February - coldest in 35 years

February lays behind us and it was the coldest in 35 years,
according to the weather service. Many people agreed with that. Heavy snowfalls in the coastal mountains and rain in the lowland with strong winds.

Snow in the mountains along the coast, visible with tele lens

We got some sprinkles and some of the days the trailer was rocking in the gusts like a boat on the sea. 

During some of the colder weeks propane supply was sold out at our favourite place in Holtville. 

Etnic costumes

Luckily the weather was great when we went to look at the annual Carrot Festival Parade and Fairgrounds

Float with vegetable display 

Enrique from "Silverado Ranch"

On the Fairground

Despite bad weather we participated in a big Birthday Party.

Birthday party in rain and wind

Three participants got each their big cake.

Three Birthday Cakes

By the second week of February our new trailer axels arrive in Yuma and we went to get them mounted on.

Waiting for the axles to be mounted in the morning

While that was under way we took a drive to Mittry Lake. As last year, it was far from the idyllic place it used to be. 

Mittry Lake, AZ

 Lots of 4-wheelers, motor bikes and trucks racing along the gravel roads trailing big dust clouds after them. 

Clark's Grebe courting

Great Blue Heron

Western Grebe

We had our lunch sandwiches with a view over the water, 

watching the birds for a while before we.

There was a moment of panic after we picked up the trailer and when we found out that our keys had gone lost, either while shopping or while at the lake, and the spare key was locked inside.  But with help of a friendly locksmith, and a hefty bill, we got back inside and now we have two new sets of spares. 

The puppies have grown up a little more and by the end of the month they were all gone to new owners. It was about time, because the guy who cared for mother and puppies, got overwhelmed by the sheer amount of work and sleep deprivation. 8 puppies make a lot of noise during the nights. All the women smiled and said: "Welcome to motherhood. WE know all about that!"

Puppies in their new lager pen

In the end several neighbours pooled together, one built a bigger pen, and helped looking after the pups during daytime for about a week ans until they got old enough to go to their respective new families. 

JP did not take the one he had singled out for himself and I am glad about it. One big Dixie is dog enough for me.

Dixe and Emma visiting

By the end of the month the big migration started. Several friends were packing up and got ready to move out either to go home or to visit other places on their way north. Some of those friends, who had stayed here during the winter for nearly 30 years, we will never see again. This season was their final in the desert. Old age, illness and higher insurance costs are the reasons for keeping them at home in the future. 

It is always bittersweet to say goodbye. Their places look now empty and desolate. We surely will miss them very much.

On the last day of February our good neighbours from Saskatoon left too. No more morning coffees and good company. No more exercises and shopping sprees. 

Hopefully they will have a good trip home and we might even see them again in the fall. One never knows.

Later in the afternoon another couple, coming back from their stay on the Baja in Mexico, took up the vacant spot for a couple of days, until a better place came available. Better place means: more open to the breeze that keeps the bugs and critters (snakes, scorpions) away when the weather warms up. 

Jupiter and 3 moons in line with Venus

seen with tele lens

Got my ducks in a row

 Finally Peter decided that we should go on a day trip. 

He picked places we had visited several times, years ago, while we were staying down here, 

and I was hoping for seeing some birds on the way.

Time has not stopped here either, changes were visible all over. 

Cities have grown a lot and more people are using nature for recreation. 

In former years, when one saw motorized groups racing around, 

it was mostly confined to the Yuma Sand Dunes,

 but going motorized through nature and wildlife areas 

seems to be "the thing" nowadays. 

I guess strong lobbyist interests have gotten their way for their patrons. 

Recreation is the big thing, people want to have their fun,

 and there is money to make with it.

We went to Picacho State Recreation Area, Imperial Dam Long Term Visitors Area and Mittry Lake Wildlife Area. The premises are all in close proximity to the Colorado River, including landscapes of marsh or upland. Ideal for many birds migrating through or staying over the course of the season. Best time to visit would be of course October and late Feb/early March when migration is on its best. But we were here now and there were still quite a lot of feathered friends around. No wonder since there has been a drought for several years now and where water is to be found there are birds and other animals to find. Water is life.

