Monday -- October 4, 2004
Water Level at Little Falls: 4.8     Water Temperature: 67

Today I'll try to get some kind of temporary ferry into the river.

Tuesday -- October 5, 2004
Water Level at Little Falls: 4.5     Water Temperature: 67

Not much progress on the ferry. I drained the water out of the pontoons and started getting them ready to patch. I actually brought over a couple of members in the canoe yesterday.

Wednesday -- October 6, 2004
Water Level at Little Falls: 4.2     Water Temperature: 67

A big tree fell over the path yesterday temporarily blocking the walk down the hill. The tree cutters arrived promptly and removed the fallen tree and then proceeded to chop down three other dead trees there along the trail. I'm glad that the dead trees were taken out but when they were allowed to just crash down the hill they took out a few other trees as well. This has left a huge gap in the canopy over head, making the walk down the path a much different, though sunnier, experience.

I've given up on the temporary ferry idea and I'm focusing on getting the Sycamore Clipper back in operation. I hope to have it back in the water by Friday night.

Friday -- October 8, 2004
Water Level at Little Falls: 3.9     Water Temperature: 62

It will be great to have the ferry in use again. We plan to get it back into the water this evening. It got a little crazy yesterday, trying to get all the visitors over in a canoe.

I'll be volunteering at lock house 8 tomorrow. The Potomac Conservancy has set up an interpretive center there to help educate people about the river. I'll be there from 10 'till 4. I just started my class as well, Diciduous Ecosystems, it should be interesting.

Monday -- October 11, 2004
Water Level at Little Falls: 3.6     Water Temperature: 62

The ferry is fixed and seems to be working fine. Please be careful, if you are pullin the ferry, not to bang it into the steps.

It was a surprisingly dead weekend down here. I thought that the nice weather would bring the people out but I only had three couples down here all day yesterday.

The eagles are back. Maybe they never left but for the first time in a couple months I noticed them at their spot on the other side of the river. I didn't see the young ones, just the two adults.

The swimming squirrels are learning the hazards of the river, I found one drowned by the captains float.

Tuesday -- October 12, 2004
Water Level at Little Falls: 3.5     Water Temperature: 62

There is a small island above Rupperts and in the center of it is a huge willow oak. I was surprised to see it since there are no other willow oaks down here and I didn't think that this type of tree could survive in a flood plain. Judging by the size of this tree I think it could easily be over one hundred years old, maybe closer to two hundred years old. I can tell it has weathered many floods by the scars on it's up-river-facing trunk. Seeing this tree has me wondering about the age of our trees here on Sycamore. I'm guessing that there are some trees here that pre-date the club by many decades. I would not be surprised to learn that some of these sycamores and maybe the giant redbud tree are close to three hundred years old. This is very unscientific speculation, but fun to think about just the same.

The river is so beautiful right now, crystal green water reflecting colorful trees along its banks with a sky-blue background.

wednesday -- October 13, 2004
Water Level at Little Falls: 3.5     Water Temperature: 62

The club meeting is on he island tonight. Unfortunately I won't be here, I have tickets for a lecture/slideshow down at the National Geographic building. I hope the members don't miss me too much.

Thursday -- October 14, 2004
Water Level at Little Falls: 3.5     Water Temperature: 62

Friday -- October 15, 2004
Water Level at Little Falls: 3.4     Water Temperature: 60

I saw a squirrel swim AWAY from the island yesterday, usually they swim toward the island.

The red-shouldered hawk was making a lot of noise on Wednesday morning. It sat on a perch above the old swing tree and screeched for an hour or more. I wonder if it is marking territory or looking for a mate or maybe both.

The ferry is so much easier to operate now that the leak is fixed and the extra water weight is gone. Remember, don't bang it into the landings.

Monday -- October 18, 2004
Water Level at Little Falls: 3.4     Water Temperature: 60

The water in the river is so incredibly clear! I never thought that I would see the Potomac as clean and clear as it is right now. Yesterday I could see the bottom from the mainland to the island as I pulled the ferry.

Somebody said that they saw a squirrel swimming up by Carder Rock, and I found another drowned one.

Tuesday -- October 19, 2004
Water Level at Little Falls: 3.4     Water Temperature: 55

Wednesday -- October 20, 2004
Water Level at Little Falls: 3.3     Water Temperature: 57

Where are the ruby-crowned kinglets? I haven't seen any since my first months down here over two years ago. Thursday -- October 21, 2004
Water Level at Little Falls: 3.3     Water Temperature: 56

We had a small school group down here yesterday, despite the weather. The Lentses brought a dozen middle schoolers who seemed to have a great time canoeing.

Remember, "Growing Native" is this weekend, go to www.growingnative.org and help us collect seeds!

Friday -- October 22, 2004
Water Level at Little Falls: 3.4     Water Temperature: 55

I saw my first grebe of the season. I think it was a red-necked grebe that I saw in the channel yesterday.

That darn ground hog is busy making a nice nest for itself under the house. I saw it dive into it's hole with a mouthful of leaves. I could hear it scurrying around while I was in my bathroom this morning, right under my feet!

Friday -- October 22, 2004
Water Level at Little Falls: 3.4     Water Temperature: 55

I saw my first grebe of the season. I think it was a red-necked grebe that I saw in the channel yesterday.

That darn ground hog is busy making a nice nest for itself under the house. I saw it dive into it's hole with a mouthful of leaves. I could hear it scurrying around while I was in my bathroom this morning, right under my feet!

Sunday -- October 24, 2004
Water Level at Little Falls: 3.5     Water Temperature: 54

I think the geese are back. There were twenty of them feeding on the island this morning.

I saw a huge mushroom by the towpath. It looked like the kind you buy at the store but it was the size of a cantaloupe!

Monday -- October 25, 2004
Water Level at Little Falls: 3.5     Water Temperature: 54

I built a fire up in the clubhouse yesterday. It was nice to smell the wood smoke and see the flames crackling. Having the fire made the room warm cozy on such a damp and cold morning. Please feel free to use the wood stove just make sure you close the door while the fire is burning and kindly restock the wood you use.

Tuesday -- October 26, 2004
Water Level at Little Falls: 3.4     Water Temperature: 54

Wednesday -- October 27, 2004
Water Level at Little Falls: 3.4     Water Temperature: 55

I saw the eagles yesterday, just after the sun ducked behind the trees. It looks like they may spend another nesting season with us.

Now that we leave the house before it is truly light outside we often see the beaver before they head to their burrows for the day.

Thursday -- October 28, 2004
Water Level at Little Falls: 3.4     Water Temperature: 55

There aren't that many acorns or walnuts this year. After last year's bumper crop, this year the nuts are scarce. The "Growing Native" collection campaign had to be extended through the 7th of November because of the shortage of nuts. Here on the island there are no oak trees but our walnut trees have almost no seeds at all. It is this time of year that you usually hear the loud bang of the walnuts as they fall and hit the roof of the canoe shed, this year, silence. Maybe that's why the squirrels are swimming over to the island, food shortage.

I think I saw a Nashville warbler yesterday. Chances are it was only a female common yellowthrout but I had a very close look at it and it had a very pronounced white ring around the eye which gave me hope that I was seeing the very uncommon Nashville warbler.

Saturday -- October 30, 2004
Water Level at Little Falls: 3.4     Water Temperature: 55