East River Festival of Turtles

We put in not too long after low tide and headed straight up the East River since at this water level it is the only option.  S had not been out recently, hiking instead to rest a tender wrist, but everything was working today.  The river was a little quiet as with the tide returning the Willets have done a fair amount of feeding on the silt banks.  Osprey were here and there and seemed to also be done feeding except for an occasional opportunity that couldn't be refused.

At the Duck Hole Farms

We saw no one once we left the put in.  First one up the river sees the most is the rule, and we saw, probably, about a one hundred turtles that were either spy hopping us or slipping off the banks.  It is amazing how many turtles are in this river.

Near the Big Bends a dozen strong flock of Glossy Ibises were seen on wing.  They landed well away from us in a panne somewhere out in the spartina.  Unfortunately, the low water made it impossible for us to observe them. 

The water depth started to run thin at the Duck Hole Farms, as is normal at low tide.  Five Osprey and one Gull circled in the air. We turned back and into a mild and cooling head wind.  All the way down to Big Bends we were entertained by endless Marsh Wren singing although I only spotted two or three.  The Sneak was still too shallow to pass, so we retraced our route entirely.