Today we visited the marsh park.


This is the sign for the marsh park, officially Heron Park.




This white wildflower is blooming late.




This is the view mostly west from the parking lot, looking at the picnic pavilion.




This is another view west, looking at the trees with reeds in the distance.




This red leaf lay near the sidewalk.




Looking west, you can see one of the mowed fields that used to hold wildflowers and native grasses. This is not the time of year to mow wildlife plantings, because now there is no food or cover there all winter. Mow in late winter so new growth will get more sun, or in late summer after ground-nesting species have fledged and there is time for regrowth before fall.




A game trail cuts across the east field.




The tall watchtower overlooks the marsh.




A path leads south through the edge of the marsh.




This path leads east through the edge of the marsh. The path makes a loop, so whichever end you enter, you come out the other one.




Tall cattails rise above the mudflats. Their catkins are going to seed. Pretty much every part of the cattail can be used for something.




The seed plumes shine silver in the sun.




I found this perfect set of what I believe to be muskrat tracks. There were lots of tracks, but no other signs of recent activity.




Looking south, a muskrat trail cuts through dead waterlily leaves across the mudflats. These trails were where the muskrats tried to keep a bit of water access. Now they are either just mud, or a thin film of water covered by duckweed. Had there been recent use, there would be tracks in mud or the water plants would've been swept to the sides.




Looking toward the walkway, there are more dead waterlilies and just a bit of water in the distance.




A red-winged blackbird roosts in the reeds. There are always lots of them in this part of the marsh. We heard them calling all the time.




A flock of blackbirds wheel in to land in the trees toward the east edge of the marsh.




Looking east and a little north from the walkway, this was the only patch of open water we saw.




Cattails and reeds grow on the north side of the walkway.




Willows grow just south of the walkway.




This was the only patch of green waterlily leaves that we saw, lying forlornly in the mud.




The trees north of the marsh are turning colors.




The red leaves in a line are vines climbing the trees, and showing fall color sooner.




This grass by the sidewalk has beautiful airy seedheads. It might be switch grass. I've seen the seed for sale in native plant catalogs. Now I know how pretty it is, I might buy some.