With the ice finally open enough to allow passage across Fairhaven Bay, I was able to trash patrol the Sudbury River up to the Pantry Brook impoundment (aka duck heaven).
I launched into the river at about 8:30 this morning with the promise of a springlike day. Initially concerned I was overdressed but the cool wind from the west kept things comfortable.
Paddling upriver, just past Martha's Point, the sound of a gurgling stream drew me into a cove and a few pieces of trash were recovered. Out of the corner of my eye there was movement and I noticed something hiding behind a rock and tree...
After a minute or so, a beaver emerged from hiding and slowly made his way towards the water. On the way, he stopped and with him I had a just and equal encounter of the eyes, as between two honest creatures...
Beavers and musquashes were both looking to soak in the rays today. I came upon this furry little critter curled-up in the nook of a tree...
Pretty sure it was a musquash (aka muskrat). Later saw another doing the same thing.
I saw two beavers taking some sun from their rooftop patios. One is pictured here...
When I reached the mouth of Pantry Brook, I found the water level high enough to pass over the beaver dam (built on top of the human dam) and enter the impoundment (opening photo). However, there was still enough ice to keep me from proceeding much further into the impoundment. So, after a snack break, I began the trip downriver or perhaps I should say down lake as the river's main channel is hardly discernible. When the water is this high, a paddler can go as the crow flys. While so engaged another small ship pulled alongside. It was Jeff P. paddling his Zastera racing kayak...
This exotic boat is a long way from where it was built in Prague, Czechoslovakia!
Jeff is a frequent paddler around these parts.
Several red-tailed hawks were seen soaring in the sky today. Also seen were mergansers, mallards, and Canada geese.
Trash was steady with most of it found in the brambles. Like everyone else today, my motely crew of stow-a-ways wanted their moment in the sun...
The count for the day was 53 pieces of trash. Breakdown as follows: 27 recyclable (15 redeemable) and 26 were misc. rubbish such as an empty bag of ice melt (that worked quite well) and the usual plastic bags and styrofoam. YTD total= 632
2 comments:
John and Ava saw a beaver today too behind Thoreau!
Heather, They're lucky to see one in the wild at such a young age.
Back when I was that age (in a previous century), the beaver population was much smaller.
Did they try to bring it home as a family pet? :)
Post a Comment