Wildlife on the Mystic River

Today, I went for a 1.5 mile journey on the Mystic River, from Boston Avenue to the I-93 Bridge, as seen below.  Today, wildlife was everywhere, to say the least.  

First, near the intersection of Ring Road and Main Street in Medford, was this Eastern Kingbird...

with its nest.

 Then, I saw some Black Crested Night Herons, the most abundant animal on the river today.  Some were waiting for fish on the rocks...

 and others were flying away.

Another bird taking advantage of the herring run, was this Herring Gull, who did not seem to mind my presence at all.

An animal that was very cautious of me however, was a medium sized woodchuck, who was running up and down the banks of the Mystic to get away from me, though all I wanted to do was take a picture, and ask how much wood he would chuck if he could chuck wood.

In my trip back upstream, I saw this baby mallard (above), and some basking painted turtles (below).

During the three mile paddle, I collected a total of 32 pieces of trash, all recyclable, 15 redeemable, and 2 of the cans were among the 30+ year old beer cans that I found in between the cracks several weeks ago.

-Will

Going up stream to the lake

 This afternoon, I went out in the canoe to explore some of the Lower Mystic Lake that I have not seen before.

I started off at my usual launching spot, and shortly after, went to check out some of the construction being done on the Mystic Valley Parkway bridge over Alewife Brook.

Later on, when I reached the Lower Lake, I began to see lots of splashing herring, who didn't seem to mind me at all, and even let me take a picture.

Other wildlife I saw today included turtles, ducks, a flicker, carp, a dead Striped Bass, some of my first Black Crowned Night Herons of the season, and these Canada geese and goslings, seen below.

When I was at the Lower Mystic Lake, I found the entrance to the Mill Brook, a stream that goes through much of Arlington.  Further along the brook, one can find the Old Schwamb Mill, a factory that has been there since the 1630's.  Faith and I have been there before, and the mill is now in the National Registry of Historical Places.  Unfortunately, while there is lots of flow in the stream, my canoe and I could barely make it a few yards before it got too rocky.

Now at this point, I'd like to share four pictures I have taken of the Dam and Lower Mystic Lake.  All have been taken from around where the Mystic River meets the Lake, and there is a picture from each season of the year.

Winter,                                                                                                     Spring,

Summer,                           and Fall.

Lastly, the trash for today.  Today's haul measured to 10 things: a permanent marker, and 9 recyclable containers (5 redeemable).                       -Will

...To Grandfather's House We Go!

After paddling some other local rivers recently, including Sudbury, Aberjona, Concord, and seeing the Winooski River in Vermont, I got back out on the Mystic River this afternoon to see a sight that I had never seen before.  What I am talking about is Grandfathers' House, from the song "Over The River And Through The Woods," written by Medford resident Lydia Maria Child.

"Over the river and through the woods

to grandfather's house we go

the horse knows the way

to carry the sleigh

through the white and drifted snow."

The river referred to in the song is the Mystic River, seen below...

And the "woods" are not very hard to get through at all now, as there are only a few trees in between the Mystic River on one side, and a field across the street from Grandfather's house on the other side.

When I was going to see the house, I tried not to disturb these tons of turtles.

Other animals seen today were ducks, an oriole, fish, and a muskrat, who dived down just before I could take a picture.

Across the river from Grandfather's House is the Condon Band Shell, which has the words to the song on the left side of the stage...

and a short biography of Lydia Maria Child on the right side.

Todays' trash haul was a charity donation box, a basketball, 2 fishing lures of a fish and a frog, and 12 recyclable cans and bottles (3 redeemable).             -Will

Mystic River - Boston Ave to Clippership Park

Today I enjoyed the sunny afternoon on the Mystic River, where my destination was in Medford Square, near Clippership Park.

While I was there, looking for trash to pick up, I noticed something in the cracks between stones by the Main Street Bridge.

Somebody had found a place to put their beer cans in between the cracks.

I could tell by the triangular hole on the top that these cans had been there for a long while, but how long? I wondered.  Also, note that where the can would now say which states the deposit applies to, this can says "Please Do Not Litter" and "Dispose Of Properly".

Among the ancient cans was this Schlitz, The Beer That Made Milwaukee Famous. 

And it was on that can of Schlitz that I found out exactly how long those cans had been there, since 1975.  This can of Schlitz is 37 years old, and if it were a person, it would be old enough to drive, vote, drink, and become president.  Its a shame that over all those years nobody picked it up and recycled it.

These daffodils are in bloom at Condon Band Shell Park.  In addition to the flowers, I saw geese, ducks, a turtle, and some splashing fish in the water today.

