February 21

Tuesday, my wife and I along with my sister, Bev hiked in the Lake Poway Recreation Area, 28 miles northeast of San Diego. The mid morning weather was mostly sunny with a temperature of 64 degrees and no wind. Leaving the parking area, we started to follow an earthen trail where we paused to scan Lake Poway. Constructed in 1971, this 60-acre reservoir is a source of drinking water for people in the area as well as habitat for wildlife. Speaking of wildlife, we soon spotted a solitary White Pelican swimming near the shore. Unlike the smaller Brown Pelicans that are year around residents along the ocean, these large birds are migrants that spend most of the year living inland in freshwater habitats. Shortly thereafter, I paused to watch one of several American Coots (Mud Hens) diving for food. Continuing counterclockwise on the trail around the lake, we noticed a foot-long, basking Red-eared Slider turtle. These reptiles are quite common, as immature ones are often sold in pet stores. After a few more steps, I looked out on the lake to see a male Gadwall duck swimming and diving for food. Further around the lake, I paused to look at and listen to a waterfall where recent heavy rainwater from the surrounding hills was spilling over Granodiorite rock and draining into the reservoir. As we continued our hike, I spotted a family of Ring-necked ducks swimming offshore. While turning around to head back, I saw two colorful wildflowers. The first one was California poppy, the official state flower and the second, Purple Nightshade. Winding our way on hilly terrain, I got an eye full of color watching a small, Pacific orange tip butterfly resting on a wild pea blossom. Finally, we made it back to the car and headed to Bev’s house in San Diego for lunch.

Surface of white

Reflecting snow

Blanket of blue

Ripples show

Shrouded by ice

Muskrats sleep

Fluid and clear

Ducks dive deep

Waters of earth

Nature’s flair

Lakes of winter

Here and there

D. DeGraaf