Birds of Wilderness Lakes

          Moving from Soledad Canyon to Wilderness Lakes we found not only a change in weather but a welcome difference in Thousand Trails management.  We were pleased to find the parks maintenance in good order.  There were also activity personnel on duty to help guests and have activities posted in a timely fashion.

           We arrived at Wilderness Lakes late in January.  With warmer day time temperatures we were able to take long walks around the preserve and adjoining properties.  There were many days in our three week stay that we were able to use the swimming pool.

            Walking the trails and roads in the preserve were always a joy.  There are these great birds to watch.  From the Great Blue Heron to the Snowy Egret, ducks and geese.   Educational to, somehow I always thought long legged bird would nest on the ground. (I have know idea were I got that idea).  We watched Great Blue Herons feed there young in there nest high in a tall tree.

Black-crowned Night-Heron, a medium sized heron

Night Herons are found throughout a large part of the world, except in the coldest regions.

Great Egret a member of the heron family slightly smaller than a  Great Blue Heron

Snowy Egret, American counterpart to the similar Old World Little Egret.

Mallard, thought to be the most abundant and wide ranging duck on Earth.

Chinese Goose, a domesticated goose descended from the wild Swan Goose.

One of the canals at Wilderness Lakes, a Thousand Trails preserve near Menifee, CA.