Lastly, here is the entire haul from today, with 16 pieces of recyclables, 3 redeemable.  The old cans from the cracks seem too cool to just throw away, so I sent them off to the "haul of fame" in my backyard, along with other things worth keeping that I've found in the Mystic River.

-Will

Mystic River - Mouth of Alewife Brook to Station Landing

Today, being the first day of spring, gave me a chance to get out on the Mystic River during a weekday.  So, I ventured from my temporary launch spot across from the mouth of Alewife Brook in my canoe, all the way to Station Landing Park.  Approximately 3 miles, this is the furthest I have gone in the Mystic all at once.

During my paddle, I saw two things worth noting, one thing that made me laugh, and one thing that made me sad.

First, the thing that made me laugh...

Now I know that the industry of selling CDs and records is at an all time low, but I didn't know it went this low!  I found this single LP, of "Love Can Move Mountains", by Celine Dion.  It was just sitting there along the banks of the Mystic near Clippership Park, and I have to say that it's a keeper.

And now, for the sad thing...

Yes, near the boat launch at Mystic Riverbend Park, I came across the upside down body of a dead baby turtle.  Unfortunately, it probably died from being in the polluted water down there. I picked it up, and buried "Yertle" later on.

Apart from the dead baby, I saw some of these living, adult turtles who were enjoying the sun.  I also saw ducks, geese, a great blue heron, and lots of red-winged blackbirds, a sure sign of spring.

 And then, I made it to my destination of Station Landing, with the MBTA commuter rail in the background.

Finally, today's haul added up to 25 recyclable things, 12 of which are redeemable.

                   -Will

A return to the Mystic

Now that the days are getting longer, and the skies are getting sunnier, I took the time twice this past week to return to my Mystic waters.  I went out on Wednesday afternoon, and late yesterday morning, going down stream on both occasions.

It's felt like ages since I had been on the river last, but now that it isn't frozen over, I'll be out on it much more often.

I was surprised to see on Wednesday, the sunnier day, that the turtles were out on their log, basking in the heat, during what is still winter.  Coots, geese, a rabbit, and ducks were also enjoying the sun.

And here's the trash, a total of 75 redeemable bottles and cans, 25 recyclables, and 2 pieces of miscellaneous trash from both trips.  Most of it was found yesterday, where some people had a party across the street from Whole Foods, and left a big, bulging, smelly garbage bag full of beer bottles, cans, lotto tickets, etc.

 And just for the fun of it, I took a picture of a Gatorade bottle from here, on the left, compared to one I bought in Costa Rica on the right.  The two bottles are both the same flavor, grape (note the "uva" on the Costa Rican bottle).  They also sell 3 liter soda bottles down there.  The Costa Rican bottle is just another one of those things that I'll keep hoarding forever.  I'm guessing that they won't accept it in any of the liquor stores, so I want to keep it.
                                       
I'll be back on the river to take more pictures soon.                             -Will

Tárcoles River in Costa Rica

Late last night, I arrived back home from my trip to Costa Rica.  I saw many things, of which I will talk about on here.  We visited the Tárcoles River, Poas Volcano, Monteverde Reserve, and Manuel Antonio National Park, among other places.  I thought that the Tárcoles River, as seen below, would be the most appropriate to write about on here.

Riding on our boat, with a bird pamphlet in our hands, we all saw many different kinds of animals.  Below is a Little Blue Heron, and in the center far right is a Basilisk, or Lagartija Jesucristo, which I had inadvertently got in the picture.

Going further down the Tárcoles, we saw frigatebirds, vultures, an iguana, an osprey, and this Yellow-headed Caracara.  

At this point I was reminded of something that Mandaza Kandemwa, our Mystic River healer said about the Mystic when he visited back in October.  To quote him "You are the river, representing all rivers of the world."  He sure was right about that, as the Tárcoles River shared so many aspects with the Mystic, Charles, Alewife, and other rivers I have been on before.  Wildlife on the Tárcoles is very reminiscent of the rivers of Massachusetts, and unfortunately, there were some old tires lying along its banks.

Now here is the most incredible animal I saw on the trip, tied with monkeys en la playa de Manuel Antonio.  A Crocodile!

I was amazed just to see it in the water, but then our tour guide got out of the boat with some meat, which I thought he was going to feed to the vultures or caracaras.  But then the crocodile came out of the water and ate right out of his hands!

After it was done eating, the crocodile went back into his murky river, and all the other meat-eating birds came looking for seconds, like this Great Egret.

Further down river, by the mangroves, we ran into this Wood Stork, who was hanging around with a group of Roseate Spoonbills.

And lastly, the end of the river, where it meets the Pacific Ocean.  Amazing to think that just on that one river, on one day, I saw as much as I saw.  ¡Pura Vida!                   -Will