The Big River

It is overcast and damp from overnight rain. But, it is in the mid-40's and calm, and a calm winter day is not to be sneezed at. 

I put in, again, from under the highway bridge on the far side of town.  Short winter days and being cautious about the weather, plus the ice conditions on rivers away from the Sound, keep me from ranging as far as I normally do in the warmer seasons. The tide is halfway out by the time I start, and there is a good, strong downriver current.

Male Long Tail Duck

I cross the river and follow the Stratford side.  I do this only a couple times each year as this side of the river is usually less interesting as well as being occupied by a few large marinas. It is also closer to the main boat channel.  Today it is quiet and I am impressed by the number of Loons and Ducks - a good many more than I would expect.  This side of the river is the outside of a very long bend, adding some distance to Milford Point.  I count at least 10 Common Loons and perhaps 20 Long Tail Ducks, along with a coupe dozen Buffleheads, and some Common Mergansers. The Loons are majestic, but the Long Tails make me happy - a quirky deep diving duck with a delightful call.  The Duck was once called an 'Old Squaw', which I imagine referred to the constant calling... which turned out to be coming only from the male Ducks! They disappear from the surface, and then pop up to the surface many seconds later. They are capable of diving to 200 feet. 

I cross the river at Milford Point, crabbing at a healthy angle to account for the ebb current.  Already the marsh is getting shallow.  I decide to make speed to the east shore.  It is not quite a mile in a straight line, although the marsh is never a straight line. By this time in the tide cycle, there is only one, or maybe two routes, and the trick is to not waste time in a look-alike dead end.  Once at the far shore, I have to continue a 1/4 mile upriver before resting.  This 1/4 mile point is where the tidal currents meet from either end of the marsh and it becomes mudflat at most any low tide.

Getting past the high ground, I pause for coffee and drift in an upriver direction, towards the marsh exit.