Gray Weather in the Wheeler Marsh

There were things to do and it took a while for me to get going, so it was a late start and a put-in on the far side of town.  The tide was on its way out, so it was an easy and quick paddle down to the marsh. It is overcast with a chance of thunderstorms, but from the looks of it, not much of a chance, yet.  The temperature is in the upper 50's with no wind.

I head into the Nell's Island maze.  It starts to sprinkle.  I put on my rain gear as I have already got one fine soaking earlier this week.  This time I use science - it is a well known fact that if you put your rain gear on, it will not rain.  This theory does work and although it is not instantaneous, the sprinkle dissipates during the next 20 minutes.  I find my way through the maze with no trouble even though my solution seems to have some segments that are new to me.  I end up where I am going.  Spot several Willets in the maze.  

Coming out of the maze a large flock of Black Bellied Plover flushes on the other side of Nell's Channel.  I suppose it to be a hundred birds.  Near Milford Point are about 200 Brandts.  Looking out over the marsh, there are flocks of Plovers and Sandpipers moving around - far too distant to be identified though.  I come east across the mud flat section, well away from where most of the birds should be, but I want to check out some of the tiny islands along the way. All the way over to the east side, I get an up close view of a Black Bellied Plover, a Least Sandpiper and a Semipalmated Plover.  The Egrets seem to be over here on the east edge.  I can see a dozen all at once - half Snowys and half Greats.  

Semipalmated Plover

I head up Beaver Creek - not too much going on in there other than a 2nd Year bald Eagle.  It is in that mottled plumage between a dark first year and a mature with white head and tail feathers.

Least Sandpiper

I head back upriver passing a Green Heron and 2 Yellow Crowned Night Herons along the way.

It has been a good trip. My part of the world is right side up again. 

By accident, I lock my keys in my car. I think about it for a few minutes. Then, I find a wiffle bat in the weeds. I stomp the wiffle bat flat, which splits the brittle plastic.  Then finish whittling it with my pocket knife into a crude 3/4 inch wide strip  so that I have 30-some inch strip of stiff plastic.  I slip it in the top of the door and push the door lock button.  It takes less than 10 minutes.  It feels like a notable accomplishment.