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Tule Elk & Wetlands Preserve Visit August 2019 |
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| Waterway bordering Elk Preserve. Not a sign of Tule Elk anywhere. | ||
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| Water levels in preserves are controlled by a series of locks. | ||
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| Surprised by the spread of invasive aquatic plant species. | ||
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| This variety spreads along banks as well as in waterways. | ||
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| Non-native Bullfrog suns itself, surrounded by a shoal of tiny minnows. | ||
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| Dragonfly soaks up the morning sun. | ||
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| Wetlands drained annually to conserve water for fall/winter flyway migration. | ||
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| Lock releases water to flood adjacent "water meadows". | ||
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| Some sections already showed signs of flooding. | ||
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| Bright display of native sunflowers. | ||
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| This specie common throughout many dry areas of California. | ||
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| Fun to photograph. | ||
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| Attracts many pollinator insects. | ||
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| Fading colors of summer. | ||
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| Bone dry "water meadows" were nearly devoid of wildlife. | ||
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| Very quiet. Nothing stirred as temperatures rose to the mid 90s. | ||
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| In the mid-day heat, this Mourning Dove was loath to take wing. | ||
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| Allowed me to walk right up to it. | ||
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| Same with this Verigated Dragonfly. | ||
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| In a month or so, this dry meadow will once again be a wetland. | ||
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| Nearby, year-round irrigation ensures water for livestock and agri crops. | ||
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| Herd of Angus cross-breed cattle with new-born calves. | ||
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| Calves wear same ear-tag number as mother until weaned. | ||
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| Roadside sunflowers with cotton field in background. | ||
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| Beautiful flowers. Hard to believe each will become a cotton boll. | ||
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