There is now a gate across the road about 100 feet or so west of the old
parking lot. It is unclear why they have closed it off. The Army Corps has
widened and raised the road leading up to the access bridge. This means you
are the same level as the top of NE end of the sewage Lagoon dike and so get
a nice overlook at the lagoon. At this time there is no fence and you can
walk right up to edge of the lagoon. Today I got very close to some
Shovelers, AM widgeons and other ducks. I was surprised how tame they were,
considering the hunting going on not all that far away. It would be a good
photo opportunity. (I never remember my camera). The record rainfall
floods washed out a bridge at the far end of the center trail so you can no
longer hike the whole south loop. I talked with the Parks Dept. Ranger who
was enjoying a nice sunny afternoon and she thought it was unlikely the
bridge would be fixed anytime soon.

There is a lot more water in places now, the old barn is in the water,
apparently the dike has washed out one or more of the fancy control culverts
so water is flowing where it wants to. I was there on the approaching high
tide.

A flock of shorebirds (Dunlin?) swooped and soared, flashing several times
in the low sun, being chased by a falcon which was too far away to be sure,
but had the fluid sort of wing beats of a peregrine. I love how shorebirds
do that undulating ripple of dark and light, one second a dark cloud, which
then explodes in a flash of light, as the whole flock changes shape and
wheels instantly in a new direction. With the sun so low in the sky it
really shows up the dark, then light contrast making the show all that more
spectacular.

Rob Sandelin
South Snohomish County at the headwaters of Ricci Creek
Sky Valley Environments <http://www.nonprofitpages.com/nica/SVE.htm>
Field skills training for student naturalists
Floriferous at msn.com



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