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.
