Paddle Log — 2018
LAUNCH SITE DATE WHO DISTANCE COMMENTS
Athens Mar 28 Both 14 Calm, gray day. Two cargo ships & two tugs. Scads of skittish mergansers. Lunch at Little Nutten Hook. Active eagle nests at Priming Hook & SMG.
Athens Mar 31 Both 12 Calm beginning, clear day, blustery finish. Continuation of previous paddle — wood ducks, black ducks, teals & an osprey. Lunch at HRISP.
Coxsackie April 11 Both 7 Slightly chilly, intermittently breezy, varying sunshine. Eagle pair appear to be nesting at Rattlesnake Island. Two cargo ships.
Vandenburgh-Dunsbach Ferry April 13 Both 9 Very low water, prolific animal presence, including many ducks, a few muskrats, gbh's, kingfishers, eagles, an osprey, a loon and a grebe.
Coxsackie April 22 Both 8 Clear, warmish, calm to start, eventually blustery, water still very cold. Highlight new eagle nest near Nutten Hook.
North Germantown Landing May 1 Both 10 Inbocht Bay twice, coming & going, snapping turtles rising out of the mud, many eagles. Also, lunch near Roe Jan. Pleasant day.
Coxsackie May 7 Both 11 Stockport Flats and lunch at Priming Hook on a very hot day. Three chicks again in the SMG nest.
Coxsackie May 8 M 12 Early launch into serene conditions. Many ospreys & eagles, also a horned grebe. Rattlesnake Island nest & Houghtaling Island nest both active.
Octavio's Landing May 9 Both 9 Captains Cove, Putts Creek coming & going. Very high water & plentiful wildlife in the marshes, including a bat.
Octavio's Landing May 10 Both 4 Early launch zig-zagging to Monitor Bay, then to Putts Creek marsh before getting blown off the water.
South Bay State Boat Launch May 13 Both 13 Calm launch, breezy later, blue skies. Many muskrat push-ups in the flooded marshes & ospreys nesting on channel markers. Lunch at Chubbs Dock, circumnavigation of Maple Bend Island.
Athens May 14 M 13 Quiet exploration of Stockport Flats awaiting HRSG barge, encounter near HA followed by parallel runs down opposite sides of MGF to Hudson-Athens light.
Stuyvesant Landing May 17 Both 13 Quiet day, unusally low water at Coxsackie Creek and nowhere else, an entertaining beaver at Rattlesnake Island, lunch at SMG.
Coxsackie May 18 Both 10 Afternoon paddle replete with eagles. Highlights — a grackle harrying a juvenile on SMG & a parent bringing a fish to the NH nest.
Lock 7 May 21 Both & Carolyn 10 Very low water, clear day, persistent wildlife — wood ducks, eagle, least sandpipers, falcon, lesser yellowlegs & a fox.
Coxsackie May 23 Both 10 N/NW breeze off & on, strongest at take-out. Many eagles, one catching a fish nearby. Lunch at RR village.
Athens May 24 Both 13 Unsuccessful attempt to locate eagle nest below Stockport Creek, parent present, confirmed three chicks at SMG nest. Lunch at Gays Point.
Octavio's Landing May 27 Both 5 Brief exploration from Captains Cove to Putt's Creek on a breezy afternoon.
Octavio's Landing May 28 Both 2 Brief visit to Putt's Creek, north wind so intense as to prevent headway on lake.
Octavio's Landing May 29 Both 17 Delightfully quiet AM paddle to five mile point followed by blustery PM paddle to yellow house point & cedar point.
South Slang F & W May 30 Both 9 Splendid marsh on a windy day, highlighted by water snakes, goldeneyes, caspian terns, frogs & the discovery of Lewis Creek ramp. Windy again late.
Ticonderoga State Boat Launch May 31 Both 8 Windy early for a change, tapering off late, to La Chute where a beaver ate a pile of greens & longnose gars displayed their spots.
Athens June 7 Both 14 Quiet day on high water. Confirmed osprey chick in nest at HA, lunch at Nutten Hook. Five tugs & a cargo ship passed by at the top of the tide.
North Germantown Landing June 8 Both 13 Carp activity in Inbocht Bay, five eagles at Inbocht Island, very little happening on Roe Jan. Lunch at Catskill.
