After the Flood

It was a beautiful day.  Comfortable temperatures, clear, azure skies, and no rain.  I first went for a bike ride, and then went for a paddle on the Otter.  With the lake at a record level, I thought it would be interesting to see what the flooding has done to the wildlife.

I decided to paddle at the mouth of the Otter and head upstream.  As you can see, the road was flooded, so I just put-in on the road and headed through the woods until I hit the river.

The flooding is extensive. If you took away the trees that line the bank, the river would look like it is at least 8 times wider.

The lake is 2 feet over flood stage.  The flooding makes the river look like a swamp.

There is a lot of debris in the river.  In one section where the river turns due north, the south-blowing winds were pushing the north-flowing debris.  The water was full of log, sticks, and plant matter.

Some animals seemed to take the flooding in stride.  The geese were about as usual...

... as were other waterfowl.

I saw a beaver lodge.  With the high water, the lodge was probably flooded.  I wondered if there were beaver around...

... and there were.  The adult beaver saw me, went into the water, and slapped its tail, moving away from the lodge while continuing to slap the water to draw me away.  I know this trick, but decided to move on anyway.

I paddled into a hidden marshy area.  I saw that the muskrat dens were flooded.  The muskrats were probably around.

Not only has the flooding displaced the beaver and muskrat, but some of the wood duck boxes were flooded.  The flooding has hit some people hard, as it has the wildlife.

The redwind blackbirds seemed oblivious to the flooding

I paddled upstream to the mouth of Dead Creek.  At this point a road comes close to the river.  I went cycling by here a few days ago.  The water is even higher.  I was able to paddle over the road to Dead Creek, and then back to the Otter.

I saw my first sandpiper.

Osprey were everywhere.  I saw at least 7 nests.  All of them had a pair of osprey in them.  Some were solitary..

 ... some were working with their mates ...

... and some were keeping an eye on me.

I also saw downy woodpeckers.

I paddled away from the river into one of the flooded areas.  I saw muskrat eating and sunning themselves.

One thing I wasn't expecting to see..., the first turtles of the season!

The flood had an immediate impact on the river.  It will be interesting to see what nature does in the next few months.

Morning on the South Slang

The high winds and rains ceased early in the morning.  The wind has died down, so I decided to get some more paddling in.  I went back to the South Slang.  With the rain last night, the water will be up a little.  By the middle of the summer, the water be be several feet lower and I won't be able to paddle into to slang as easily.

The waters were much calmer this morning.  The temperature was about 42 degF.

I was able to paddle into the flooded forests.  I could see ducks ahead, but they would fly away before I could get close enough for any photos.

Out on the slang it was peaceful.  I just wanted to drift about, but part of me wanted to do some paddling.

The sky would darken, then clear.  The wind would pick up, then become calm.

I started to paddle up into the slang.  Mallards were about.

Off in the distance I could see a large osprey nest.  A pair of osprey were on the nest.

One flew off towards the west.

The other stayed back for a few minutes.

Then flew off to the south.

It came back a few minutes later with a large stick.  I missed the shot of it returning.  I decided to wait for a while to see what would happen next.

Geese flew by . . .

. . . and the osprey were ever vigilant.  What is it looking at?

The mate came back with a fish.

I was blessed with the osprey flying in and out of the nest.  I tipped my hat to them and thanked them for allowing me to watch them.  I then paddled away.

Just down the slang was another osprey nest.  This one was only about 10 feet above the water.  I did not come too close as I didn't want to disturb these incredible birds.

What is that in the distance?  A Beaver?  A Muskrat?

I think it is a muskrat.

However, there are signs of beaver.  I did not see any signs of a lodge about, but I know they are around.  There used to be some large beaver lodges in the southern part of the slang.  I try there later.

Another fine day to be on the water.