Paddling report: green heron

The obnoxious heat in the southeast subsided yesterday. It was so pleasant to be paddling around this morning that I decided to extend my trip by touring the upper lake, too. Our new kayak is much lighter and easier to drag up the dam than the leaky canoe!

The highlight of my tour of the upper lake was a close encounter with a green heron.

It's the first time I've ever seen one. It was wading and hunting in the swampy shallows at the upper end of the lake. I didn't have my camera with me, so the photo is from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.

I also briefly glimpsed a blue heron flying away from us. The blue herons seem very shy. I have yet to encounter one wading. I only see them flying away, no matter how quietly I try to paddle around the coves.

I may have spotted a kingfisher also. I saw one last summer, and I think I've glimpsed one or more from a distance this summer. I haven't gotten a good close view yet, however.

I didn't bring my trash bin along this morning. The upper lake is certainly due for clean-up, though. I did retrieve several feet of fishing line with a hook attached. I don't want those abandoned hooks or knotted line to be hazards for the turtles or the birds.