Black Rock Harbor and Ash Creek

I went someplace new today, putting in on Ash Creek, a short creek of oyster beds that drains into Long Island Sound just a bit down the coast from Bridgeport.

I set out into the sound to round the point and head up into Black Rock Harbor.  This, apparently, is the wealthier end of town.  Hundreds of well kept boats were moored here and he shorelines were more often nice older homes with an industrial area in the deepest reaches of the harbor.

I spotted a good number of Night Herons, Great Blue Herons and Egrets, plus a substantial Gull and Cormorant poputlation.

Juvenile Yellow Crowned Night Heron

 All in all, the harbor was a rather pleasant paddle even if it lacked wildness.
On the return I followed the long spit that leads to Fayerweather Island and the Fayerweather Lighthouse.  An Osprey nest sits well established on the top of the obsolete lighthouse.

Fayerweather Lighthouse

 

 

I cut across the mouth of the harbor from the light house and returned to Ash Creek. 

The mouth of Ash Creek

 

 

With the tide out I wasn't able to get too far up the creek, maybe a 1/3 of a mile.  There were quite a few Great Blue Herons, Snowy Egrets and Night Herons feeding from the exposed tide flats, which were for the most part, oyster beds.  Oysters are hard on canoes and canoe paddles, and feet.  So, a deeper exploration of the creek will wait for higher tide levels.