| Paddle Log — 2026 |
|---|
| LAUNCH SITE |
DATE |
WHO |
DISTANCE |
COMMENTS |
| Vandenburgh-Dunsbach Ferry |
April 18 |
Both |
6 |
Wagers Pond, Town Park & Krause's. Low water prevented Erie Canal entry. Some muskrats & turtles, a pair of wood ducks & an eagle. Lunch at Town Park. |
| 123rd Street |
April 24 |
Both |
6 |
Strenuous upstream against a stiff wind & strong current, entertained by eagle aerials, quick return. |
| Athens |
April 26 |
Both |
12 |
Morning chop followed by afternoon calm. Eagle nests at SMG, LNH & GP are occupied. Status at PH is unknown & NMGF could not be located. |
| North Germantown Landing |
April 27 |
Both |
9 |
Quiet weather, quiet river, quiet habitat. Exception — an eagle fracas in Inbocht Bay. Stop at island near Roe Jan. |
| Coxsackie |
May 12 |
Both |
10 |
Low water, some wind, many aerial events including several osprey-eagle encounters between 169 & 171. 173 is missing! Lunch at Bronck Island. |
| Stuyvesant Landing |
May 16 |
M |
12 |
Tide ride into Stockport Flats. Ospreys are now nesting on 152 & 166 and bank swallows inhabit SMG — also a small merganser family nearby and an immature loon south of Nutten Hook. |
| Coxsackie |
May 18 |
Both |
8 |
Paddle curtailed by extreme heat. Ospreys now nesting at 157. Eagle chick at Gays Point is large, may be fledging early. A GBH curiously walked along with a branch in its mouth. Stop at SMG. |
| Coxsackie |
May 31 |
Both |
10 |
Pleasant day with several unusual encounters including a squirrel with a devils head in its mouth and a quintet at SMG consisting of three cormorants & two mergansers. Stop at east flat. |
| Coxsackie |
June 2 |
Both |
9 |
Repeat of previous. Stiff north wind on return with a lull at 154 while a CG vessel performed repairs on the channel marker. Stop at SMG. |
| Lock 7 |
June 3 |
Both |
9 |
High water. Not much wildlife. Main exceptions: a juvenile mute swan encountered early and a peregrine falcon crossing from Llenroc to the nuclear bluff later on return. Stop at the grotto. |
| Ticonderoga State Boat Launch |
June 8 |
Both |
10 |
Very quiet day (96.4 feet) — weather benign & wildlife mia. Stop at slippery Gar Point. |
| Coxsackie |
June 16 |
Both |
9 |
Pleasant day. Many GBHs & eagles. 154 is back where it belongs. Stop at east flat. |
| Athens |
June 21 |
Both |
12 |
Morning launch into serenity, immediately encountered a quartet of ospreys, later many eagles & GBHs. Stop at HRISP. |
| Coxsackie |
June 27 |
Both |
11 |
Eagle activity everywhere, concentrated at Priming Hook & Brickyard Bay. Also a family of kingfishers near Stockport Creek. Brunch at Priming Hook. |
| Coxsackie |
June 29 |
Both |
10 |
Repeat of previous — a little later, a little hotter, even more eagles. Brunch at east flat. |
| Coxsackie |
July 5 |
Both |
8 |
Early launch into cool, cloudy weather. An unusual incident near Coxsackie Creek involved a gosling almost pulled under by a snapping turtle. Stop at Bronck Island. |
| North Germantown Landing |
July 8 |
Both |
9 |
Variable chestnut mats soon to be impenetrable. Many flycatchers at work. Also GBHs, eagles, ospreys & a green heron. Stop at island near Roe Jan. |
| Athens |
July 20 |
M |
10 |
Many wildlife regulars present plus a green heron surprise at brickyard bay. Chestnut mats are thick. Stop at SMG. |
| 123rd Street |
July 24 |
Both |
7 |
Incessant wildlife activity including green herons, a trio of fawns, prince baskettails, great egrets & complaisant GBHs. |
| Coxsackie |
July 25 |
Both |
10 |
Constant eagle presence all the way to Priming Hook, then more photography-friendly egrets took over, first a pair at PH, then a flock of eleven calmly preening at the top of brickyard bay. |
| Coxsackie |
August 10 |
Both |
11 |
Eagles & ospreys everywhere, eight egrets preening on the mud flat. Breakfast at Priming Hook. |
| Coxsackie |
August 11 |
Both |
10 |
Repeat of previous -- again replete with eagles & ospreys, also GBHs. Snack at SMG. |
| Athens |
August 15 |
Both |
10 |
Ubiquitous osprey nests, many chicks now in flight. Extensive chestnut mats prevented access to Hallenbeck Creek. Lunch at Dutchmans Landing. |
| Athens |
August 19 |
Both |
11 |
Ubiquitous ospreys, at least 15, active entire paddle. Stop at SMG. |
| Coxsackie |
August 22 |
Both |
10 |
Many eagles hugged the shaded shore, skittish GBHs also present. An egret was the best photo subject. Brunch at Priming Hook. |
| Coxsackie |
August 25 |
Both |
8 |
Disappointing conditions under a lowering sky. |