel Mushroom. It was growing near a stream and was spotted around midday.
I saw this Vole, foraging through leaves on the ground behind a log around mid afternoon. It didn't seem to notice me or get scared when I got close to it. It was very small and greyish brown in color. It had a short tail, and its ears were not immediately discernable.
Oregon Grape growing near the ground alongside Ivy. Oregon grape has pointy prickly edges on its leaves.