Oyster River

I hadn't been in the Oyster River for quite some time. It must be at least a couple years (in fact, it was August of 2023). It is a calm and sunny day with light winds developing and a high temperature in the low 80's.  

The trip begins with a 60 rod portage that descends about 75 feet. From there, I head east on the calm water of Long Island Sound, tucking under the hundred year old gazebo bridge of Point Rosa, through the gap in the rocky point off Anchor Beach, and over the sand bar off of Oyster River.  My first time in here was just after Hurricane Sandy and the reason for the name, "Oyster River", escaped me as the bottom was all sand.  It would take more than a year for the sand that had been washed into the river to wash back out and show the reason for the name.  For the first quarter mile, the bottom of the river is nothing but oysters.  It is also quite shallow and requires a near high tide to avoid scraping the bottom off the canoe. 

I ride the flood current in, with about a hour to go until high tide, duck under the only bridge, pass through the old trolley line bridge foundations and out into a small protected salt marsh.  There are numerous Great Egrets and maybe half again as many Snowy Egrets, maybe a dozen of the former and nearly twenty of the later.  There are also quite a few Killdeer, more than I have seen in one place for quite some time.

The water is still shallow and I often have to get to the outside of each bend to get deep enough water. A large Hawk overflies me, but when it perches, it is clearly an Owl. I don't get a good look at it, but by size and shape, it is probably a Barred Owl.  I paddle all the way up to the next road - about 3/4 of a mile, and there seem to be Killdeer in each bend. 

I head back out, with an unidentified medium-sized Hawk flying past as I near the mouth.  A light wind has come up and there is a small chop as I make my way back.  The trip ends with a 60 rod portage that ascends about 75 feet.