Portal RV Resort
Moab, UT
April 21, 2016
If you are ever in Moab and want to enjoy a quiet, peaceful walk among the reeds, Scott M. Matheson Wetlands Preserve is just the spot.
From Main Street/Hwy 191 turn west onto Kane Creek Rd. at the McDonalds. The preserve parking lot will be about .81 of a mile on the right. It is well marked.
Joe and I had the pleasure of spending time with Sue and Dave (belugasexcellentadventure.blogspot.com) at this magical place where water meets earth...a stark contrast from the red rock cliffs that surround it.
As we rounded a corner, we stopped dead in our tracks.
It seems turkeys have the right of way. Sue and Dave identified these as Rio Grande Wild Turkeys.
Rio Turkeys thrive in cottonwood river bottoms. They eat pine nuts, acorns, juniper berries, grasses, weed seeds, and leafy green vegetation. Benjamin Franklin called the wild turkey "a bird of courage" and if he had had his way, the wild turkey would be our country's national symbol. These are the largest of all Utah's game birds.
These handsome fellows were quite noisy and it's no wonder...courtship begins in early spring. Miss turkey was headed the other way!
Sue also identified this Spotted Towhee. What a beauty! They spend most of their time in leaf litter. But I did read that spring is a good time to catch an unobstructed view of them as the males climb into the shrubs/trees to sing their buzzy songs.
We also walked down to the Colorado river.
These Cinnamon Teals were having fun riding the current and then swimming back.
Such a delightful day...
Until next time, happy days and...
