I learned yesterday that the flu that was being passed around in my nephew’s house has abated. I was purposefully progressing at a snail’s pace to give it time to run its course and clear out. Now I’m still four or five days from arrival in Medford. There are places I still want to visit. Some of these locations I remember from a family vacation we took in 1959. That trip was some journey. We caravanned with our neighbors up through the Sierras and the southern Cascades, then we crossed over to the coast along the Trinity River. Two weeks later we returned home via Coast Highway 1. It’s the northeastern quadrant of California that I’m interested in for the next couple of days. The lake country that borders California and Oregon is also on my radar.
I left my Walmart ‘campsite’ early, found breakfast and began my march north. Carson City and Reno had little to offer me on this day, so I made a hasty retreat using the fastest route available. I set my navigation system to lead me to Susanville California. Highway 395 had been my pathway on this journey. North of Reno most of the country was giant sage, but further north the sage mixed with pine and juniper. Most of the valley habitat has been turned to ranching. By the time I reached Susanville, I felt the need to depart from Highway 395. The terrain seemed unchanging. Its course was leading me away from the country I wanted to see. I chose to travel California Highway 139 to the Oregon border. This road would take me close to Eagle Lake, and ancient natural lake I remembered camping at as a kid. Just outside of Susanville the road began a steep climb that offered great views of Susanville in the valley below. Turning north, the road led through Ponderosa and juniper forests interspersed with mile-high marshy ponds.
I had my heart set on seeing Tule Lake near the California-Oregon border. Silly me! I assumed there would be a lake. Instead, I learned that this marshy wetland was drained in the early 1900’s so the land could be ‘settled’. Now a small corner of what was once the lake has been reclaimed as a marsh. It is called “Discovery Marsh” and it seems to have taken much effort to rebuild the wetland.
Today’s drive was long and tiring, but I was rewarded early with roadside Swainson’s Hawks, and late by Discovery Marsh. Images from this day can be viewed below:

Red-Winged Blackbird(Agelaius phoeniceus) |
Description: Discovery Marsh has been reclaimed from the old Tule Lake. This is a reversal of the process that converted this once enormous marshy lake and wetlands into farmlands. |
Date Taken: 2016:04:23 15:35 |
Location:
Discovery Marsh |
Camera Information: NIKON D7200, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1250 |
File Name: D728302-RedWingedBlackBird |
© 2016 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Highway Scenery(n/a) |
Description: California Highway 139 offers a great view of the Susanville Valley. |
Date Taken: 2016:04:23 10:07 |
Location:
Susanville |
Camera Information: XT1575, 4.67 mm, f/2.0, 1/710 |
File Name: IMG_20160423_100744847-Susanville |
© 2016 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Highway 395 Scenery(n/a) |
Description: Near Washoe Lake Nevada. |
Date Taken: 2016:04:23 7:02 |
Location:
Lakeview |
Camera Information: XT1575, 4.67 mm, f/2.0, 1/1100 |
File Name: IMG_20160423_070222293-NearWashoeLake |
© 2016 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Garter Snake(Thamnophis elegans biscutatus) |
Description: Discovery Marsh has been reclaimed from the old Tule Lake. This is a reversal of the process that converted this once enormous marshy lake and wetlands into farmlands. |
Date Taken: 2016:04:23 16:10 |
Location:
Discovery Marsh |
Camera Information: NIKON D7200, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1250 |
File Name: D728393-GarterSnake |
© 2016 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


