A Second Good Day in the Marsh

It is another fine day of sun and calm wind with temperatures rising into the 40's. 

I get an earlier start, heading out about a 1/2 hour after the peak of a very high tide.  Even this soon after the peak, the downriver current is moving quite fast. It is an easy paddle down to the marsh.  There are several Ducks and a couple of Loons just downstream of the drawbridge where they always find a current to fish.

Upper entrance to the Maze

The water is still high and unlike yesterday, I can see across the marsh, especially with the spartina reduced to stubble by snow and ice.  There are just a very few ice slabs in the water, but there are a great many beached on top of the marsh. It makes for a spectacular view.

Blocking ice in the Maze

Canada Geese are scattered through out the marsh.  They are easy to see from a good distance with the spartina no longer standing.  

Six Hooded Mergansers near Cat Island

I head into the upper entrance of the Maze, half expecting it to be blocked at some point.  About 300 yards in, it is blocked by a few large sheets of ice. There's no point in trying to get past the blockage as there are narrower passages further in and they are most likely in a similar state.  I head out and over to locate an interior marsh channel that I found a few months back.

Ice in the east side of the marsh

Immature Bald Eagle

I end up circling the marsh counter clockwise.  There is more ice in the east where the tidal currents are much slower.  I spot four immature Bald Eagles and three Hawks.  It is probably good hunting with the usual spartina cover chopped down.