Crex Meadows In Flood
Main Dike Road & Dike 1 Flowage
Crex Meadows State Wildlife Area is saturated. The heavy snow this winter; last week’s rapid melting when temperatures topped 80° F; and yesterday’s snow storm produced a lot of water. I’ve been photographing Crex for four years and have never seen so much. Areas last year that were broad expanses of marsh grass are now lakes and ponds. Crex is flat, so running water is usually scarce. Yesterday it was everywhere.
Lots of migrating waterfowl at Crex, especially lesser scaup of which there are thousands. My most exciting sighting was a pair of northern shovelers, so called because of their oversize bills. The male was gorgeous - iridescent, green head; russet sides; and white breast. They were the first shovelers I’ve ever seen.
