Delta Wanderings XIX – Feb 2016 -- “Low Tide, No Wind“

March 01, 2016 • 1 Comment

As I lugged my gear and libations down our ramp to the dock it was pretty clear we were having a really low tide given the unusually steepness of the ramp. As the waters recede during Low Tides, the Delta takes on a different look sometimes revealing previously hidden things like sand bars, old pylons, tree limbs and sometimes junk, like old submerged car tires. What is most interesting though is the emergence of a totally new shoreline exposing mudflats teaming with life. Fish get trapped in small pools of water, invertebrates like crayfish and small crabs scurry about creating a potential feast for the many creatures and shore birds found in our Delta backyards.

Delta Wanderings Photo Gallery: http://www.DeltaWanderings.com

(A periodic photo blog of our Discovery Bay and Delta Wanderings)

The sky came alive with a palette of pastels

The extra low tide grounded some channel markers and revealed rarely seen mud beaches

All sorts of shore birds wander the flats seeking a meal and the low tides provide a better chance to see our local Beavers, Otters and Muskrats on land as they cross the mudflats to their now exposed den entrances. With very few boats out on the water Mother Nature seems to come alive. In my short 2 hour Delta Wandering last night I came across, Mallard Ducks, Sand Pipers, Great Blue Herons, Great Egrets, Snowy Egrets, Green Herons, Canada Geese, Cormorants, Gulls, Kingfishers, American Coots, Otters, Beavers, Muskrats and more. Last night’s extra low tide coupled with no wind and an awesome sunset made for some great reflections. Got to love living on the water in Discovery Bay.

In one spot there were, Mallard Ducks, Snowy Egrets, Great Egrets and a Great Blue Heron all looking for a meal

Side by side the Great Egret is much larger than the more flamboyant Snowy Egret

A pair of Canada Geese paddled by

A pair of Mallard Ducks explore the shoreline

The Low Tide reveals a Beaver den entrance, the mud cloud indicates a recent passage

A River Otter slinks into the water

Muskrat headed back to it's den for the evening

A Great Blue Heron chasing a Great Egret

An aggressive Snowy Egret chases off the competition

This guy really didn't like intruders on his beach

A breeding male Snowy Egret flaring his feathers. In 1886 these plumes were valued at $32 per ounce, which was twice the price of gold at the time.

A lone Sandpiper pokes about the shallows

Great Egret going in for a meal

and he comes up with a small fish

A Great Egret, Snowy Egret and a pair of Mallard Ducks

A Snowy Egret and Great Egret

Mt Diablo Sunset

For more photos visit Bill’s Discovery Bay & Delta website: http://DiscoveryBay.me

Check out my online Photo Website at: http://www.DiscoveryBay.me or http://www.wkimages.net

* Any use of these images requires the prior written permission of Bill Klipp the photographer, no other uses of any kind including print or electronic are permitted without the prior written permission of the photographer.

Comments

peggy(non-registered)

WOW!!! What great pictures!! Thanks

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