Mariton: Breezy Morning on the Lake
by Tim Burris, Preserve Manager
We had a small group for our Sunday morning kayak trip. It was chilly and breezy when we started, but the sun was bright and it was a great day to be on the lake. We saw lots of Great Blue Herons. We also saw a Cattle Egret just before we entered the inlet. We had a kettle of both Turkey and Black Vultures circling directly overhead. It was a great visual aid of the differences between these two species. You could easily point out the white tips on the Black Vulture wings.
A large Snapping Turtle was resting on top of an exposed stump. It was the same diameter and color as the stump, so I didn’t notice it at first. I did a double take as I paddled closer. By the time I got the camera turned on and positioned, the turtle was in the water. I hadn’t expected many turtles on the chilly morning, but we also saw lots of painted turtles sunning themselves on logs.
One of the more interesting sightings was Double-crested Cormorant perched on a branch. While cormorants aren’t unusual anymore, we all paddled within a couple yards of this individual. I’ve never had them let you get that close. I didn’t even bother fussing with the camera, because I was sure it wouldn’t stay put.
It was a great morning to be on the lake.