I paid some bills, cleaned the house, spent 4 hours on my computer getting TC work done and staff lined out…then packed and drove to the Yamsi Valley in search of balance.

 

The Marsh is finally inviting the look of spring, though only a smattering of Wocus are popping their noses above the water, and the willows buds are just beginning to unfurl. Mt. Theilson and Mt. Scott are thick with snow, creating the perfect backdrop to the wide greening meadows and glassy gray-blue waters of the refuge. Birds were abundant as well, as was my rising spirit.

 

I wanted to rush to the ranch to see what Missy had to offer but speeding through life isn’t a good way to get started when searching for balance. So I spent an hour taking pictures on the Marsh.

 

Cinnamon Teal

Ubiquitous Mallards, Canada Geese, and Coots

Willet

Sandhill Crane

Bald Eagle

Northern Harrier

Red Tailed Hawk

Sharp Shinned Hawk

Redwinged and Brewers Blackbirds (no yellow-heads yet)

Ring-necked ducks

Redhead duck(rare for the Marsh)

Ruddy ducks were prolific; bright blue billed and courting frantically

 

I got settled in at the cabin, checked on Missy–still no baby but her bag is bigger and mid section seems to droop lower and pop out on the sides less–and made the rounds of buildings to make sure all was well. I contemplated setting up my computer to do a couple hours of work but managed to tear myself away and went kayaking instead. It was late and cooling off already-after 6 PM-so I wore all my clothes and shoes. The river has risen more than a foot since last weekend. No doubt all the snow that fell in the valley causing our delay, plus more coming off Yamsi, have combined to create a solid flood.  The river needs a big whoosh of water each year to scour the muddy bottom setting free the pumice gravel that the trout prefer. The high water also carries sediment to the newly forming banks, which are still trying to recover-even after two decades-from nearly a century of erosion caused by the over grazing of cattle.