2017 06-04 Yolo Bypass
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We spent several hours exploring the recently re-opened Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area which was closed for several months as it took flood waters from the Sierra and dispersed it across miles of wetlands…doing its job. There were only a few areas with water as we drove along the gravel roads from the main parking lot south to Lot G and back. Other than in the plowed agricultural tracts, the Area was rich with wildflowers, reeds and trees with lots of green leaves.
Between the main road in and the western levee there were watery areas. At first, these areas were dominated by white-faced ibis and red-winged blackbirds. The ibis were busy feeding and a few were seen with crayfish. Further south there was a pool which was very shallow and nearly dried up. Over a dozen large, 5 to 10 pound, carp were either dead or thrashing around the few inches of water left. We guessed the fish came in with the flood waters and got stranded in a pool that was drying up.
On the southern road that runs east to west a couple of Swainson’s hawks circled overhead. One of them got mobbed (and “run out of town”) by red-winged blackbirds. A large yellow crop-duster was using a landing area on the east side of the Wildlife Area to reload its “dusting fluids,” and then flew low over a cultivated area to the west of the Area. Its low flight path caused the ibis to take flight, circle high, then land again inadvertently creating some nice “in flight” photography.
The sun was out, the air temperature was in the 70’s and the scenery was very nice.
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Read MoreWe spent several hours exploring the recently re-opened Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area which was closed for several months as it took flood waters from the Sierra and dispersed it across miles of wetlands…doing its job. There were only a few areas with water as we drove along the gravel roads from the main parking lot south to Lot G and back. Other than in the plowed agricultural tracts, the Area was rich with wildflowers, reeds and trees with lots of green leaves.
Between the main road in and the western levee there were watery areas. At first, these areas were dominated by white-faced ibis and red-winged blackbirds. The ibis were busy feeding and a few were seen with crayfish. Further south there was a pool which was very shallow and nearly dried up. Over a dozen large, 5 to 10 pound, carp were either dead or thrashing around the few inches of water left. We guessed the fish came in with the flood waters and got stranded in a pool that was drying up.
On the southern road that runs east to west a couple of Swainson’s hawks circled overhead. One of them got mobbed (and “run out of town”) by red-winged blackbirds. A large yellow crop-duster was using a landing area on the east side of the Wildlife Area to reload its “dusting fluids,” and then flew low over a cultivated area to the west of the Area. Its low flight path caused the ibis to take flight, circle high, then land again inadvertently creating some nice “in flight” photography.
The sun was out, the air temperature was in the 70’s and the scenery was very nice.
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