First Osprey and a Horned Grebe

I put in on the Lieutenant River and head towards the sea. It is a fine day, sunny so far, about 40F with a light S wind that doesn't count for much.  High tide is about an hour and a half away, and it will be a high high tide.

Right away as I cross the river, I hear a chip, and spot a male Red Wing Blackbird in the phragmites.  I haven't seen one in a few months. 

I take the usual back channel towards the sea.  The main river is big and wide and not particularly enjoyable to paddle, whereas the back channels is marsh and rocks and good wildlife habitat.  I spot a Grebe ahead.  The shape and the way that it dives makes it an easy identification, although I need a good photo to figure out which Grebe it is - a Horned Grebe.

Horned Grebe

Below the Watch Rocks, I find a large number of Green Winged Teals.  They are back in the nooks and little bays away from my route, but I can hear them and zoom in with the camera to see what is all there. I spot one Bald Eagle in flight and a Harrier.  There are a couple more large birds but they are too far off to identify. There is also a very frisky flock of Buffleheads that are busy playing grab-ass.

Nearing the Watch Rocks

I turn back when I get to the Black Hall River as I have plans to head up the Lieutenant.  

The plastic horsey got a lift to the recycling barrel

Just past the put-in, I spot a large bird well off and high.  It turns out to be an Osprey, my first sighting of the year. Just around the bend is a nest box where the Osprey lands with a mouth full of nest material.  And, it turns out that both of the mated Osprey are there!  The wind starts to rise as I pass the next bridge.  It's coming straight up the river and if it continues to build it will be a grind to return against.  There are some Ring Necked Dccks, maybe a dozen total.  This is not a surprise as I spotted over a hundred a week or so back when I was in Lord Cove, which is just a couple miles away.

The Eagle Nest that overlooks the Boulder Swamp does not seem to be occupied.  It looks like it is beginning to fall apart.  A nearby house went through a major remodel last year and I wondered if it was going to bother the Eagles.  They stayed put during the construction as they had young in the nest, but it looks like they have moved on.

It is a grind on the way back. The wind feels a steady 10-15mph with some stronger gusts. I hug the cattails and phragmites.  It is easier once I get below the highway bridge.  But, my shoulders definitely feel like they got a workout.