My Everyday Photos

Last week there were several good weather days and twice I managed to get my kayak in the water. Last year I hardly used it due to persistent lower back pain from gardening. I am trying to really take care of my back this year with more yoga and being very aware of how I move when I am carrying heavy stuff and trying to get help when I can. So far, so good for the most part. Of course with kayaking there is the business of getting the boat on and off the car to take it to the lakes. That worried me. I was able to do it and paddle two days in a row and I am happy to report that I didn’t have any pain! What a relief. Here’s hoping it stays that way all summer. Here are some highlights from two lakes near Winthrop.

Patterson Lake is my favorite

 

Interesting rock formations

 

Non-native trees line one end next to hay fields

 

Last year’s cottonwood leaf

 

Folks keep adding to this lakeside sculpture

 

You can tell from the line on the rocks that the lake is not yet full

 

These trees died after the lake level was raised some years ago. Now the snags are good habitat for nesting swallows and other birds.

 

Red-necked Grebe

 

Pair of Wood Ducks

 

Patterson Mountain reflected in Patterson Lake

 

More reflections near the boat launch

 

At Pearrygin Lake State Park, it’s still cold for swimming

 

A pair of Mallards

 

The hen decided to go her own way

 

 

The drake had to fly to catch up with her

 

4 Bufflehead ducks

 

They didn’t like me or the motorboat approaching from the other side

 

Pearrygin is a pretty warm lake with different vegetation types.

 

The reeds make nice reflections

 

This float had broken away from its moorings

 

In addition to motorboats, I saw this stand up paddler and a rowing scull

 

Killdeer on a mud flat

 

The mouth of Pearrygin Creek. This creek ‘blew out’ two years ago, resulting in flooding in the state park and the loss of this boat launch. They say that the state will replace it.

 

There are LOTS of Yellow-rumped Warblers out and about these days.

 

And Osprey are commonly seen above any water that might have fish in it. There were lots of newly-planted trout for the next day’s fishing season opener.