Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Monday, May 18, 2009
Things you notice while driving
I have always heard about the duck factory of the North Dakota and today I drove for work to a site in Carrington and saw countless ducks in ponds. It seemed that every low spot in a field had water and that water had a pair of ducks in it or along the shore. It was a beautiful day and the birds all seemed to be out and fairly easy to spot.
As I drove I saw that the river levels have come down and some of the dikes have been removed. In Valley City, if I am remebering correctly, the City civic center parking lot was completely filled with pallets of filled sand bags. These must have been extras that were not needed.
All of the water in the area has definately made for good duck breading. I tried to identify as many different species while driving to my site. I was able to easily see mallards and shovelers and lots of them. They were definately the most common or the easiest to spot. Some others were a little more difficult to see at 65 mph. The others were pintails, redheads, blue wing teal, hooded mergansers, geese and coots. If I had more time and a different camera I would have stopped for some pictures.
It looks like many of the fields are still at least a week off until they will be planted. I actually noticed only a few have even had equipment on them. Tomorrow I am heading to Sunny which is just west of Mandan for work at another site and then it will be on to home.
As I drove I saw that the river levels have come down and some of the dikes have been removed. In Valley City, if I am remebering correctly, the City civic center parking lot was completely filled with pallets of filled sand bags. These must have been extras that were not needed.
All of the water in the area has definately made for good duck breading. I tried to identify as many different species while driving to my site. I was able to easily see mallards and shovelers and lots of them. They were definately the most common or the easiest to spot. Some others were a little more difficult to see at 65 mph. The others were pintails, redheads, blue wing teal, hooded mergansers, geese and coots. If I had more time and a different camera I would have stopped for some pictures.
It looks like many of the fields are still at least a week off until they will be planted. I actually noticed only a few have even had equipment on them. Tomorrow I am heading to Sunny which is just west of Mandan for work at another site and then it will be on to home.
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Back to Work
Well the vacation ended last Tuesday and I was back to work on Wednesday. It was a great trip and very relaxing. We are now in the process of going through all of the pictures and going to make a photo book. With digital cameras you definately do take a lot more pictures. We have some 600 total pictures for the trip, so the sorting will take a little bit of time.
I have also started a new blog this one is for the Star Tribune. I am blogging as one of their field reporters about fishing. I am going to concentrate mostly on fly fishing and fly tying. The blog is at the Star Tribune's new outdoor club page. I hope you go to the blog and read it from time to time.
I have also started a new blog this one is for the Star Tribune. I am blogging as one of their field reporters about fishing. I am going to concentrate mostly on fly fishing and fly tying. The blog is at the Star Tribune's new outdoor club page. I hope you go to the blog and read it from time to time.
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