New
River Wetlands
July 4,
2002 -
80-97
degrees
-
Bob Miller & Henry Detwiler
We started off Independence Day by visiting the New River Wetlands
Project. After that we headed north to check out a few spots off
Davis Road before it got too hot.
59 species (list follows at end
of page)
Click on
thumbnail pictures for full-sized shots.
Burrowing Owls (Young & Adult)
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At the entrance to the
Imperial Ponds site was a family of Burrowing Owls. Since we
only had a few pictures of young owls, we decided that we'd spend
some time trying to capture this family for posterity.
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Burrowing Owl Adult
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Burrowing Owl Adult
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They were very cooperative, and
flew around to several perches along the canal bank they call
home. There were two young owls and two adults.
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Burrowing Owl Juvenile
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| In addition to the regular birds were good numbers
of dragonflies and damsel flies. The Blue Dashers and
Familiar Bluets were everywhere. |
Widow Skimmer at
Imperial Ponds
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Round-tailed Antelpoe
Squirrel |
Also close to
the entrance of the ponds was a family of Round-tailed Ground
Squirrels. They're cute, unless you're walking along and your
foot descends rapidly into one of their burrows... |
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At the largest Imperial Site pond this young Brown Pelican was feasting
on the small fish fry. It's tan feather edgings were very
striking and soft-looking.
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Juvenile Brown Pelican
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Brown Pelican
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As we approached the pelican, it high-tailed it to
the other side of the pond, and Bob snapped this "take
off." |
| There were hundreds of shore birds west of Davis
Road. This trio of American Avocets were just about to lose
their breeding colors. |
American Avocets |
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