Bertelsen Nature Park is 34-1/2 acres of natural wetlands. Dale and I approached it from the Stewart Pond entrance on the south edge of the park.
The park is managed by the BLM in partnership with our local department of parks and open spaces.
We entered from the small parking lot, down a short trail, to this tiny picnic area. There's an information kiosk, a bike rack, and some practice holes for the disc golf course.
From this vantage point, we saw a large, undeveloped wetlands to the west. That's where the three ponds lie. To the east is a large open space on a hill, dotted with the huge trees.
To the north is a line of trees and the start of the 18 hole disc golf course. We saw a surprising number of families playing, even through we visited on a weekday.
The disc golf course flows in a rough oval, along the tree line, up the back side of the hill, then back around toward the picnic area. Hole 18 stands on this prominent structure.
As we walked back to the parking lot, we watched a hawk in the distance. This photo belies his large size and wide wingspan. For a while he perched on this branch. Then all of a sudden, he dove into the tall grass. He stayed for a bit, then we saw him take off again. I dare say, he'd found a spot of lunch.
Further to the west, a flock of geese rose from the wetlands, calling, and moving into formation for the next leg of their flight.
We didn't walk the entire course on this visit, but we do plan to return to give it a go. Besides the many birds that call the wetlands their home, I hear there are lots of dragonflies, damselflies, western pond turtles, and even some river otter.
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