Birds

Morning was the hurry up and wait show.  I set out early in the afternoon when the tide was just about bottoming.  I had to stare at the water to see any current.  The temperature was in the 80's with the air rather humid, but with a light wind that made it all feel rather pleasant. 

I crossed the river right away and followed the west shore down towards the sea.  It took an hour to get down past Milford Point, this section of the river a large arcing turn counter clockwise around the Wheeler Marsh.  It is always impressive how much longer the west shore route is than the east side.  

Spotted a couple of Oyster Catchers on a small rock bar that only appears at low tide.  I went a little farther out, then crossed the river back to the east shore and followed the edge of the expansive bar outside of Milford Point.  

I spend a fair amount of time just drifting in the canoe and observing what surrounds me.  It is a good day for this. 

I had just barely enough water to take the first shortcut towards Nell's Channel.  A long sliding tone whistle caught my attention and I turned to spot two Black Bellied Plovers.   Continuing on into Nell's Channel, spot a few Yellow Crowned Night Herons, some Willets, and a few Least Terns near the island, where there are also a dozen Egrets feeding in the shallows.  The Terns and Great Egrets are feeding on small fish that are schooling in the shallows.  One more Black Bellied Plover watches as I leave the marsh and head back upriver.