Panoptes.livejournal.com Website Review

The day started overcast and gray, with a stiff breeze. I set off for Big Flat for another day of waterfowling. By the time I arrived, the clouds had thinned out enough that some sun was shining through, creating glittering trails of glare on the choppy waters. Once in my kayak, the waves were high enough to knock me around. The water was opaque with sediment, turning it a gray-green clay color. Paddling upriver, the action of the waves and wind kept slewing my craft to the right, requiring me to paddle on only one side. Between the bobbing around and twisting, I wasn't sure if I would be able to hit anything even if I could get a shot off. I figured that no ducks would be sheltering on these wave-tossed shores in any event, so no loss there. As I got further upriver, my orientation changed so that the wind was blowing me straight, and I only needed to paddle for basic station-keeping. The power lines cross the river at a point, or bend in the river. Once I pas*ed that area, I was in the lee of the land, sheltered from wind and waves. I could now glide among the tules on the smooth waters. A number of coots swam away from shore as I approached, but without much The cry of a red tailed hawk caught my attention. The bird sat in a tree near the water, then took to the air as another glided in, bright orange tails flashing. The pair of hawks circled, screech-screaming their piercing calls. Beyond the hawks was the bald eagle nest, which by the looks of it had an ad*lt eagle sitting in it. Surely it can't be eagle nesting season? Do the eagles around here migrate? There's so At the inlet, rounding a bend showed the water black with coots. A few buffleheads sat among them. I could have shot a bufflehead, but it would have killed a number of coots along with the duck and then I would have to eat the coots. At the far end of the inlet I shot a drake wigeon. The first shot injured it, and it began making for cover. A second shot did not stop it. I pushed the kayak up to the bank among the bushes and reeds to flush out the bird. I saw it at close range, but not wanting to