Looking for the Little Blue Heron

It is not a bad day at all with a temperature around 70F and plenty of sun.  However, the wind is all over the map, when looking at the map.  A moderate wind is predicted most everywhere, but inland, gusty weather is on the list.  There is a change coming sometime later today.

We put in on the Menunketusuck.  The paddle-able section is only a mile and a half long, but there are two equally long dead end arms to explore as well.  So, it makes a decent day trip, without considering the particularly interesting birdlife that visits.

The wind is not too bad at all. It goes calm at times, then rises enough to push the canoe around for a minute or two.  We spot three Glossy Ibises right after starting between the 2nd and 3rd bends.

Little Blue Heron - mature

As we continue down, it seems that Glossy Ibises are scattered around through the marsh.  Before we get down to Operas Singer Point, we spot 3 mature Little Blue Herons.  They are feeding about 50 yards away in a low spot such that their heads pop up every once in awhile.

We head all the way up the west arm.  More glossy Ibises and a couple Little Blue Herons, plus some Canada Geese, Mallards, Red Wing Blackbirds, a couple Least Terns, and a few Great Egrets and Snowy Egrets. There are Osprey overhead at most any time.

We head down to the railroad bridge.  It is the Elinor Roosevelt line - not really, but it is a fact that Elinor Roosevelt would take this train out here from New York.  The train would stop and drop her off about 50 yards from the river where she would hike through the woods to visit two friends that lived here.  Those friends donated their land to become mush of this wildlife refuge.

It is a grind back from the bridge with both the wind and ebb current against us.  

We find more Little Blue Herons and Great Egrets up in the east arm.  The wind is increasing, so we only go as far as the Opera Singer House before turning back.

One interesting note is that all the Little Blue Herons we saw were mature - no white or piebald phase birds.