| Paddle Log — 2023 |
|---|
| LAUNCH SITE |
DATE |
WHO |
DISTANCE |
COMMENTS |
| Vandenburgh-Dunsbach Ferry |
April 8 |
Both |
6 |
Wagers Pond twice. Three eagles & several muskrats. Painted turtles present on old canal although access to Vischer Ferry is still blocked by fallen trees. Pleasant paddle. |
| Coxsackie |
April 10 |
Both |
11 |
Encounters with a trumpeter swan early & late. Confirmation of a new eagle nest at HRISP near the gazebo. Lunch at Priming Hook. |
| Ticonderoga State Boat Launch |
April 13 |
Both |
11 |
Exploration of flooded East Creek marshes (98.2 feet) on a very hot day. Also encountered La Chute's strong current. Some diffident wildlife, few photo ops. |
| North Germantown Landing |
April 15 |
Both |
9 |
Inbocht Bay crammed with eagles, perhaps a dozen. One snapping turtle languished near the surface & a huge map turtle soaked up the sun at Roe Jan. |
| Vandenburgh-Dunsbach Ferry |
May 6 |
Both |
7 |
Erie Canal now accessible both ways but Wagers Pond is blocked. Quiet day, not much wildlife, mostly turtles and a blue-winged teal. |
| Coxsackie |
May 7 |
Both |
11 |
Swan near LNH. Many eagle photo ops. Lunch at Priming Hook, surprised by northern rough-winged swallows, no swallows at SMG. |
| Athens |
May 13 |
Both |
11 |
Early launch to beat the wind, didn't work, started blowing within the hour, worked our way around to West Flat. Bank swallows now at SMG. |
| Athens |
May 27 |
Both |
12 |
Perfectly clear & still at launch just past dawn. Many photo ops. Snack at SMG. |
| Lock 7 |
June 4 |
Both |
8 |
Launch into intermittent north wind. Falcons absent despite guano at the scrape. Snack at the grotto. |
| Athens |
June 10 |
Both |
13 |
Fog early, warm late, plenty of eagles, some gbh's & carp activity. Lunch at HRISP where the new nest has two large chicks. |
| Stuyvesant Landing |
June 11 |
Both |
9 |
Quiet water. Kingfishers early followed by an osprey nest at 171, also an eagle chick at Houghtaling Point. Lunch at RR village. |
| Stuyvesant Landing |
June 18 |
Both |
13 |
Some clouds & wind, surprisingly sparse traffic. Enountered several gbh's & the trumpeter swan at Brickyard Bay. Lunch at SMG. |
| Coxsackie |
June 30 |
Both |
11 |
Thick fog giving way to haze, calm entire paddle. Four ospreys at HA, cormorant ate an eel & brunch at SMG. |
| Athens |
July 8 |
Both |
13 |
Early launch into a gray morning, strong current. Some eagles & ospreys, also gbh's hanging out on branches waiting for the high water to subside. Brunch at SMG. |
| White Pine Camp Road |
July 11 |
J |
10 |
Upper Osgood. |
| Dutchman's Landing |
July 11 |
M |
15 |
Splendid tide ride on elevated water. Hallenback Creek flooded the adjacent marshes. Many ospreys, only two eagles, both babies, one near the nest south of Athens. Lunch at Priming Hook. |
| Stuyvesant Landing |
July 20 |
Both |
13 |
Eagles at last, maybe a dozen, also entertaining rbg's & a friendly beaver at Coxsackie Island. Lunch at SMG. |
| South Bay State Boat Launch |
July 23 |
Both |
12 |
Marsh exploration on seasonally elevated water (98.5'). Baby ospreys at 28 & 30. Lunch at Chubbs Dock, followed by an encounter with a small flock of agitated caspian terns, and otters swam across the lake. |
| Coxsackie |
July 30 |
Both |
12 |
Early launch on a cool morning. Several ospreys constantly circling, seldom diving, and a few eagles. Breakfast at Priming Hook, surprised by a great egret. |
| Stuyvesant Landing |
July 31 |
Both |
12 |
Somnolent day on the river, few subjects, scarce activity. Lunch at Gays Point. |
| Coxsackie |
August 14 |
Both |
11 |
Lively morning replete with activity – eagles, ospreys, gbh's, egrets, snapping turtles, yellowlegs, a duck & a cooper's hawk. Brunch at Priming Hook. |
| Coxsackie |
August 19 |
Both |
11 |
Gray day, otherwise pleasantly cool, again replete with eagles. West wind on return. Lunch at Priming Hook. |
| Coxsackie |
August 20 |
Both |
10 |
Repeat of preceding, forecast of following wind dudded out. Lunch at east flat. |
| Athens |
August 23 |
Both |
14 |
Idyllic launch into a golden dawn, serene conditions all day. Many photo ops. Brunch at HRISP. |
| Athens |
August 27 |
Both & Barry |
12 |
Morning chop head-to-wind, settled down afternoon. A few photo ops. Lunch at HRISP. |
| Ticonderoga State Boat Launch |
Sept 1 |
Both |
17 |
Exploration of East Creek almost to the source on unseasonally high water (98 feet). A northern harrier, skittish ducks & loud (unseen) gallinules. Lunch at Gar Point then cross over to La Chute, highlighted by a stinkpot on a fallen tree & caspian terns on a log. |
| Round Lake |
Sept 3 |
Both |
6 |
Anthony Kill & Little Round Lake. Green herons, gbh's, eagles & ospreys, also rich beds of smart weed. |
| Stuyvesant Landing |
Sept 17 |
Both |
13 |
Pleasant day with many photo ops. Lunch at SMG. |
| Coxsackie |
Sept 21 |
Both |
11 |
Late morning launch, many eagles aloft enjoying the breeze. Also a gull feeding frenzy at the thinning chestnut mats, unknown prey. Lunch at Priming Hook. |
| Athens |
Sept 27 |
Both |
12 |
Pleasant afternoon, highlighted by a pair of photogenic egrets in Brickyard Bay. Lunch at HRISP. |
| Coxsackie |
Oct 1 |
Both |
11 |
Breezy day with a fast rising tide. Many gbh's & egrets are still in the area. Lunch at SMG. |
| Coxsackie |
Oct 5 |
Both |
9 |
Choppy launch and crossing into Brickyard Bay where eagles attempted to steal prey from gbh's, egrets & an osprey. Lunch at SMG. |
| Athens |
Oct 9 |
Both |
12 |
Light breeze at launch, stronger on return head to wind, detour through west flat. Peregrine falcon at Brickyard Bay. Lunch at SMG. |
| Stuyvesant Landing |
Oct 17 |
Both |
12 |
Gray day, few photo ops, very little river traffic. Lunch at SMG. |