The Spring Freshet viewed from the water.

The freshet (one of my favorite words) is an annual rite of spring on the Connecticut River. This year's freshet came early. If memory serves it is often a mid-April event. Ed posted some great photos of the freshet flooding taken from land. Here are a few taken from a different vantage as we paddled around the Connecticut, Mattabesset, and Coginchaug rivers that teamed with life.

There must of been a dozen other kayakers and canoeists enjoying a paddle amongst the treetops and the beautiful weather and warm sun of the day. The birds where out as well; we saw a pair of red headed woodpeckers dashing about from limb to limb on the Coginchaug. On the Mattabesset we watched 5 osprey, preparing nests, and flying low and crying out to protect their eggs (?). We would never 

get close enough to know if eggs are in the nest, they would never let us, but nor does common sense, and respect for the wildlife allow us to do so. In past years toward the end of April we've watched through binoculars, the bobbing heads of the fledglings. This year there is one human made nest deep in the floating meadows. There used to be another one, but the winter winds may have toppled it; no matter as the osprey appeared to have a nest in the trees and no problem alerting us to that territory. (The image of the nest was taken last summer.) We did not see as many beaver as usual, but we did catch sight of a few tails plopping under water. We where treated to the glorious promise of a new season of growth, a few bits of buds, just a little bit of spring green here and there, the promise of the new, the fresh, Happy Easter, Happy Spring Days. Happy Freshet of 2010!

notice the turtle in upper right corner sunning.