storm

At this time of year, the clouds can bring in moisture to the Corrales area. The low temperatures means this "heaven sent" rain is more available for plants, because it can soak into the soil instead of running off into the river and into Texas.

Many new plants take advantage of a dead plant to grow in an area that is just slightly more moist than surrounding soil, with nutrients already locked in. This domestic yucca plant shows this idea the best, after the old "century plant" bloomed and then died, a new green clone is sprouting from its roots. This arrangement also lets the young plant take advantage of extra nutrients, shade and moisture to give it a better headstart on the growing season. Also protection, those spikes are still effective at warding off crushing hooves and nibbling teeth.

this same effect can be seen in this overgrown section of the clear ditch. The new grass growth has begun. this attracts rabbits, and hence coyotes to the ditch edges for those succulent, sugar laden shoots.

this I think is a species of millet, likely a feral plant that grew from birdseed sprouts. many birds eat this, and it thrives in marshy areas where the beaver dams are slowly raising water and soft silt levels.

this picture shows the water creeping into grassland to make tiny strips of marsh. The ditches follow the general rules of river hydrology and develop pretty complex habitats from them. 

Basically, fast water removes sediment, slow water deposits sediment. In this photo a shallow funnel in the river is opening into a deeper section. The water speeds up at the chokepoint,  and then slows as it spreads out into a bigger area. The sediment becomes segregated by size and you can see the whiter sand bar forming at the far bank. You also see this in the Rio Grande where the river bends.

This is the same location but zoomed in. A deep stillwater pool in the downstream of a tumbleweed is settling out the rich, organic mud and will slowly fill up with sediment. Wetland adapted seedlings will sprout here when the average annual water depth is about an inch or so. This system of pools and riffles occurs everywhere there is water flowing.

Eventually, the sediment load gets so high, the water table drops below the ground level, and the ditch enviroment becomes a meadow. Which is why the MRGCD has to bring in heavy machines to dig it back down.

after the machines have resculpted the banks, we have steep sided slopes with a wide ditch and slow moving water. Most of the sediment (but not dissolved nutrients) has been removed now, and the water is clear, allowing pond weed to grow in the summer. If the water was not moving, duckweed would form on the surface. Wind creates water currents, also moving the duckweed, and brings in tumbleweeds that trap sedminent

if the area is more than a couple of inches deep and has moving water, the filamentous algae can grow quickly clear water. This open water environment is relatively alkaline and many fish call this home.

where is this is still water and many trees, the decomposing leaves create an acidic, anoxic water rich in organic material. The black mud is hospitable to many animals we do not see; worms, snails, insects. those in turn attract many other creatures; bats, birds, reptiles. Often , you will see a colorful purple or orange slick on the water. This is a type of iron reducing bacteria that thrives in these water conditions and produces that swamp smell as a byproduct.

I don't usually see flcikers in a group (or even holding still) The seemed to just be enjoying the sun, and early morning stilness. Many bird species have a very clear zone of disruption that, if crossed, will cause them to fly away. Flickers are notoriously difficult to get close to.

this dove, is much more tolerate of dogwalkers, although he is still keeping a watchful eye out.