I started the landing at a quarter to 7, about 25 minutes after sunrise, trying to beat the heat. I was partially successful. Though a popular spot with cyclers and runners, the park seemed busier than usual. I walked a big loop from the backwater parking area, to the dam, along the River Trail to NorthShore Trail, along NorthShore Trail to almost the ADEQ building, then along a gravel utility road back to the parking lot. I didn’t really see anything notable, perhaps the most notable thing was that all of the Cliff Swallows had vacated their homes under the Big Dam Bridge. I did not see a one. I did have a good view of a Great Blue Heron preening in a tree, a close up of Green Heron, and a Variegated Fritillary. The loop was about 3.2 miles around and took 2.25 hours. By the time I finished it, the temperature was about 90 on its way to a predicted 103.
