Kip’s Comments - August 6, 2024

One Walk, Several Topics

Fortunately the drizzle our day began with fizzled out to a day of sun breaking through a cloudy sky - with wind. The combination made for pleasant hiking at Sweet Marsh. While there I shot some video and some photos.

If my identification skills and a birding app are correct, the following birds were stilt sandpipers. If this is correct, these would be “Life” birds for me - a species I have not seen before. If you know something different, please let me know. Otherwise I am going to consider myself very lucky, even though I did not recognize it at the time.

Stilt Sandpipers - Image 900848

As I walked the dikes there were near continual sandhill crane flights. This picture shows what appeared to be “Sky Walking” cranes in the process of landing.

Sandhill Cranes in Flight - Image 900756

For the record, I did find some golden oysters on a tree. I did not harvest these.

Golden Oysters - Image 900726

Finally, there was good news to be seen. The Iowa DNR is in the process of pumping water out of the newly-dug channels. After the water is low enough it will be treated to eliminate rough fish. Then Marten’s Lake will begin the refill process and fish stocking will happen. In the not too distant future Marten’s Lake will again be a recreation hotspot for our area!

Pump at Sweet Marsh - Image 900863

View a short video of the project status as of today by clicking on this link: Marten’s Lake Update (8-6-24)