Assabet's Winter Eagle

Paddled the Assabet River between Cox Street in Hudson and Gleasondale this afternoon enjoying splendid conditions for mid-January.  However, the bright blue skies were shortlived as clouds moved in from the west.
 
When I last paddled this stretch, in mid-November, I noticed construction had commenced at the site of the former Hudson/Stow Landfill.  Today I found a very large array of solar panels now in place...

Further downriver I was surprised to see someone's tent pitched on what looks to be an island just upriver from the golf course...

...a testament to our mild January?

After passing the tent I came upon an eagle who quickly took flight...

...and flew to another tree further ahead...

I suspect the eagle was preying on the many ducks in the area.

Also seen was a red-tailed hawk...

...and a pair of mute swans enjoying some time on the ice...

The horse farm on the side of Orchard Hill was looking good...

Unfortunately, trash was rather plentiful particularly in the first mile below Cox Street.  This stretch of the Assabet is almost always littered with plastic, glass, and Styrofoam flotsam.  Today's haul...

I counted 57 nip bottles.  One odd find was two plastic containers filled with rose petals and list of names...