Wednesday -- April 5, 2006
Water Level at Little Falls: 3.2     Water Temperature: 57

The new canoe dock is beginning to take shape. Thanks to the diligent efforts and leadership of Tryon Wells it looks like we'll have a fancy new dock soon. Tryon and others, like Dave Winer(hi Dave)and Johnna Robinson have been working hard all week to save us from having to use that old dock another year.

I was greeted by a group of yellow-rumped warblers yesterday. I watched them as I stood on the canal bridge, a great place to watch birds since it puts you up in the canopy with them.

There was a group of small black-headed gulls here on Sunday, probably Bonaparte's gulls and we see the beaver in the mornings now since daylight-savings has us getting up before dawn again.

Wednesday -- April 12, 2006
Water Level at Little Falls: 3.5     Water Temperature: 61

I just got back fro Nag's Head N.C. It was a little cold on the beach but the birding was superb. We saw many migrating waterfowl and a life's first for me, a northern gannett.

The birding here on the island is also good with warbler, wood ducks and cormorants.

The new canoe dock is finished and it looks amazing! It's easy to tell that a lot of hard work went into it.

The river went up slightly while I was away but it's still nice and low for canoeing. The water temperature has also risen and some high-schoolers even went swimming.

Monday -- April 17, 2006
Water Level at Little Falls: 3.4     Water Temperature: 64

It was a great weekend of eagle watching. The nest is very active now with with two rapidly growing eaglets.

I discovered a white trout lily by the canoe shed. The yellow trout lilies are common but I learned that the white trout lily is very rare for this area. It is more commonly found in the mid-west.

Wednesday -- April 19, 2006
Water Level at Little Falls: 3.5     Water Temperature: 64

The river went up a little but it is still beautifully clear.

I've heard the barred owl every night for the past week, it's "who cooks for you" breaking the silence of the night. We got another good look at one last night before dark as it flew from a tree by the club house down to a tree at the water's edge.

Friday -- April 21, 2006
Water Level at Little Falls: 4.1     Water Temperature: 64

The river is on it's way back down now but it was quite surprising to see it rise to 4.5 feet yesterrday. I guess they had some rain to the west of us.

The carolina wrens are like the roosters of the island and can count on them to get me up promptly at first light. This morning the wren said good morning and then I heard the barred owl say good night.

We watched as three beaver played near their den this morning and at least one pair of geese has their goslings now. They're so cute when they're little.

Monday -- April 24, 2006
Water Level at Little Falls: 5.8     Water Temperature: 64

The ferry is closed today because of high water.

Tuesday -- April 25, 2006
Water Level at Little Falls: 5.9     Water Temperature: 64

The ferry will be closed until thursday because of high water.

The rising river allowed me to pull the ferry up onto the island so I can pump out the water once again. I plan to patch it again before I launch it back into the river on Thursday.

I hope everyone is planning on coming to the workfest on Sunday.

I saw two night herons the other evening. The sun was going down and the birds were sihloetted on a sycamore branch hanging low over the river. It was so awesome to see the shapes of these two birds, one with showy beeding plumage streaming from its head.