I’m usually up by 5:30 or so to greet the morning and start the day. I get a cup of coffee and check the weather. I like the calm quietness of that time of day just to be grateful and make a plan. For many years now I have loaded the camera and headed to the Bottoms to see who or what has arrived overnight. You honestly can’t believe how many birds come and go in 24 hours. I have seen no pelicans on Sunday and found hundreds on Monday morning. I have had the same experience with gulls, ducks, whooping cranes, and geese. It is a constantly changing environment from day to day. I think we don’t appreciate how many birds travel at night. I might have missed my calling by not working in a wetland or similar place. I used to take my labs for a run each morning before work—I still miss my dogs. Now it is a simple pleasure to greet the sun and see who is headed where in our marsh as the night shift ends and the day crew starts. I am always amazed at that process.
Right now the main players are the egrets, great Blue herons, and teal. The shore birds are just starting. One of the birds we look forward to is the snipe. They are terrific game birds and fit very well on the table. They stay in shallow water and walking them up takes some effort.
Some of my very best memories with my game warden friend Mike Ehlebracht involved hunting snipe. For those of you who remember him, I am pleased to report that he has retired from the Wyoming Dept. of Wildlife and is happily residing in Casper. I am planning a visit out there this fall to chase a cow elk for the freezer. Mike, Dusty, Grady, and Dave have been a huge part of my life for many years. I have been so lucky to have several game wardens as friends. I could tell you stories, but they would come back to haunt me. They are all heroes in my book. It’s not an easy job.
The few Avocets that are here are all washed out and very pale. They will go south for the winter and come back in glorious tan and white breeding colors this spring. The teal are coming. Jason is flooding pool 3 in anticipation of teal season. The blue-winged, green-winged, and cinnamon teal are some of the most beautiful ducks. Of course, wood ducks steal the show as far as coloring goes—but the spunky little teal are always gorgeous. That season is almost on us.
Go see the teal, egrets, snipe and herons. The Bottoms are exploding with the coming fall season. It’s definitely worth the ticket.
Doc
Doctor Dan Witt is a retired physician and nature enthusiast. He can be reached at danwitt01@gmail.com.