Coxsackie June 10 Both 13 Inaugural gbh groak this year at RI, coming & going. Lunch at RR village.
Coxsackie June 12 M 13 Spectacular eagle's one foot snatch of a large goldfish in Brickyard Bay, also two juveniles working over a dead carp on SMG & many other eagle events. Lunch at Priming Hook.
Coxsackie June 16 M 13 Repeat of preceding. Standoff in Brickyard Bay, two kleptoparasites & one shutterbug outlasted by a patient gbh who repeatedly sipped water in lieu of catching a fish. Lunch at Priming Hook.
Coxsackie June 20 M 12 Repeat of preceding. More activity in Brickyard Bay, late SMG parent's theft of a goldfish from a gbh after scaring an osprey into dropping another into the water.
Lock 7 June 21 M 9 Very early launch into desolation — scrape empty. Eventually both parents showed up but no chicks were evident.
Athens June 22 M 12 Mostly quiet Brickyard Bay at high tide, passage possible over spatterdock in new channel. Lunch at Priming Hook.
North Germantown Landing June 26 Both 15 Still some carp activity in Inbocht Bay, possibly three eagle chicks in flight. Again very little happening on Roe Jan. Lunch at Catskill. Unexpected choppiness on return.
Coxsackie June 29 Both 12 At least one SMG chick left the nest, a gbh struggled to swallow a large catfish nearby. Lunch at Gays Point.
Henry Hudson July 1 Both 8 Very early launch to beat intense PM heat, breakfast at 214. At takeout Charlene, a gbh, ate fish served on the dock.
Athens July 4 Both 15 Another very early launch. Top eagle day including an immature snatching a carp first thing & the presence of all three SMG chicks on trees at the shore. Breakfast at Riverside Park.
Athens July 7 Both 15 Repeat of preceding, later launch, cooler day, lower water, beached several times trying to penetrate spatterdock. Two SMG chicks on trees at the shore. Breakfast at HRISP.
Stuyvesant Landing July 8 M 10 Dead calm day, many power boats by noon. Intense gbh activty at Rattlesnake Island. Snack at Bronck Island.
Athens July 11 Both 14 Noon launch to Coxsackie Farmers Market into a breeze that strengthened, creating clapotis waves at the Riverside Park bulkhead, settling down somewhat on return.
123rd Street July 12 Both 7 Quiet day on low water, only significant activity provided by a pair of beavers near a beached lodge.
Coxsackie July 13 Both 9 Morning paddle into very low water and extensive eagle & gbh activity on the mud flats around SMG, beached many times.
Athens July 19 Both 18 Early launch into cool morning mist. High water & blue skies. Thick chestnut mats. Four tugs. Rest stop at Riverside Park.
Stuyvesant Landing July 20 M 9 Three tugs early, many gbh's & eagles. Lunch at RR village.
Stuyvesant Landing July 21 M 8 Repeat of preceding, again three tugs, gbh's, eagles plus a few green herons. Lunch at Bronck Island.
Coxsackie July 27 Both 10 Egret debut in Stockport Flats — two juveniles learning how to fish at low tide. Takeout early afternoon to beat approaching storm.
Stuyvesant Landing July 29 Both 17 Two tugs meeting at launch, rescue of stranded mother & daughters on sandbar, incessant wildlife activity.
Coxsackie July 30 Both 8 Quiet paddle, day turning gray, circles around the sun.
Athens August 5 Both 14 Extraordinary eagle activity from beginning to end, several aerial encounters. Lunch at Gays Point.
Athens August 6 Both 14 Repeat of preceding, gbh's & egrets prominent. Rest at SMG.
Stuyvesant Landing August 10 Both 13 Big birds present in great numbers on the exposed mud flats – eagles, egrets & gbh's. Lunch at SMG.
Vandenburgh-Dunsbach Ferry August 15 Both 7 High water, strong current, immense chestnut mats, many egrets stumbling on them & some odes. Lunch at Vischer Ferry.
Athens August 16 Both 13 Misty early morning launch into high water, turning hazy late morning. Osprey pair still present at HA despite lack of offspring. Three tugs at Four Mile Point. Snack at SMG.
Stuyvesant Landing August 19 Both 12 Exploration of Schodack Creek. Few turtles, some eagles, gbh's, several egrets including a snowy egret.