Our visit to idyllic Picacho State Recreation Area was aborted because of the unusual bad state of the 18 mile long gravel road. We did not want to get stuck with shredded tires or a broken axle in the middle of nowhere and turned around after a few miles into the trail. But I was lucky at the trail head. On the water of Picacho Wash I saw a few Ring-necked Ducks while driving by.

Ring-necked Ducks, 

(German: Ringschnabel Ente)

Our next goal was Imperial Dam Long Term Visitors Area. 

Many dry campers choose to stay here, with the closer proximity to Yuma 

and with the possibility to launch their boats on one of the small lakes. 

We had our lunch at Squaw Lake 

where there where hundreds of American Coots and Tree Swallows, 

other species mixed in between. 

Not all were close to our shore, but I got a few shots. 

Most of the birds are in winter plumage now and don't show their beautiful summer colours.

Ruddy Duck, non breeding/ winter plumage (German: Schwarzkopfruderente)

Great White Egret (German: Silberreiher)

Pied-billed Grebe (German: Bindentaucher)

American Coot (German:Amerikanisches Blässhuhn)

.. and a bunch of Mallards/Domestic Duck Hybrids, waiting for crumbs.

(Stockenten/Hausentenhybride)

other ducks I recognized while driving back along Senator's Wash

Common Goldeneye (German: Schellenten)

... and the waste water lagoon , but because of traffic on the road, 

we had no time to stop or park for a decent photo.

Northern Shoveler, male and female

(German: Löffelente)

The last spot, we briefly visited this afternoon, was Mittry Lake,

 where we once had camped for two nights about ten years ago. 

Change also here.

Trees have grown and the underbrush is cleaned out.

The area has been famous for water sports and fishing for years and it

seemed the motorized crowds have found out about it too.

Sigh

The water was packed with American Coots. (Photo while driving)

But I found one species that I had never seen before. 

Two Clark's Grebes.

(German: Clarktaucher)

All in all a good birder day, despite the disappointing start.

I would have liked to linger but the sun was getting low

 and Peter had some shopping to do 

before we headed home. 

Maybe another time.

Translation

_______________________________________

Endlich hatte sich Peter dazu entschlossen auf eine Tagestour zu gehen. 

Wir wollten ein paar altbekannte Orte aufsuchen,

 die wir vor schon Jahren besucht hatten.

 

Die Bevölkerung in den umliegenden Städten ist explodiert und immer mehr

drängen in die Naherholungsgebiete und motorisiertes Wandern mit Geländewagen 

ist heute mehr und mehr das Übliche. 

Leider leidet darunter die Natur doch erheblich. Überall zerfahrene Straßen.

Zum ersten Ziel, dem Picacho Park sind wir, wegen der furchtbar ausgefahrenen Strecke, 

nicht gekommen. 

Es hätte uns womöglich einen geplatzten Reifen oder eine gebrochene Achse gekostet.

Aber zu den beiden anderen Plätzen ging es einigermaßen.

Wasser zieht die Tiere und Menschen magisch an, 

besonders wenn man wie hier, schon mehrere Jahre Dürre erlebt.

Wir hielten unsere Mittagspause am Squaw Lake und fuhren dann weiter zum Mittry Lake. 

Beide waren schon immer ein Eldorado für Wassersport und Angler, 

und nun auch für Wandern mit dem Geländewagen.

Seufz.

Die Gewässer waren voll von Blässhühner. Über dem Wasser

flogen hunderte Schwalben auf Suche nach Insekten.

Dazwischen fand ich hier und da ein paar andere, interessante Arten.

Manche Aufnahmen wurden während der Fahrt gemacht da

kein Platz oder keine Zeit zum Anhalten war. 

Aber es hat alles in allem doch viel Vergnügen gemacht.

Hier und da hätte man noch gerne verweilen mögen doch die Sonne sank,

 und wir mußten noch ein bisschen einkaufen gehen bevor wir wieder zu unserem

Platz in der Wüste zurückfahren konnten.