National Not Living Up to the Expectations of Others Day

I set out on a day I dedicated to "not living up to the expectations of others." But in case you were wondering, S thoroughly approved of this adventure.  

I put in at the old stage crossing.  The tide is coming in, but it hasn't reached this point of the river yet, so the water is shallow with a so-called natural downstream flow. I have to one-foot it a couple times to get past Foote Bridge (stepping with one foot onto a river boulder to un-weight the canoe, which then glides over other rocks). The air is calm, so far, with a temperature in the 40's and a mostly cloudy sky.

I float through the Gravel Flats, just enough water to do that.

Second Year Little Blue Heron

Just below Clapboard Hill Road, I start spotting a good number of Great and Snowy Egrets - an even distribution of maybe ten each before reaching the Big Bends.  The sighting of the day is in the Big Bends - a second year Little Blue Heron.  It is the same size as a Snowy Egret (and first year birds are white) but with piebald white and blue-gray feathers, and lacking the bright yellow feet of a Snowy.  There are also a number of Yellow-Legs, and a few Osprey.

Below the Big Bends I start spotting Willets.   

Willet

There is enough water to make it through the Sneak and so I route down Bailey Creek, then Neck River, and back into the East River.  Willets are fairly plentiful although I don't think they are all in, yet.  I'd guess maybe 3/4 of the full nesting population.  I would think that they started showing up about a week to ten days ago.

The wind comes up and I get some circular gusts (mini-tornadoes).  The weather has definitely got an attitude. It is in my face when I turn back up the East River. Fortunately, the flood current is with me and while I don't speed upriver, I still make good progress.

The wind has really picked up by the time I get back to the Big Bends.  It is 15-20 mph with gusts, and my hands are cold enough that I pause to put on gloves.  Then, it starts to sprinkle.  It is a light rain by the time I get to Clapboard Hill. And it is calm and sunny by the time I get to the Gravel Flats. It feels like I have been out all day, but it is only 3 hours, which is a typical round trip time for me on this river.  It was a good day, and I failed to live up to the expectations of a great many people.