I've mentioned the work being done at Lake McKinley but I haven't shown photos for quite awhile. These are ones I took last week. I read that dredging would be done sometime in March. All the dirt removed is being spread in an area south of the lake. That should make for some very fertile farm ground. I'm always up between five and six a.m. and can already hear the machinery at the lake and see the lights at the hilltop of the ones doing the spreading of dirt.
Very little water is left but the geese find what's available.
I think they were mostly standing on the ice in this picture.
Tracks at the bottom of this photo are from the trucks carrying loads of dirt out.
Another view looking north toward the bridge on Adams Street.
Note the pickup driving in the lake bed.
These rolls, of what almost look like big bales of hay, are going to be used to stabilize the banks.
I don't know what the white things are; weights to keep things in place?
Bud talked to one of the workers and was told that these are the latest thing in preventing erosion.
This view is toward the north end of the lake where Hurley Creek flows into McKinley Lake.
I wonder how long it will take to fill the lake? I remember when Lake Icaria was built they said it might take a year or two, then there were heavy rains that "almost filled it overnight'".
Yesterday was such a nice day - mid to upper 60's here - that we decided to drive out to Green Valley Lake.
I didn't expect to see much more than these Canada geese, but I did see three eagles circling when we first got there.
We had been hearing about and seeing some pictures of swans at Lake Icaria and Lake of Three Fires, but nothing about swans at Green Valley.
They were so far away all I could see was white spots, but the telephoto camera lens brought them close enough. Swans!! and some Mallard ducks.
They were beyond where the geese were on the ice - clear across the lake.
But I saw them - and got pictures!
On to the sunsets - this one over the weekend - a lovely, soft sunset. I love it when I catch a bird flying through. This was a different bird - a whirly-bird. Sometimes I see life flight circle and come in to land at the hospital but this helicopter kept on going southwest.
And this was the sunset last evening - spectacular after a lovely day.
For the first time in ages I did send it to WHO-13. I watched the weather this morning from 5-7a.m., but my photo wasn't used. And with NBC covering the Olympics, there's no noon news. Maybe on the evening broadcast?
As the days lengthen and the temperatures moderate, it is beginning to feel more like spring. I'm sure there will be more cold and snow, but it is nice to see winter receding.
And it is really nice to see swans - even from a distance! 💛
