A Field Day for Wildlife

It was a snap decision, but I was overdue for a trip on the Menunketesuck River, and while the river is a little short on paddling, it can be long on wildlife, and particularly birds that I normally don't get to see.

From the put-in the river gently winds through a spartina marsh backed by a dense hardwood forest, with the marsh getting much wider as the river descends. Today must be ideal for crabbing as three small motorboats have been moving up and down the main river fishing for 3rd rate crustaceans. The river rule, "first one in sees the most wildlife" is in play and there is little to see, at first.

Glossy Ibises

Fortunately, the boats are staying in the main channel. There are two long dead end arms on either side. And, just as I reach the turn into the river left arm, a mature Bald Eagle sweeps in following the edge of the forest, definitely in hunting mode. The Eagle flushes a mix of birds from a panne below Opera Singer Point. It's 15 Glossy Ibises, 3 Snowy Egrets and a single mature Little Blue Heron. Once the Eagle is gone, most of them settle back into the panne. I head up and back on this tightly meandering arm, being able to watch those birds for much of the time.

Little Blue Herons

I head down and through the railroad bridge. The tide is near high and there is still a mild flood current. At full current, it is challenging to beat the current under this bridge. From there, I head back up.

Three adult Little Blue Herons with white fledgling

I take a shortcut, a narrow straight man made cut from the mosquito drainage days, into the river right arm. I'd seen several dark birds (either Glossy Ibises or Little Blue Herons) flush as that Eagle flew through this area - still hunting. There, at one of the bends, I add half a dozen Little Blue Herons to the count. One of them is a second year bird morphing from white to blue. Fledgling Little Blue Herons are white and look quite a bit like a Snowy Egret. When they change to blue, they have a mottled feathering of blue, white and gray. 

Second year Little Blue Heron changing from white to blue

I paddle to a small pond at the end of this arm and return via the main channel of the arm, adding another half dozen adult Little Blue Herons and two white fledglings, and 5 Glossy Ibises. 

Opera Singer Point at the trees

All told, I figure that I saw about 20 Little Blue Herons, about 20 Glossy Ibises, 5 Willets, a Yellow Legs, and a Blad Eagle.