| Paddle Log — 2016 |
|---|
| LAUNCH SITE |
DATE |
WHO |
DISTANCE |
COMMENTS |
| Henry Hudson |
Mar 8 |
Both |
7 |
Papscanee Creek, Moordener Kill & Staats Point, lunch at 214. Water like glass, mergansers & mallards. |
| Athens |
Mar 9 |
Both |
11 |
Very warm, much wildlife activity in Stockport Flats including many ducks at Stockport Creek. Break at SMG. |
| Four Mile Point |
Mar 13 |
Both |
8 |
Low water, persistent down stream current even against tide, intermittent north wind & a pair of swans who led us on a merry chase around Stockport Flats. |
| North Germantown Landing |
Mar 22 |
Both & Alan |
12 |
Around Inbocht Island, great cormorant on beacon IB, Roe Jan, Rogers Island, stop at Dutchmans Landing. South wind late, lenticular clouds. |
| Coxsackie |
Mar 26 |
Both |
12 |
Lovely day in Stockport Flats teeming with wildlife — eagles, mergansers, buffleheads, wood ducks, mallards & green-winged teals. |
| Coxsackie |
Mar 30 |
Both |
7 |
Paddle to Brickyard Bay & Stockport Flats cut short by high wind & low water. |
| Coxsackie |
April 13 |
Both |
10 |
Sunny day in Stockport Flats, late lunch at Priming Hook. First gbh, many cormorants & a loon. Also eagles in nests. |
| Coxsackie |
April 15 |
Both |
12 |
Sunny day, few subjects, quiet river. Lunch at RR village. A wood duck, a few black ducks, some unknown shore birds, no eagles. |
| Athens |
April 16 |
M |
11 |
Many ducks at Priming Hook, fewer at Stockport Creek & Brickyard Bay. |
| Athens |
April 17 |
Both |
12 |
Continuation of previous paddle. Even more ducks at Priming Hook. |
| Athens |
April 18 |
Both |
10 |
Continuation of previous paddles. Wildlife activity mysteriously sparse. |
| Round Lake |
April 21 |
M & seadogs |
6 |
Early spring setting, mostly tree swallows & rwb's. Some grackles, a few gbh's. Quiet water. |
| Coxsackie |
April 24 |
Both |
10 |
Breezy & sunny, many eagles including the Brickyard Gang. Low water, lunch at Priming Hook, eagle eating a rabbit on Gays Point. |
| Round Lake |
April 27 |
Both |
4 |
Osprey, egret, gbh & vulture. Water anything but quiet. |
| Henry Hudson |
April 29 |
Both |
7 |
Eagle nesting at Papscanee Creek, merganser posing on a log, many sandpipers. Lunch at 214. |
| Coxsackie |
April 30 |
M |
14 |
Sunny day, many eagles, & other subjects, big RI nest in use again. River active AM, quiet PM. Lunch at RR village. |
| Lock 7 |
May 5 |
Both |
11 |
Preparation for triathlon. Cool, gray day. Low water. |
| Aqueduct Park |
May 7 |
J |
2 |
Pedal, paddle & run triathlon. First place! |
| Stuyvesant Landing |
May 7 |
M |
12 |
Stockport Flats, lunch at Priming Hook. No wind, cloudy with sunny interludes, many eagles. |
| Coxsackie |
May 10 |
Both |
13 |
Tranquil Stockport Flats, waited out low water on MGF, many wildlife encounters — swans, yellowlegs, eagles, turtles, wood ducks, ospreys & a black-backed gull. |
| Stuyvesant Landing |
May 11 |
Both |
12 |
Stockport Flats, lunch at SMG, vulture & eagle circling nearby, bank swallows abuzz. Warm, some wind. Many turtles at RI. |
| Athens |
May 12 |
Both |
14 |
Water very low again, impossible to explore marshes & coves, stopped for ice cream in Catskill. Nest with baby gbh on the middle cable tower. |
| Coxsackie |
May 18 |
Both |
14 |
Big gbh day, also many eagles & turtles. Kingfisher photo op near Poolsburg. Lunch on Houghtaling Island. |
| North Germantown Landing |
May 20 |
Both |
14 |
Around Inbocht Island & Rogers Island, also explored Roe Jan. Surprising paucity of wildlife. NE wind died on return. |
| Stuyvesant Landing |
May 23 |
Both |
7 |
Late launch, early take out due to low water & high wind. Many gbh's & several butterflies. |
| Coxsackie |
