As most of you already know, last week I left my canal walks, heading for The Riparian Preserve in Gilbert, Arizona. The City of Gilbert manages the seven recharge basins (lakes) to replicate wet and dry periods.
A riparian habitat or riparian zone is a type of wildlife habitat found along the banks of a river, stream, or other actively moving source of water such as a spring or waterfall. The term generally refers only to freshwater or mildly brackish habitats surrounded by vegetation and may include marshes, swamps, or bogs adjacent to rivers. The Spruce
Birds are the big draw for a large number of people. The many trails are also perfect for walking, jogging, biking, or even in some places, horseback riding. It’s also used for dog walking and fishing and…photography.
Even at 5 am, just before sunrise, everyone is out and about! There are lots of egrets rushing in all directions for juicy insects and perhaps some fish.
The duck family wasn’t too afraid of me and although Mama kept an eye on me, everyone else was busy eating and cleaning themselves.
This black-necked stilt was waiting for breakfast.
I spotted a Muscovy duck sitting on the bank, keeping well away from the other ducks. I’d never seen one of these before but he apparently likes this spot as he’s right in the area every time I see him.
But birds aren’t the only interesting things. I apologize for the quality of the photo, but this large guy was headed for the water where, before I could try to focus better, he’d dived and didn’t come up anywhere I could see him.
Next time we visit, we’ll look at some of the scenery but for now, have a good Monday and an excellent week.
for Jo’s Monday Walk
This, that and the other thing 
A perfect place to go for a walk!! 5 am?? Today the sunrise here was at 7.30!!
The Preserve opens at 5:30 am and right now sunrise is about 5:20 something. But sunset is about 7:30 pm, all based on where we are in the time zone (far east side.) I wake up then anyway and it’s the nicest time of the day as far as temperature goes.
Great, I like to get up early too. In summer sunrise is also much earlier
Dear Janet,
Yesterday I walked by a pond in our area. As I watched a mama goose and her fuzzy goslings, I envied you your camera. Wonderful pictures. Thank you for sharing.
Shalom,
Rochelle
Thanks for stopping by, Rochelle. I was there again this morning and think I got some more good photos. I also use my phone for ease of posting, but the Nikon obviously does much better, especially with the telephoto. But my lens is much smaller than those of the birders! Some of them have lenses that are several feet long!
What a wonderful place to walk and take photos – I’m sure the views & wildlife will change with the time of day or seasons.
You’re exactly right, Connie, and it will be a continuing time of discovery. 🙂
janet
what a lovely morning walk! thanks for sharing these beautiful images! 🙂
My pleasure, Lola. (Are you Lola or is the blog name something else? I’d hate to be calling you by the wrong name.). It’s delightful to walk there.
yes, I am Lola (or LolaWi). lola means grandmother in my native tongue and Wi is short for Wilma (my name). thanks Janet. Lola or LolaWi is perfectly fine. 🙂 🙂
Cool photos, Janet. Thanks for taking us on your walk with you. I”m pretty sure our dog would scare most of those pretty creatures away. I have a hard enough time taking pictures of flowers and things!
That’s the problem with people walking there dogs–I’m unlikely to see much when the dogs go by. But I understand why it’s a great place to walk a dog, so I don’t mind (most of the time.) People riding their bikes can have the same effect. 🙂
Thank you for sharing this enjoyable morning walk!
Thanks for coming along.
Got here at last! Out to supper with our neighbour, Marie. Celebrating the new hair do? 🙂 🙂 Absolutely love the stilt and egret photos, and in my ignorance had never heard the expression riparian before, so thank you!
My pleasure, Jo. Nice that you could be out for supper and with a new do!!
🙂 🙂
Maybe we will try to see this when we are down there. But never going to make it there at 5:30 AM!
🙂 It’s open until 10 pm. It’s worth a visit.
I love your Black-necked Stilt image, and aren’t the Muscovy Duck’s interesting! You found a great place to bird and hike!
The MD is really unique, at least to me. There just seems to be that one and the other day it got riled up when some other ducks came near, stood up, puffed up, and opened its beak in an evil fashion.
I’ll have to learn more about different kinds of birds, but it’s a perfect place for that and of course there are lots of real birders there all the time with their 50-lb lenses. 🙂
Cool, 5 am walk.
Right now it’s the only time of day when it might actually be cool. 🙂 It’s quite a place.
janet
Oops.
Beautiful time and place to walk. The combination of later sunrise and rain has turned me rather slothful this week.
I’d love to sleep in a bit sometimes, but I just can’t do it. No likelihood of rainy days here to give me a good excuse. 😉
I like your neighbors. 🙂
I do too. There are lots of them and some of them are rather noisy! 😉
Love the shot of the Muscovy duck!
It’s certainly an unusual looking duck.
[…] The Riparian Preserve […]
These are beautiful bird captures!
Thanks very much, Amy. Birds are a big part of the Preserve and I’ve managed to get some good shots even with my small telephoto. Some of the birders have lens as big as a good bit of my leg!!