Life at Prairie Bridges Park

I had potential plans today to go to The Big Marsh and look for migrating birds, but heavy fog and feeling punk from this virus have changed all that.

It'll be just as fun to sit on the couch with the kids and watch Veggies Tales...not quite, but that's about my energy level for this morning!

Last week though, I was able to get away for an hour to Prairie Bridges Park, with the following results:


One of about five trees I saw collapsed across the trails. Probably from that ice storm.


On the alive-side of things, I was excited to spy a few ducks amongst the ever present geese...
...and after examining them closer on my computer (there's no time at the park, one has to "shoot" first and ask questions later) I've decided these are Northern Shovelers :-) From the map, it looks like they only come to Iowa during migration, so I'm happy to see these guys.


Mud flats. There was quite a bit of run-off when all that snow and ice melted.



The train trestle managed to snag at least 4 large branches (or small trees).
It would have been interesting to view this during "high tide."

Nearby, dried grasses hang over the water, displaying their catch of ice diamonds.




Of course there were geese at the park. And of course they were noisy. But this time, there seemed to be some method and madness to their honking.

I think there were ritualistic mating or territorial things going on.

Here we see two very snaky looking dudes.
(does anybody else's neck hurt?)

Another part of a tree that fell down, which looks to have housed woodpeckers...


Two crazy mallards.
"George! Get the pond scum outta yer teeth! You're making me look bad in front of the ladies!"

The best part of this trip?

No one else was there.
 
 

Tweet