Ice in Retreat

 

This past week provided two pleasant paddling opportunities where I saw Old Man Winter and his  ice sheets in full retreat.

On Monday blue skies and warm temperatures (50s F) were enjoyed while ascending a wide-open Sudbury River from its confluence with the Assabet at Egg Rock.  As I neared Fairhaven Bay I began seeing portions of thicker ice along the shore.  On one such ice shelf was the picked-clean skeleton of an unfortunate white-tailed deer...

...perhaps the work of coyotes or an eagle?

Fairhaven Bay itself was still iced-over and blocked (opening photo), and ice fishermen were drilling holes on the bay's east side...

  A pair of mergansers stayed close to water's edge...

A beaver did the same...

This pair of hawks kept to the trees...

Yesterday's record-breaking warmth with temperatures in the mid 60's F. allowed for getting out on the Assabet River in Stow.   Even the sky seemed a little confused as to which season we're in...

The river was high and moving swiftly in places.  The gauge at Maynard showed 3.75'.

I was a little surprised to see wide-open water between Gardner Hill and Crow Island...

Coming eye to eye with my first red-winged blackbird of the year confirmed a new cycle has begun...

Additional confirmation was seeing this dark-eyed eagle perched next to last year's nest...

Other wildlife encountered yesterday were mergansers, wood ducks, a belted kingfisher, hawks, Canada geese, blue herons, and a musquash.

Trash-wise:

Monday saw a very small amount of trash...

Yesterday saw an uptick...

Although a snowstorm is predicted for tomorrow I am, nonetheless, thinking that river-blocking ice formations are done for this winter.  Knocking on wood as I say this.