Sunday, March 15, 2009

Sudbury River - Rt. 62 to Pantry Brook & Back

With the promise of a warm and sunny day I launched my kayak into the Sudbury River and headed upstream towards Fairhaven Bay and beyond. The temperature was about 30 degrees at the start of my journey and had warmed to about 50 at the end.
Red-winged blackbirds were everywhere and wood ducks were also numerous. This musquash was busy eating and didn't seem to mind my presence....

Trash was spotty with a few pieces just before the Route 2 underpass and a few more in the riprap under Heath's Bridge at Sudbury Road.
Between the bridge and Martha's Point, I came upon this canoe patiently awaiting its master...

Martha's Point looked particularly nice in the morning sun...

Fairhaven Bay was serene and after paddling across it, I turned to admire and drink-in the view...

Turning to proceed upstream I noticed a large bird perched in a dead tree also enjoying the view. At first I thought it was an osprey but as I got closer I noticed a second bird in an adjacent tree. While the first bird took flight I remained focused on the second bird and realized I was looking at a bald eagle. I fumbled with my camera and got one shot, showing his all white head, before he took flight...

Once he was in the air I took another photo but the image is blurry...

This was the first eagle I've seen this close to home. In fact, when I later returned home and opened the Sunday Globe, this week's "Bird Sightings" had recorded a bald eagle in the Nine-Acre area of Concord. A tufted duck was also noted to have been seen behind the Nashawtuc Country Club and this probably explained the folks I saw with tripods at Route 117 and behind Nashawtuc. I did not see the tufted duck and had never heard of this duck before seeing it mentioned in the Globe. Apparently the tufted is native to eurasia and considered very rare in these parts. It's similar to our ring-necked duck.
As I neared the mouth of Pantry Brook this triple notched beaver job appeared and seems to prove the old adage "third time's the charm"...

I paddled up Pantry Brook and was able to enter the impoundment as the water level gauge showed 4.70 feet. This was the view looking into the Pantry Brook impoundment...

Turned around here and began the trip back downriver shedding gloves and opening vents to cool down along the way. Got passed by the first fishing boat I've seen this season. The two guys on board headed into Fairhaven Bay, shut of the motor and began casting their lines. A well practiced drill!
Saw one other kayaker and a two-man canoe on the river today.
At my takeout location my haul for the day was 33 empty containers of which 14 were recyclable...

My YTD total stands at 246.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Awesome about the eagle! I saw one up in Glacier National Park and will never forget how majestic it was. So glad to see them making such a strong comeback.