This Memorial Day was an opportunity to combine kayaking and birding, two important passions for me. After launching our kayaks into Scappoose Bay under cloudy skies our group of four kayaks and birders were soon greeted by several osprey nesting on the tops of pilings in the bay. Tree branches and even a few small wooden fence posts made up the nests of these beautiful birds brought back from the verge of extinction. We saw several flying back to their nests with fish in their talons.
We spotted a pair of Bald Eagles that we saw again and again throughout the day paddling. One was an adult with its distinctive white head and tail; the other a juvinile nearly as large but less than four years old. It lacked the white head and had flecks of white through out its body. The two were sighted so often they seemed like friends by the end of the day. Great Blue Herons and, of course, hundreds of swallows this time of year were never out of sight.
The river otters are very aggressive now approaching kayakers and fishermen with their teeth barred and clearly defensive about their territory. New born otters are nearby, out of sight but well protected. One fisherman who pulled his boat up to shore and got out was confronted by a snarling otter. He told us he quickly fled back to his boat and went looking for a fishing spot elsewhere.
As the clouds burned off the three snow covered peaks of Mt Hood, Mt Adams and Mt Hood came into view forming a beautiful backdrop to our river journey.
