Kayaking
at the Salton Sea
Feb 24-25, 2001
The San Diego Natural History Museum brought out 11 of their members to
kayak and bird the Salton Sea and Imperial Valley.
Guides: Bob Miller from Southwest Birders and Jen from Aqua Adventures
85 species total
(see bird list at bottom of page)
by Bob Miller
The morning began with a clear
blue, cloudless sky and barely a breeze. Eleven adventurous
kayaking birders set out to explore the Salton Sea.
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The weatherman only missed the
arrival time of the predicted storm by two days, and the sky full of
American White Pelicans quickly became full of clouds.
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The die-hard
naturalist never gives up! If you have to be in with the fishes you
might as well point them out to others.
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Saturday
afternoon we put in at the much calmer Ramer Lake. Paddling around the
islands of vegetation with four species of swallows buzzing by
in all directions was magical.
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Salton Sea Kayaking
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We hauled up on shore to
watch wave after wave of the White-faced Ibis and Cattle Egret fly
into their evening roost.
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Sunday morning we were
there for the same thousands of ibis and egrets to start out the
day. So was the rain. |
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Watching the sky fill with birds is most memorable and the rain
did not dampen the spirits of these adventurers!
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The weather wasn't much better later in the week--here I am in a
freak hailstorm in El Centro!
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