The First Goslings - Lords Cove

I put in on Lord's Cove, a large marsh area off of the Connecticut River in the town of Lyme, you know, the town that the tick born disease is named after.  It is sunny and about 60F, the tide is high, and it is a lot windier than the weather forecast.  Last time I was here, there was still ice in the narrower channels.

I start at Pilgrim's Landing and head upriver into the cove.  The wind is from the NW at 15-20 mph, so I hug the shore, and while the wind is somewhat onshore, I get some benefit from the slight stagnation that happens when the wind hits the forested hillside.  But, I know that Goose Bay will be a half mile of fun with nowhere to hide and a spunky chop resulting from the shallow water.  

Four of the seven goslings are visible

The bay does not disappoint.  I spot my first Canada Goose goslings of the year.  The parents run herd on six or seven tiny fluffy yellow goslings.  They probably left the nest no more than a day or two before.

Once across the bay, the cove becomes a network of narrow channels and the wind is blocked by standing cattails and phragmites.  I work my way up as far north as possible, wanting to explore some of the dead end channels to see how close I can get to Elys Ferry Road.  I'm not going to do it today, but I have thought about making a circuit of the trip by using the road to portage and return down the main river.  I explore a few channels and find that I can get within about 30-50 yards of the road - just a short wade through the cattails.  

I find new nesting activity while I am in the upper part of the cove.   There was a huge Eagle nest in here, and the remains of it are still visible, although for some reason an Osprey is perched there.  On that same property is a new nest, which doesn't appear occupied, but I don't remember seeing it before.  And then, there is the Canada Goose nest built on an Osprey nest box.  Safe from predators, the first step for the goslings is going to be a big one, although they should bounce just fine when they hit the cattails.

The Osprey is in full view standing on the left side of the nest 

On the way out, I poke into the usual little bays just to see if anything is happening.  Then an even more fun crossing of Goose Bay with plenty of choppy non-rhythmic waves, and back to the landing.