American Robin(Turdus migratorius) |
Description: Discovery Marsh has been reclaimed from the old Tule Lake. This is a reversal of the process that converted this once enormous marshy lake and wetlands into farmlands. |
Date Taken: 2016:04:23 16:06 |
Location:
Discovery Marsh |
Camera Information: NIKON D7200, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1250 |
File Name: D728386-AmericanRobin |
© 2016 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Lincoln's Sparrow(Melospiza lincolnii) |
Description: Discovery Marsh has been reclaimed from the old Tule Lake. This is a reversal of the process that converted this once enormous marshy lake and wetlands into farmlands. |
Date Taken: 2016:04:23 16:03 |
Location:
Discovery Marsh |
Camera Information: NIKON D7200, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1250 |
File Name: D728382-LincolnsSparrow |
© 2016 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Red-Winged Blackbird(Agelaius phoeniceus) |
Description: Female. Discovery Marsh has been reclaimed from the old Tule Lake. This is a reversal of the process that converted this once enormous marshy lake and wetlands into farmlands. |
Date Taken: 2016:04:23 15:59 |
Location:
Discovery Marsh |
Camera Information: NIKON D7200, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1250 |
File Name: D728376-RedWingedBlackBird-Female |
© 2016 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Caspian Tern(Hydroprogne caspia) |
Description: Discovery Marsh has been reclaimed from the old Tule Lake. This is a reversal of the process that converted this once enormous marshy lake and wetlands into farmlands. |
Date Taken: 2016:04:23 15:55 |
Location:
Discovery Marsh |
Camera Information: NIKON D7200, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/2500 |
File Name: D728364-CaspianTern |
© 2016 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Caspian Tern(Hydroprogne caspia) |
Description: Discovery Marsh has been reclaimed from the old Tule Lake. This is a reversal of the process that converted this once enormous marshy lake and wetlands into farmlands. |
Date Taken: 2016:04:23 15:47 |
Location:
Discovery Marsh |
Camera Information: NIKON D7200, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/2500 |
File Name: D728350-CaspianTern |
© 2016 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Red-Winged Blackbird(Agelaius phoeniceus) |
Description: Discovery Marsh has been reclaimed from the old Tule Lake. This is a reversal of the process that converted this once enormous marshy lake and wetlands into farmlands. |
Date Taken: 2016:04:23 15:46 |
Location:
Discovery Marsh |
Camera Information: NIKON D7200, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1250 |
File Name: D728332-RedWingedBlackBird |
© 2016 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Yellow-Rumped Warbler(Setophaga coronata auduboni) |
Description: Discovery Marsh has been reclaimed from the old Tule Lake. This is a reversal of the process that converted this once enormous marshy lake and wetlands into farmlands. |
Date Taken: 2016:04:23 15:39 |
Location:
Discovery Marsh |
Camera Information: NIKON D7200, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1250 |
File Name: D728311-YellowRumpedWarbler |
© 2016 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Swainson's Hawk(Buteo swainsoni) |
Description: Nesting pair along US-Highway 395 south of Doyle California. |
Date Taken: 2016:04:23 8:19 |
Location:
Omira |
Camera Information: NIKON D7200, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1250 |
File Name: D728192-SwainsonsHawk |
© 2016 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Red-Winged Blackbird(Agelaius phoeniceus) |
Description: Discovery Marsh has been reclaimed from the old Tule Lake. This is a reversal of the process that converted this once enormous marshy lake and wetlands into farmlands. |
Date Taken: 2016:04:23 15:05 |
Location:
Discovery Marsh |
Camera Information: NIKON D7200, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1250 |
File Name: D728295-RedWingedBlackBird |
© 2016 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Golden-Crowned Sparrow(Zonotrichia atricapilla) |
Description: Discovery Marsh has been reclaimed from the old Tule Lake. This is a reversal of the process that converted this once enormous marshy lake and wetlands into farmlands. |
Date Taken: 2016:04:23 15:00 |
Location:
Discovery Marsh |
Camera Information: NIKON D7200, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1250 |
File Name: D728289-GoldenCrownedSparrow |
© 2016 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Golden-Crowned Sparrow(Zonotrichia atricapilla) |
Description: Discovery Marsh has been reclaimed from the old Tule Lake. This is a reversal of the process that converted this once enormous marshy lake and wetlands into farmlands. |
Date Taken: 2016:04:23 15:00 |
Location:
Discovery Marsh |
Camera Information: NIKON D7200, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1250 |
File Name: D728286-GoldenCrownedSparrow |
© 2016 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Golden-Crowned Sparrow(Zonotrichia atricapilla) |
Description: Discovery Marsh has been reclaimed from the old Tule Lake. This is a reversal of the process that converted this once enormous marshy lake and wetlands into farmlands. |
Date Taken: 2016:04:23 14:59 |
Location:
Discovery Marsh |
Camera Information: NIKON D7200, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1250 |
File Name: D728277-GoldenCrownedSparrow |
© 2016 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


American Robin(Turdus migratorius) |
Description: Discovery Marsh has been reclaimed from the old Tule Lake. This is a reversal of the process that converted this once enormous marshy lake and wetlands into farmlands. |
Date Taken: 2016:04:23 14:42 |
Location:
Discovery Marsh |
Camera Information: NIKON D7200, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1250 |
File Name: D728258-AmericanRobin |
© 2016 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Song Sparrow(Melospiza melodia) |
Description: Discovery Marsh has been reclaimed from the old Tule Lake. This is a reversal of the process that converted this once enormous marshy lake and wetlands into farmlands. |
Date Taken: 2016:04:23 14:30 |
Location:
Discovery Marsh |
Camera Information: NIKON D7200, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1250 |
File Name: D728254-SongSparrow |
© 2016 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Swainson's Hawk(Buteo swainsoni) |
Description: Perched near US-Highway 395 north of Doyle California. |
Date Taken: 2016:04:23 8:53 |
Location:
Herlong Junction |
Camera Information: NIKON D7200, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1250 |
File Name: D728234-SwainsonsHawk |
© 2016 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Swainson's Hawk(Buteo swainsoni) |
Description: Perched near US-Highway 395 north of Doyle California. |
Date Taken: 2016:04:23 8:50 |
Location:
Herlong Junction |
Camera Information: NIKON D7200, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1250 |
File Name: D728214-SwainsonsHawk |
© 2016 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Turkey Vulture(Cathartes aura) |
Description: Seen along US-Highway 395 south of Doyle California. |
Date Taken: 2016:04:23 8:22 |
Location:
Omira |
Camera Information: NIKON D7200, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1250 |
File Name: D728212-TurkeyVulture |
© 2016 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Swainson's Hawk(Buteo swainsoni) |
Description: Part of a nesting pair along US-Highway 395 south of Doyle California. |
Date Taken: 2016:04:23 8:20 |
Location:
Omira |
Camera Information: NIKON D7200, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1250 |
File Name: D728196-SwainsonsHawk |
© 2016 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |

Click map markers to reveal further information