May 26 |
M |
13 |
Many eagle encounters, including one eating a deer carcass. Also a gbh feasting on eels in Brickyard Bay. |
| Stuyvesant Landing |
May 31 |
Both |
11 |
Schodack Creek marshes, encounters with eagles, turkey vultures & black vultures. |
| Athens |
June 1 |
M |
11 |
Restless dragonflies in the marshes, a very young eagle continued to struggle with tough deer carrion. |
| Coxsackie |
June 4 |
M |
12 |
Hazy day, many photo ops including carp activity at Priming Hook, odes & a float plane takeoff. |
| Coxsackie |
June 6 |
Both |
13 |
Snapping turtles put in an appearance, as did Cleopatra. Lovely day, refreshing west wind counteracted the heat. |
| Henry Hudson |
June 10 |
Both |
8 |
Radio turtle on Papscanee log, moderate NW breeze on way to 214, subsiding on return, brief visit to Vlomankill. |
| Coxsackie |
June 14 |
Both |
10 |
Breezy day converging on Coxsackie Creek with passing cargo ships. Massive water displacement. |
| Athens |
June 15 |
M |
13 |
A calm day replete with eagles & gbh's, especially in Brickyard Bay. |
| Athens |
June 16 |
Both |
12 |
Continuation of previous paddle, again plenty of wildlife. |
| Thompson's Lake |
June 17 |
Both |
2 |
Rescue practice with Alan & Mike C. |
| Coxsackie |
June 19 |
Both |
13 |
Early morning launch to beat the heat. Many paddlers on the river & a pair of coyotes at West Flat. |
| Coxsackie |
June 22 |
Both |
7 |
Short paddle prior to farmers market to see SMG chicks, one possibly in flight. Windy return. |
| Coxsackie |
June 23 |
Both |
8 |
Continuation of previous paddle. SMG chicks very frisky in nest, one spreading its wings, another up on a limb, third possibly aloft. |
| Lock 7 |
June 24 |
Both |
14 |
Early launch to a successful falcon photo op. Other subjects — red-tailed hawk, herons, ducks & various odes. |
| Four Mile Point |
June 26 |
Both |
7 |
Quiet SMG area, some Brickyard Bay activity, Stockport Creek bursting with kingfishers, successful photo op. |
| West Lake |
June 30 |
Both |
10 |
Long day in the marshes with odes to and from Stewart Landing. Also a loon with a chick & a swimming squirrel. |
| Coxsackie |
July 2 |
M |
9 |
Early launch, many eagle encounters, including pair of SMG chicks on a branch, third still in the nest. Sudden strong wind from NW, top of Brickyard Bay blown dry, turned back early. Windsurfing at launch site. |
| Coxsackie |
July 3 |
M |
12 |
Continuation of previous paddle minus windsurfing. Much less wind. |
| Coxsackie |
July 4 |
Both |
13 |
Continuation of previous paddles. Warmer with wind shift to SW late AM. |
| Snyder's Lake |
July 5 |
Both |
2 |
Levels 1 & 2 class participation with Alan & Mike C. |
| Coxsackie |
July 6 |
Both |
8 |
Very hot day highlighted by an eagle taking a bath at SMG & delicious cupcakes at the farmers market. |
| Coxsackie |
July 8 |
Both |
10 |
Oppressive haze & humidity offset by mirth provided by a crow quartet at 157 & dancing eagles on the small island near Stockport Creek. |
| Athens |
July 11 |
Both |
12 |
Water high, windy morning. All three SMG chicks out of the nest. |
| Athens |
July 12 |
Both |
11 |
Continuation of previous paddle. Serene morning launch. Big gbh day. |
| Coxsackie |
July 13 |
Both |
8 |
Strong southeast wind occasioned a lively round trip to Coxsackie Creek. |
| Coxsackie |
July 15 |
Both |
8 |
Quick tour of SMG eagle area early to beat heat & showers. |
| Raquette Lake |
July 17 |
Both & seadogs |
13 |
Loons at inlet and Hen & Chicken Islands, lunch at Tioga Point. Beautiful day. |
| Coxsackie |
July 19 |
Both |
10 |
Strong west wind accompanied by erratic currents eventually settled down. Odes at Coxsackie Creek, snack at Bronck Island. |
