Rick Cameron
LightNews LightNews
rickcameron.bsky.social
Rick Cameron
@rickcameron.bsky.social
9 followers 16 following 87 posts
Scratcher of heads, rubber of bellies
Posts Replies Media Videos
rickcameron.bsky.social
A female northern flicker looks for insects on a rainy day at Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge. We saw them in our backyard in Portland as well, they were a favorite of our cat Emma and she’d always let me know when one came a-calling.

📷: Canon 7D | Canon 500mm + 1.4X
🗓️: January 15, 2012
A close-up of a female northern flicker (red-shafted variety) on a rainy day in a meadow at Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge in Ridgefield, Washington
January 4, 2026 at 6:03 PM
rickcameron.bsky.social
From 10 years ago, Sam in the late afternoon light in my office in Portland.

📷: Canon 7D II | Sigma 17-50mm f/2.8
🗓️: October 22, 2016
A black-and-white photo of our cat Sam sitting on the cat tree in my office in Portland as the late afternoon light streams past him.
January 2, 2026 at 7:54 PM
rickcameron.bsky.social
The new year is kicking off with a Trixie-approved Oregon rain here in the desert. I fell in love with the rain when we lived in the Pacific Northwest and would specifically go out to photograph in it. On this day it rained on and off but for a little while it was absolutely chucking it down.
A male cinnamon teal swims during a heavy downpour at Long Lake in Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge in Ridgefield, Washington A male northern shoveler feeds during a heavy downpour at Long Lake in Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge in Ridgefield, Washington
January 1, 2026 at 8:32 PM
rickcameron.bsky.social
Ten years ago to the day, I was watching wildlife on the auto tour at Ridgefield when a young bald eagle did the typical “Did you bring any of your delicious cats with you?" flyby inspection.

📷: Canon 7D II | Canon 500mm f/4 + 1.4X
🗓️: January 1, 2016
A head-on view of a young bald eagle flying above Rest Lake at Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge in Ridgefield, Washington
January 1, 2026 at 5:14 PM
rickcameron.bsky.social
A pied-billed grebe casts an eye upwards, with the biggest threat in the skies being the bald eagles whose numbers rose in winter along with the returning waterfowl. The biggest threat to its peace were the rafts of coots who moved about the slough.

🗓️: December 29, 2011
A pied-billed grebe in nonbreeding plumage casts an eye to the skies as it rests in Bower Slough in Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge in Ridgefield, Washington A pied-billed grebe in nonbreeding plumage rests in Bower Slough in Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge in Ridgefield, Washington
December 30, 2025 at 6:57 PM
rickcameron.bsky.social
A pair of male wood ducks take a break on a fallen tree in Bower Slough.

📷: Canon 7D | Canon 500mm + 1.4X
🗓️: June 12, 2011
A pair of male wood ducks stand on a fallen tree in Bower Slough at Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge in Ridgefield, Washington
December 28, 2025 at 7:52 PM
rickcameron.bsky.social
I've been re-editing old pictures recently, I updated the color version of this young great blue heron at Horse Lake but also like it in black-and-white.

📷: Canon 7D | Canon 100-400mm
🗓️: January 1, 2011
A close-up of a juvenile great blue heron against a frosty backdrop, taken at Horse Lake at Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge in Ridgefield, Washington A black-and-white close-up of a juvenile great blue heron against a frosty backdrop, taken at Horse Lake at Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge in Ridgefield, Washington
December 28, 2025 at 6:37 PM
rickcameron.bsky.social
“Duckweed Disguise”

📷: Canon 7D | Canon 500mm + 1.4X
🗓️: June 12, 2011
A western painted turtle floats in (and is covered by) duckweed in Long Lake at Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge in Ridgefield, Washington
December 28, 2025 at 5:40 PM
rickcameron.bsky.social
Despite the pouring rain, this red-winged blackbird collected a beakful of bugs to take back to the nest. Both redwings and yellowheads, male and female alike, heavily worked this section of Long Lake to feed the relentless hunger of their young.

📷: Canon 7D | Canon 500mm + 1.4X
🗓️: June 6, 2010
A male red-winged blackbird has a mouthful of insects in the pouring rain at Long Lake in Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge in Ridgefield, Washington
December 25, 2025 at 6:11 PM
rickcameron.bsky.social
Another shot from long ago in Maine, a groundhog rather enjoying an apple. It was soaked through with rain, its fur clumped around the guard hairs.

📷: Canon 7D | Canon 100-400mm
🗓️: July 14, 2010
A rain-soaked groundhog (woodchuck) raises an apple high as it eats it at Gilsland Farm Audubon Center in Falmouth, Maine.
December 25, 2025 at 5:08 PM
rickcameron.bsky.social
Merry Christmas!
Our cat Boo stands in front of our Christmas tree
December 25, 2025 at 7:16 AM
rickcameron.bsky.social
“Idyll”

A tranquil scene as a cinnamon teal sleeps on a rainy day at Ridgefield.

