First Year

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It's been one year since we  moved into the River House.  One year of observing the water and the life about it.

A leisurely paddle upstream to see what is happening.  As one would expect, it is very quiet.  There is very little boat traffic.  The leaves have fallen and many of the birds have moved to other places.

I paddled up one small brook and came across a pile of stick and twigs.  Definitely signs of beaver, but no lodges (as the water level is dropped over 6 feet om this stretch of the canal, there is no practical way for beaver or muskrat to have safe lodges and dens).

The pair of white farm ducks was paddling around just downstream of the Waterloo locks.  I see this pair all the time.  Many of the new 'friends' I've made this year.

As the leaves have left the trees, I noticed the remnant of a wall / chimney.  This may have been part of an old factory.  This is on my list of things to research (time to get out the old topographic maps to see what was there).

The osprey are long gone. I hear a kingfisher off in the distance, but they will soon be gone.  The blue heron are still around, but will also be leaving soon.

We are entering the quiet time.  The mallards and Canadian geese will be about, but they too will leave the river once it ices over.

The aspens stand silent.

On to the next cycle . . .