Squaw Creek

The family took a sunset drive around the refuge- there was little wind and few clouds early.

We drove from the entrance, past pintail pool to hwy 118. The water was iced over in most places and last weeks snow still covered the low spots.

Compared to last weekend, we found very few ducks, many geese and eagles and a few pelicans. Many of the ducks that we spotted were in flight exiting the refuge. Gunshots from neighboring properties were plentiful.

THE COOT SPOOKED FROM THE REEDS INFRONT OF ME AND RAN ACROSS THE OPEN WATER AND ICE TO SETTLE ABOUT 40FT AWAY.

ONE PED BILLED GREBE WATCHED ME CLOSELY AS HE SLOWLY SWAM INTO THE SUN

The snow geese and white fronted geese were thick on the surface of the water. There were a few canadas, but they were overwhelmed by the others and went unnoticed by drivers. We saw many eagles- more than twenty -the majority of which were juvinals.








It was 4:45 and the sun was low when we came to the 1/2 way point shortcut. We knew the refuge would close at five and didnt want to rush through the remaining five miles. We took the road - past the eagles nest and into duck country. We found a handful of N.shovelers, a few grebes and a coot. In the distance, a lage eagle continually swooped the larger goups of ducks and the horizon glittered with the light that was reflected off their underwings.


It was gorgeous, and the sunset was the sugar on top! I cant wait to visit it next weekend during eagle days!