Oh wow! There is that much water? And up to the road? Strikes me as being a long time since there was water like that in the playa. I’ve not been there since the place was closed down to birders. Will have to take a little trip over.

CGB. RL

Denise Hughes

Oops! Accidentally deleted the wrong message that I wanted to reply to, so this will have to do.

The fields that drain into Dry Lakes, the big playa part, used to have much water in them as soon as the irrigation season started. Reason being that the irrigation was regular old fashioned pipe-into-furrow, so there was much run-off. I believe the playa was put in so the farmer could recycle the water he was losing, hence the pump pond.

The place started drying up when the local farmer converted to sprinkler. More efficient, also much less run off. He may be into a high water necessary crop this year making for more water in the playa.

My incoherently worded thoughts.

Those are super photos. Would not have expected such quality from a, as you say, point-and-shoot.

CGB. RL

Denise Hughes

Denise Hughes

Denise’s photos from her checklist are incredible.

Birding from the road 10AM  saw a good variety avocet  blk necks.  dowitchers 3 white face ibis flock w.sand pipers a few yellow legs and saw the yellow throat that denise reported.the migration must be started . Does any one know why there is so much water there?