| Coxsackie |
July 20 |
Both |
11 |
Early launch to an extraordinary series of photo ops at SMG & Priming Hook. |
| Henry Hudson |
July 22 |
Both |
7 |
Papscanee Creek, Moordener Kill & Vlomankill, vainly searching for wildlife. Exceptions – several gbh's & two painted turtles. |
| Indian Lake State Boat Launch |
July 24 |
M & seadogs |
14 |
Lunch at picnic site followed by improved photo ops under ideal conditions. Many odes including numerous clubtails. |
| Athens |
July 27 |
M |
12 |
Serene morning launch. Hot afternoon. Eagles everywhere, one on the ground at camp site 18. |
| Long Lake |
July 30 |
M & seadogs |
18 |
Splendid paddle down lake to lunch at Rodney Point, turnaround at Plumley Point, final stop at Kelly Point. Items of interest too numerous to list. |
| Coxsackie |
August 3 |
Both |
12 |
Elevated water level from runoff, many photo ops including egrets & eagle aerials. |
| Stuyvesant Landing |
August 4 |
Both |
12 |
Rattlesnake Island loaded with green herons. Eagle aerial encounter near south point. Lunch at SMG. Pleasant following wind on the way back, with the tide. |
| Henry Hudson |
August 8 |
M |
7 |
Early AM test of new gloves & boots on serene water. Turnaround at Van Wies Point after converging on three tugs. Many mature bald eagles. |
| Athens |
August 9 |
Both |
13 |
Early launch into tranquility. Many photo ops again including sandpipers, herons & cormorants. |
| Coxsackie |
August 11 |
Both |
13 |
Water like glass the whole trip, very little traffic, highlight an eagle-vulture encounter near Matthew Point. |
| Coxsackie |
August 15 |
Both |
8 |
Unusual current against the tide, not much wind. A multitude of tiger beetles on SMG. |
| Dutchman's Landing |
August 19 |
Both |
11 |
Explored interior of Rogers Island, ravens on bridge, lunch at Cohotate Preserve. Three ospreys at 129. |
| Coxsackie |
August 20 |
M |
12 |
Many ospreys, even more gbh's, a tug & barge at Athens tank farm, and a sly red fox at 157. Geese did well to swim away. |
| Coxsackie |
August 23 |
Both |
13 |
Cool, misty early AM launch. Many herons, including a green heron & a gbh catching fish near RI. |
| Coxsackie |
August 24 |
Both |
14 |
Another cool, misty early AM launch. Many eagles on Houghtaling Island. Turnaround at Shady Harbor. |
| Coxsackie |
August 27 |
M |
9 |
Early launch against tide in low water, Stockport Creek very hot, break on SMG. Quiet paddle. |
| 123rd Street |
August 28 |
Both |
7 |
Lively activity in marshes near C-1, egrets preeminent. Strong south wind on return. |
| Athens |
August 30 |
Both |
11 |
Ospreys everywhere, possibly outnumbering eagles, also a merlin in brickyard bay. Lunch at SMG. |
| North Germantown Landing |
Sept 2 |
Both |
12 |
Brisk wind early & late, whitecaps in the channel most of the day. Two eagles along Roe Jan. |
| 123rd Street |
Sept 3 |
Both |
8 |
Strong current from water over the dam, a day of cedar waxwings & turtles. |
| Raquette Lake |
Sept 4 |
Both & seadogs |
15 |
Gentians & lunch at Tioga Point, gentians & odes at Hen & Chicken Islands, a massive loon at Sucker Brook Bay. Ideal conditions. |
| Forts Ferry Road |
Sept 6 |
Both |
8 |
Waited in vain at lock 7 for a viking ship passing through the canal system. Many egrets & gbh's. |
| Coxsackie |
Sept 8 |
Both |
10 |
Lunch at RR village, took out a half hour too soon, missed viking draken ship, caught up later at Dutchmans Landing by car. |
| Louie's Landing |
Sept 12 |
Both |
12 |
Lake Champlain — Missisquoi loop, river, bay, creek. Rich environment, low water. Next time at least 95 feet. |
| South Slang F & W |
Sept 13 |
Both |
8 |
Lake Champlain — splendid marsh & bay paddle on a windy day. |
