Signs of spring

Signs of spring

Tuesday April 6, 2021

When we came through areas of marsh in the autumn the dominant color was brown.  Now the tops of the reeds/grasses are all brown but nearer to the mud you can see a layer of green growth appearing.  I imagine that in another month the whole marsh might look green.  In some areas, where the land is higher, there are clumps of trees.  Some of the trees now wear that pale gold-green of the new leaves.  

In terms of birds, it is mostly the same herons, egrets, terns and cormorants.  A new element for spring is the presence of numerous grackles.  I’m not sure if they are migrating through this area or if they will spend the summer here.  Also present in the marsh but more hidden are the red-winged black birds. Presumably they are getting on with the business of nest building and breeding.

We have been doing shorter distance trips. Our aim is to travel during the hours near to high tide.  This has meant a start time that slides back each day.  While I’ve never been the biggest fan of starting at the crack of dawn, there’s something about this enforced delay that seems somewhat difficult.  I find myself doing things like cleaning the head—what? It’s all going to change tomorrow when we are going to get moving at first light.  The next few miles are quite shallow so we need to take advantage of the 6:20am high to get through.  We are contemplating a split trip—some mileage early in the morning followed by a several hours at anchor then another voyage late in the day.  Perhaps that is too energetic!

Gloria

31 2.377 N, 81 19.790 W

Dusk at Wolf Island anchorage (last night)

Dawn at Wolf Island anchorage

Tree islands in the Georgia marsh

The fishing vessel "Fish Hound" in Doboy Sound

An afternoon fishing in the Georgia marshes

Time lapse sequence at sunset in the Crescent River. (Unfortunately as the camera seems to automatically adjust the exposure you don't get the full sense of the light fading ... however, leaving the camera outside whilst retreating indoors was a good option because it is quite buggy)