Scanning the spirit of the Saline

                           
                                                                                      

                                         Spirit of the Saline,Plastic Garlands and Carcass,Baroque Light and Dark



The Dr-100 has survived being baptized in the waters of the Saline with only a short circuited battery. Thankfully the design of the recorder allowed for two power options.  Two AA batteries should do it.Today Evan was in Chicago collecting data on native bees so a solo journey was required.  I took along the video camera. 7.34 miles; Meredith picked me up from the bridge at the tree farm.  Co. RD. 1900 E.Bridge/Saline. I have not been able to figure out the focus.  Auto focus is useful in a pinch, but I do not like the disruption in more controlled settings.  Tomorrow we will dig out carts and put them on high ground until we  have figured out the location of the staging areas.  Andrew's Ford Ranger will enable us to finish the cart removal.  I think we can take advantage of low levels on the Saline which will allow us to walk the Lincoln and SCAN up-stream to stage carts at each Co. Rd Bridge that crosses the Saline.  Now is the perfect time as levels are getting back to normal after the recent heavy rains. Maybe we should dig and stage all the carts before trying to remove them; taking advantage of the normal flow conditions.

Conditions:  Sunny and breezy, The levels of the Saline are near normal,Water is warming up; still turbid but clearing, Light insect perturbance,

Observed Fauna:  Two packs of Wood Ducks and chicks; one pack of nine and the other a pack of seven, two Owls, Blue Heron (I saw one with its wing stuck splayed out and stuck in a branch), Orioles (they are showing up down south Illinois as well, I think they are new to the area), Indigo Bunting, Ground Hog, Weasel (I have seen one other north of Crystal Lake Park but they are somewhat rare),Musk Rat, Painted Turtle, three Deer, Raccoon, Two types of large Butterflies one black the other Yellow, Dragon Flys,

Observed Flora: Mulberry Trees, Mr. Morus Alba and friends, are producing fruit, very green.  At a power line cut, i observed Pagoda Dogwood blooming(Cornus Alterniflora) , Catalpa trees are still blooming not positive if they are bignonioides or speciosos.