📷: Canon 7D | Canon 500mm f/4 + 1.4x
🗓️: June 6, 2010
A male cinnamon teal sleeps in Long Lake, covered in drops of rain, at Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge in Ridgefield, Washington
December 25, 2025 at 2:10 AM
rickcameron.bsky.social
A house wren peers out of a wren-sized hole in an old tree at Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge

📷: Canon 7D | Canon 500mm f/4
🗓️: May 31, 2010
A house wren peers out of a wren-sized hole in an old tree on the auto tour in Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge in Ridgefield, Washington
December 24, 2025 at 5:38 PM
rickcameron.bsky.social
Years ago when we took a family trip to the other Portland and I saw familiar faces in the ponds, I wondered if I was the only visitor here. I didn't have a magic computer in my pocket back then but after 15 years I finally looked it up and they are indeed native to Maine.
A young American bullfrog looks out from rain-soaked lily pads at Gilsland Farm Audubon Center in Falmouth, Maine.
December 24, 2025 at 5:24 PM
rickcameron.bsky.social
On our walks Bear and I frequently see Hallelujah Jordan, arms raised in permanent praise to the glory that is the Sonoran Desert. I've thought about renaming him as one of his arms has fallen off in recent years but decided against it. He has changed but his joy is everlasting.
A scenic view of a broken old saguaro with two of its arms lifted high, taken in McDowell Sonoran Preserve in Scottsdale, Arizona. A scenic view of a broken old saguaro with one of its arms lifted high, taken in McDowell Sonoran Preserve in Scottsdale, Arizona.
December 22, 2025 at 9:25 PM
rickcameron.bsky.social
With such a good look at the beak of this juvenile redtail I was reminded of the Simpsons episode where Lisa visits the dentist and he holds up a gruesome device and says "this happy little fellow is the gouger".

📷: Canon 7D | Canon 500mm f/4 + 1.4X
🗓️: January 4, 2013
A close-up view of the face of a juvenile red-tailed hawk, taken on the auto tour at Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge in Ridgefield, Washington.
December 22, 2025 at 7:09 PM
rickcameron.bsky.social
I was re-editing some photos to go along with a saguaro post and realized this bittern image wasn't even online. The auto tour at Ridgefield was a magical place, you could shut your car off and sit in the rain and the cold and the wildlife would come right up to you.

🗓️: January 4, 2013
A close-up view of the face of an American bittern, taken on the auto tour at Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge in Ridgefield, Washington.
December 21, 2025 at 1:05 AM
rickcameron.bsky.social
I love living in a land of small dragons but you do have to get used to being constantly judged as you hike. Silently judged, but judged.

📷: Sony A6700 | Sony 100-400mm+1.4X
🗓️: May 27, 2024
A common chuckwalla looks over a boulder on the Latigo Trail in McDowell Sonoran Preserve in Scottsdale, Arizona. A common chuckwalla looks over a boulder on the Latigo Trail in McDowell Sonoran Preserve in Scottsdale, Arizona. It was judging me, I know it.
December 19, 2025 at 9:12 PM
rickcameron.bsky.social
A few years back I was delighted to find a katydid sampling the wares in our yard. It brought back fond memories of the katydids in Oregon, once I found they loved eating our rose petals it not only changed how I pruned the roses but changed by opinion of roses altogether.
A female elegant bush katydid on a lantana bush in our yard in Scottsdale, Arizona
November 30, 2025 at 9:14 PM
rickcameron.bsky.social
“500”

If my notes are correct I recently made my 500th visit to our local preserve. To celebrate I took Bear up to the spot that became so meaningful during my leave of absence a couple of years ago.

📷: Nikon Z 7II | Nikon 24-70 f/4
🗓️: November 26, 2025
Our dog Bear sits on a large boulder on the Balanced Rock Trail in McDowell Sonoran Preserve in Scottsdale, Arizona
November 29, 2025 at 7:27 PM
rickcameron.bsky.social
“Life & Death, Intertwined”

Bear and I came across this snake wrapped around a lizard, one life ending so another can continue.

📷: Sony A6700 | Sony 100-400mm+1.4X
🗓️: November 9, 2025
A snake (possibly a western patch-nosed snake) is wrapped around a common side-blotched lizard on the Balanced Rock Trail in McDowell Sonoran Preserve in Scottsdale, Arizona
November 28, 2025 at 6:13 PM
rickcameron.bsky.social
Happy Black Cat Friday to those who celebrate, in memory of our sweet Emma and the tree she loved too much.
Our black cat Emma walks away from the Christmas tree she accidentally knocked over while sleeping in it
November 28, 2025 at 5:47 PM
rickcameron.bsky.social
“A Bear & A Frog”

I'm pretty sure this is how one of Aesop's fables starts. So far the frog has tolerated Bear's prodigious love and still has all of its limbs and no head wounds, a rare sight in this house.

📷: Nikon Z 7II | Nikon 24-70 f/4
🗓️: November 24, 2025
An overhead view of our dog Bear and his frog toy
November 27, 2025 at 9:04 PM
rickcameron.bsky.social
“Thanksgiving”

What a blessing the little ones have been throughout my life.

📷: Nikon Z fc | Nikon 16-50mm DX
🗓️: November 23, 2025
Our cats Trixie and Boo sleeping on my legs
November 27, 2025 at 8:51 PM
rickcameron.bsky.social
Perched high on boulders beside the trail were several volunteers greeting visitors to the park. They patiently answered questions they must get asked over and over and over, like "What trails are good for beginners?" and "Why didn't the eagles fly Sam & Frodo to Mordor?"
An adult Harris’ hawk perches on a boulder on the Bootlegger Trail in McDowell Sonoran Preserve in Scottsdale, Arizona
November 26, 2025 at 7:09 PM