Tag Archives: Campbell Lake

Paddling with Pelicans

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In late summer the pelicans start their migration south, stopping for a few weeks in our area’s lakes or rivers.   I expect to see them in Campbell Lake in August or September so I plan ahead to paddle with the pelicans.

Unfortunately the wind forecast was wrong and I battled stronger winds out of the west as I paddled the shoreline.   The flock of pelicans usually hangs out in a  large shallow bay on the southeast corner of the lake.

As I paddled the shoreline, some of the pelicans took to the air, doing a circuit of the lake.

The bay is shallow and muddy so boats can’t get very close to the flock, so I drifted in with only enough water to get back out and used a telephoto lens.

Another group flew across the lake.

The main group stayed in the shallows, mostly grooming themselves.

I paddled on and spotted some geese, two sandhill cranes, some ducks and a heron.    A few more pelicans cruised overhead on the way back.

Taking photos from a kayak on a windy day is not easy; it is hard to get crisp shots.    A long telephoto lens is needed with a tripod, but that is not compatible with a kayak, both hands on the paddle, and a boat rocking in the wind.   Each day is an adventure and we just get the photos that we can.    Paddling with pelicans is a treat we look forward to each year.

 

 

At Scuitto Lake

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In late summer or early fall we often drive through Barnhartvale to the Robbins – Campbell Range Road, then onto the Scuitto Lake Forest Service Road to launch a kayak in each lake.   In August and September we expect to encounter birds on the lake – pelicans, sandhill cranes, herons, eagles, loons, kingfishers, ducks, yellowlegs, killdeer, and more.   In this most recent  paddle on Scuitto Lake we also spotted wildflowers in bloom at the edge of the lake and nearby.   A paddle around the lake is 6 km,  a combination of good exercise and floating quietly to observe and photograph the birds, the insects and fish, the plant life, interesting views, and any animals around the lake (a bear came to the lakeshore).  There is a good boat launch at the Rec Site on the north shore.

 

Scuitto Lake was dammed to create a larger lake so the flooded stumps and snags along the shoreline are numerous.

 

 

The lake may be drawn down for irrigation in the Campbell Creek Valley in a dry summer so water levels can vary, but in 2019 water levels seemed high.   While paddling around the  lake a number of birds were spotted, with photos displayed here in a gallery.   Click and image for a larger view and a caption.

 

 

I walked along the shoreline and made some short stops at ponds on the drive back.   More photos are shared here in another gallery.

 

 

Scuitto Lake is one of our best destination paddle spots, so we will be back to Campbell Lake this year,  and we will continue to return whenever we can.