Athens August 20 Both 11 Cool, refreshing morning. Young eagles squabbled at east flat over a dead fish, a one-footed gbh drove others off the mat at SMG & a clubtail clung to a PFD. Snack at Gays Point.
Coxsackie August 24 M 11 Another cool morning. Stockport Flats again replete with eagles, gbh's & egrets. Lunch at HRISP.
Octavio's Landing August 26 Both 1 Attempt by canoe & small plastic kayak to penetrate the marsh at Putts Creek despite low water, blocked by a massive beaver dam.
Monitor Bay August 27 Both 16 Exploration of west side of south lake on a sweltering day. Lunch near Champlain Monument.
Ticonderoga State Boat Launch August 30 Both 9 Many green herons on La Chute. Strong north wind on return. Lunch at Bicentennial Park.
Peru State Boat Launch August 31 Both 15 Wonderful day around Valcour, Crab & Garden Islands. Light & variable winds. Lunch at Valcour, many wild flowers, several nautical curiosities.
Eagle Lake Sept 3 Both 6 Pleasant paddle on a windy day. Lunch at Crown Point Bay.
South Slang F & W Sept 4 Both 10 Weedy marshes at low water, much wildlife activity, including a northern harrier & scads of yellowlegs. Lunch at Lewis Creek.
Putnam Pond Sept 5 Both 7 Idyllic setting on a quiet day. Many turtleheads around North Pond, pitcher plants at south end & numerous slaty skimmers.
Octavio's Landing Sept 6 J 1 Early canoe trip to Putts Creek under blustery conditions.
Ticonderoga State Boat Launch Sept 7 Both 13 Exploration of East Creek & La Chute highlighted by an extraordinary rescue of a young cormorant stuck in marshy muck near the latter.
Stockport Station Sept 9 Both & Cindy 7 Cool, gray day distinguished by intense eagle activity at SMG.
Monitor Bay Sept 12 Both 12 Extraordinary squirrel rescue operation in coves above ferry.
Peru State Boat Launch Sept 13 Both 13 Another wonderful day around Valcour & Crab Islands. Light & variable winds. Lunch at Valcour, bottle gentians.
Ticonderoga State Boat Launch Sept 14 Both 13 Exploration of East Creek & La Chute highlighted by northern harriers & black-crowned night herons.
Athens Sept 16 M 14 Peaceful beginning in dense fog followed by heat & humidity. Few subjects.
Richmond Pond Sept 16 J 5 Josh Billings RunAground Triathlon.
Round Lake Sept 18 J & Cindy 3 ADK paddle to the Anthony Kill led by Sally Dewes. Water calm, sky clear, cormorants in trees by the put-in, a bald eagle, two gbh's and a beautiful sunset.
Coxsackie Sept 19 Both 12 Breezy beginning, a few eagles, lunch at Bronck Island, a dead sturgeon in a small cove to the north.
North Germantown Landing Sept 20 Both 13 A pair of swans at Inbocht Bay, still very weedy, many flowers at Roejan, brisk wind after lunch at Dutchmans Landing.
Stuyvesant Landing Sept 23 Both 17 Calm & cool, little wildlife activity, otherwise pleasant. Lunch at Schodack Island State Park.
Coxsackie Sept 24 M 10 Breezy beginning, bright sunshine early, eventually calm & cloudy. Many egrets at SMG & PH.
Coxsackie Sept 27 Both 11 Pleasant conditions, strong ebb current, otherwise uneventful, lunch at PH.
Coxsackie Oct 8 Both 13 Calm, gray day, persistent light fog. Two foxes, otherwise mainly gbh's & egrets. Lunch at SMG.
Coxsackie Oct 10 Both 12 Repeat of previous. Very warm, clear, breezy on return. Mature eagles, gbh's & egrets. Lunch at SMG.
Stuyvesant Landing Oct 14 Both 14 Unexpectedly windy & cloudy before lunch at SMG, calm & clear thereafter. Egrets absent, one-legged gbh present in brickyard bay.
Round Lake Oct 19 Both 5 Little activity at first, picking up when an eastern painted turtle appeared on the Anthony Kill, followed by an injured gbh & a swamp darner.
Athens Nov 4 Both 11 Early chop giving way to calm. A multitude of eagles milled around Brickyard Bay, at least ten, all ages, also a trailing suction hopper dredge at work near HA.
 
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