| Holcomb Bay — Labombard F & W |
Sept 15 |
Both |
15 |
Lake Champlain — Isle La Motte circumnavigation, delightful beyond words. |
| Peru State Boat Launch |
Sept 16 |
Both |
10 |
Lake Champlain — circumnavigated Valcour & toodled about. Stiff SE breeze to start, eventually let up. |
| Stockbridge Bowl Boat Ramp |
Sept 18 |
J |
5 |
Josh Billings RunAground Triathlon. |
| Coxsackie |
Sept 20 |
Both |
11 |
Air still hot & water still low. Eagle on beach near east flat, coyote on mud flat at Priming Hook. |
| West Lake |
Sept 22 |
Both & Mike R |
13 |
West, Canada & Lily Lakes, to and from Stewart Landing. Many meadowhawks in the morning, darners all day long. |
| Athens |
Sept 25 |
Both |
13 |
Clear & breezy, a dunlin at Priming Hook & juvenile surf scoters at west flat. Lunch at HRISP. |
| Coxsackie |
Sept 26 |
Both |
9 |
Launch onto water like glass, rough return from mouth of Coxsackie Creek into a stiff wind, at times almost halting progress. |
| Coxsackie |
Sept 28 |
Both |
11 |
Intermittent east wind, mostly gray skies. Nine egrets assembled at Priming Hook. |
| Coxsackie |
Oct 4 |
Both |
11 |
Calm, gray day, too quiet until leaving Priming Hook after lunch. Two terns on the mud flat and many eagles above Gays Point, river side. |
| Bolton Landing |
Oct 5 |
Both |
15 |
Bright sunshine & very little wind. No fall color but a very quiet lake & a few loons made it memorable. |
| Coxsackie |
Oct 7 |
M |
12 |
Off & on S wind, enough boats to make almost continual wake. Priming Hook for lunch, nothing happening, water very slow to rise. A one woman shell on the way back. |
| Indian Lake State Boat Launch |
Oct 11 |
Both |
14 |
Very quiet day almost void of wildlife activity, fall color unspectacular. Lunch at the picnic site. |
| Athens |
Oct 12 |
Both |
9 |
Stiff breeze following current for a quick passage to Stockport Creek. Stiffer breeze head-to-wind for an arduous return. |
| Coxsackie |
Oct 15 |
M |
8 |
To Stockport Creek against the tide, unexpectedly strong south wind impeded progress. Three cargo ships. |
| Coxsackie |
Oct 17 |
Both |
12 |
Again to Stockport Flats against the tide, this time under benign conditions. Rescued an ode from drowning, flew off after resting on a hatch cover. |
| Coxsackie |
Oct 30 |
Both |
10 |
Again to Stockport Flats against the tide following a bad weather hiatus, a dozen or so wild turkeys at east flat. |
| Coxsackie |
Nov 2 |
Both |
12 |
Delightful warm windless day, met Rich at Priming Hook. Buffleheads, other ducks, two eagles & tranquility. |
| Coxsackie |
Nov 5 |
M |
10 |
Shifting winds, a calm interlude, meet-up with Rich again. He recovered his GPS lost in the marshes three days ago! |
| Vandenburgh-Dunsbach Ferry |
Nov 7 |
Both |
10 |
Lovely paddle filled with surprises — a crow eating a carp on Wagers Island, a mink, egg-laying odes, and teals at Krause's. Lunch at Vischer Ferry. |
| Freddie's Park |
Nov 8 |
Both |
10 |
Crescent Dam, probed many side channels & marshes, lunch at Colonie Town Park. Very mild day, calm water. Ducks, gbh's, gulls & an eagle. |
| Vandenburgh-Dunsbach Ferry |
Nov 10 |
Both |
7 |
Cool, steadily graying day highlighted by pairs of eagles at Krause's & Wager's and little else. |
| Coxsackie |
Nov 13 |
Both |
12 |
Pleasant afternoon paddle. Mergs at Rattlesnake Island, kingfisher up Coxsackie Creek & a few eagles. Easy tide ride back. |
| North Germantown Landing |
Nov 14 |
Both |
12 |
Around Inbocht Island twice following eagles, domestic ducks back on Roe Jan, lunch at Dutchmans Landing. Calm water return. |
| Coxsackie |
Nov 18 |
Both |
13 |
Some wind, bright sunshine, very little river activity. Lunch at Priming Hook. Paddle #100. |