Summer Long Gone

And what a summer it was! Filled with much hard work by volunteer crews working long hours regularly to keep the now heavily used riverfront and trails at SLP clean. This effort has been noticed and appreciated by city and county staff who are also giving the area much needed attention to keep the area safe and clean. Fires, illegal camping and dumping and other problems continue but are more quickly dealt with now. These volunteer activities also have much educational value demonstrating how special and valuable SLP is for people to enjoy wildlife and nature.

This summer has also seen new efforts to protect and restore remaining habitat. There was even help from a very hungry work crew... 

They did get a bit carried away at times rather than just focusing on invasive annuals and grasses... Photo by Chris Smith

Ugh! There were ongoing problems and dirty deeds like this intentional porta-potty fire below but they were rapidly dealt with.

Boat rain into a submerged tree and was patched before later removal. Photo by Mark Baker

A boat that wrecked at SLP later shipwrecked down by the North Sac bike trail bridge. It later left the area but boat traffic and on the water partying and speeding became more common unfortunately.
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Other visitors and activities were much more appreciated and enjoyed! From Robert: "We are getting visits of Ospreys hunting for fish, from the trees on the North bank of the river at SLP!
I was fortunate to get these images on the morning of Aug. 2nd, when there were two birds hunting. I didn’t get a sighting yesterday, but this morning I saw three of them. They are solitary, patient hunters. The link above is helpful in getting to know about them and do “listen to their calls.” So next time you come to the river, bring your binoculars along with your trash picker! :-)"

Osprey perched on north shore across from SLP

Osprey hunting over the river at SLP

Sandhill cranes flying south over SLP

I’ve long wished they’d surprise us with a down town stopover at SLP but they are locked in on their destination further south at Consumnes Preserve and further south?

To get a closer look at Sandhill cranes this fall and winter one of the nearby places to visit is the Woodbridge Ecological Reserve near Lodi.

​Here's a brief preview: "Sandhill cranes back 2022"

This Mornings Sun Rise at the River. by Robert

Photos by Robert unless otherwise noted.