The creeks are gushing

We're catching up on rainfall out here, but we're still short of the mark.

A somber state hydrologist on a Sacramento TV station  said we're still in a drought cycle. The reservoirs are filling slowly, because the land is still soaking up the water.

Today Fred and I visited three unnamed seasonal creeks that tumble down the slopes of Butte Creek Canyon. The water is crystal clear, even though the creeks are gushing.

And I was surprised to find newts breeding in such swift water. Most of these creeks dry up by June, but a few remain as pools fed by springs under the capstone.

Fred fell in out of concern when I stepped on onto a rock in midstream, but he's half lab and still smelled quite doggy when we got home.

It was a good day. I found two excellent sites to set camera traps in the coming weeks.

Newtsville, CA

Rich and I collected memory sticks and changed batteries on Sunday at our Marin County site.

It was threatening to rain.

The newts were out and about, and you really have to watch your step.

Not only is it cruel to step on a newt, it is very unpopular to do so in Marin County.

Some were moving across the trails, others were poised like bird dogs.

They were all looking for action, even when there was no need to look any further.

This is, like, very Californian.