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Borrego Springs, CA

Tuesday, July 2, 2013

Finally got out on the water today

Early this morning was day two of the Minnesota Loon Count, and for the first time since I’ve been here I was assigned to go out on the waters of Flat Lake.

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Flat Lake is pretty big, but pretty shallow except in one area where it reaches a depth of 19 feet.  Waterfowl love it though because of all the wild rice that grows on it.

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Gina was the captain of this vessel, and Rachel manned the bow as we searched for those elusive loons.  I sat in the middle and just enjoyed the fact that I was out on the water.  We went back and forth across the lake in a grid-like formation to cover all areas.  We also had to stop many many times for Gina to clear the motor propellers of vegetation.  Like I said, it’s a shallow lake with lots of vegetation.

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When we started out, we counted over 100 trumpeter swans, but saw no signets.  I’ve heard that once the rice crop is ready in late July or early August, this lake will just be covered with hundreds of trumpeter swans.  It is the lake right behind the RV sites, so it will be easy to pop over to see them all.

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For all of our searching, we were only able to find two loons and no offspring.  Sad smile  That really didn’t surprise me though since this lake is so shallow that few fish live in it.  Fish are the main diet of loons, so why would a lot of them be here?

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With all of the rain we have been having, the wild rice is laid over and not standing up as it would in even shallower conditions.  Native Americans are the only ones allowed to harvest rice on the refuge, and where they can do it is limited.  The shallow lakes on the refuge have been used by Native Americans for hundreds of years to harvest wild rice.  That rice made up a major portion of their diet back before the white man was here.

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Shortly after I left to do the loon count, a different kind of wildlife showed up at my RV site.  This little Deere was here to do a job of work.  That’s why I had to move the rig yesterday so it could move about freely.

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Here’s the result.  Tomorrow, the cement truck will come to pour our new patios.  Then I can move the rig back on Thursday, and figure out where the heck I’m going to put the screen room. 

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Since I was out on the water today, I only took along my new little Canon PowerShot camera.  I need the practice with it.  All of tonight’s pics are using it.

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                                              THE END!!  (and nope, Gina doesn’t read my blog Flirt male)

Thanks for stopping by… talk to you later,  Judy

27 comments:

  1. I think that patio is going to be so nice. Do the trumpeter swans not eat fish or do they just go somewhere else to get it. I'm beginning to be a lot more interested in the wildlife refuges and thank you for all the interesting and informative facts you write about.

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  2. I don't think that most of us would look too attractive in a rear end shot. That's why we never take a picture of ourselves from that angle!

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  3. I'm darn glad nobody does a "loon count" around here..I would definitely be counted more than once...Still looking for those jockey shorts ;-)

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    1. yer mean ... plain and simple... well? at least her bottom is covered.

      love the Monarch ! what a shot... love butterflies ... get any of those little lavender butterflies? I tried forever to get a picture of them... one landed on my toe! as soon as I aimed... it flew away then came right back... kept this up for quite a while...

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    2. I don't know why that reply was under Dennis Cave's comment. I just don't. but I'm not calling you mean ... lol

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  4. You better hope Gina doesn't read your blog because she would kill you for that photo.

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  5. Your Rv site is going to be SO nice! That concrete might even be a help to keep mice, insects etc from trying to share your rig ;-)....

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  6. I guess the end is in place of looney toons today.

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  7. I know you enjoyed the water today...your camera took a great picture of the butterfly.

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  8. You're lucky, Gina probably wouldn't be too happy. Love the Trumpeter Swan photos!!!

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  9. Oh, you are sneaky!!! bet she starts now!! love swan pics..well just ALL the pics!!

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  10. Glad to hear the Native Americans are allowed to harvest the rice. I was reading about them in a National Geographic today and it always upsets me so much the way our forefathers double crossed them on all those treaties and took more and more away until they had nothing but the land that no one wanted. I know it's impractical to go back now and honor those treaties...but still, right? Got a tick this weekend while hiking here in Wisconsin and thought of you! ;)

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  11. Your photos are always so wonderful. Such beautiful scenery. I can't imagine seeing all those swans. They are such graceful, elegant creatures.

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  12. Ooooh!! I've been forbidden from taking pictures of Teri from the back! And I think that applies to all of the ladies that I work around...

    Mark

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  13. Well darn, just lost my comment.

    Anyway, what I was saying was that at one campground where we had a concrete patio, we managed to position the screen shelter so that we could stake down three sides. The guy ropes on one side had to be stretched out a bit to reach the soft ground, but it worked. Hopefully, you will be able to do something along the same lines.

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  14. So glad it didn't rain for your outing. It looks like a great day.

    The patio is going to be such a nice addition to the site. Enjoy!

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  15. I love Minnesota wild rice--on one of our camping expeditions we ran into a guy who made money harvesting wild rice during the season and he gave me some--I was hooked! You better be glad Gina doesn't read your blog--my rule on the blog is "no unflattering photos" of people :))--one of my friends asked me, "who determines flattering or unflattering"--well of course I do, I write the blog! :))

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  16. your header pic with the trumpeter swans and their signets is just magnificent. . .loved today's outing!

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  17. Great pictures on the lake.

    The patio will be such a great place to sit now.

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  18. Your new Canon point and shoot is doing a terrific job.

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  19. If that lake is over six feet deep, even with a life-jacket on, wearing those kind of waders can be dangerous if she goes overboard.

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  20. We hope to get out on the water soon...love the new patio.

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  21. Good thing Gina doesn't read you blog or she'd be justified to chuck you overboard in that deep 19' area of the lake and watch as your steel toe boots dragged you to the bottom... :cD

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  22. Sounds like you enjoyed being on the water! Too bad you didn't find loon babies..some lakes didn't have much luck. Poor Gina..:(

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  23. Glad to hear your rain has given you a break. Ours did too today so we went kayaking and saw some of what looked like grasses but they really looked a lot like your pictures of wild rice. I wonder if that could be here on a shallow pond in Maine. Yes I'm still behind in my posts but I'll put the picture up for you to let me know when I get there. New patio sounds very nice!!

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  24. Looks like they are making some nice improvements for you. Loons are so special, they are one of my favorite birds to listen too and when I do I know I am in Minnesota.

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  25. That cement pad will be nice. Good pictures I would like to see a loon someday.

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