Road Trip Day 3
Afternoon
June 23, 2010
After a trip through magnificent scenery, we headed into Merritt, stopping at the 7-Eleven for some sandwiches and directions from Marina who was very helpful and pleasant. We followed Marina’s directions out along the Princeton – Kamloops Highway to Gerard Guichon Ranch where we stopped to find an incredible ranch that boasts being two time winners of “The Environmental Stewardship Award”. They have a bed, bale and breakfast there that can be found with this link:
http://www.ocis.net/~grbbb/
Further down the road from this ranch is a Ducks Unlimited marsh, Beaver Flats which boasts a wide variety of birds and wildlife.
Just before the ranch, we saw several Osprey, some with fish in their talons.
Even though Allison was very busy working, she was a very pleasant person who gave us a very warm welcome and we enjoyed a short visit with her. We took quite a few photos before a sudden storm blew in with thunder, lightning and heavy gusts of wind.
We watched Black Terns splashing into the water and flying over the reeds.
Bufflehead Ducks are a winter resident in Chilliwack and we found some here with a few Scaup as well.
We saw a few Goldeneye Ducklings as well.
An American Coot preened at the edge of a little island while a Pied-billed Grebe called in the background.
An Eared-Grebe was on the far side of the water but we took a few photos for a record.
A Wilson’s Phalarope swam back and forth and preened.
Off in the distance, an American Wigeon floated along peacefully with a group of ducklings.
A couple of male Ruddy Ducks rocked back and forth doing their courting rituals for a little female who swam away seemingly unimpressed.
Before we left, we had to get photos of the many “in your face” Yellow-headed Blackbirds that were seen at the edge of the water in the Cattails.
We want to say thanks for a very wonderful visit to this great piece of natural paradise in the midst of a real working cattle ranch.
We are not authorities on birds, wildlife, plants, cameras or photography, if you are doing research on any subjects, please refer to a more educational site for advice and double-check whatever you research.
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