Kayaking & Water Fowl

Today was very sunny with clear blue skies with a cool breeze; this type of weather is great for kayaking. After work Robin and I put in near Brewer Lake; unfortunately the sky became cloudy and dark- but we still paddled around looking for wildlife. I enjoy paddling through and around aquatic life; the benefit of using a kayak is that it leaves the area undamaged. We paddled underneath the Brewer Lake Road bridge while a lady atop exclaimed that a large Snapping turtle was swimming under us, at our angle we could not see the turtle. I headed towards a section of the stream where I spotted a Great Blue Heron peering over the aquatic plant life motionless on the lookout for fish. To the east of the Heron I saw an adult Osprey perched in its nest waiting for its mate to return with food for their two babies.

As to be expected, we spotted several frogs and even a Painted turtle head, along the way I noticed an American Bittern on the watch for fish, I paddled within 10′ of it and it would not budge. I waited and watched for 10 minutes until I gave up, unfortunately I did not get to photograph it catching its prey like I did in May.