Father's Day Weekend Journal:

The weathermen called for foul weather, so with all our boats being used this Father's Day weekend we held our breath. In addition to the rentals, we ran two guided trips down the Blackstone into the Valley Falls Marsh and back. Most of the wildlife played it smarter than us, they bedded down in some sheltered area and stayed out of sight. One exception was the Kingfishers, all along the river we heard their cry and saw them gliding back and forth in front of our kayaks. I think these smart birds have learned that as boats travel along the river we kick up baitfish for them to eat. I've talked to people that have been on the Blackstone Explorer and they are having the same experience with the bigger boat.

On Saturday the group started out with clear skies and glass like water. After paddling under John Street, I led the kayakers into the first cove and talked about the wood duck boxes there. Sitting there quietly we were serenaded by bullfrogs and small backyard birds. Heading into the next cove the splash of a turtle can be heard as it slips off a log. Paddling over to the wood duck boxes in this cove, dragonflies buzz passed us, a fish jumps out of the water and a kingfisher gives chase. Down by Central Falls Landing a domestic duck hangs out in the shade and a oriole with nesting material in beak flies up into the branches of a tree. While floating in Valley Falls Pond we watched a pair of mute swans glide by with a osprey soaring above scanning the water for a meal. Following our departure from the pond the quiet of the day is broken when one young lady drops her paddle and leans to far in her attempt to retrieve it. Living with the old proverb of taking someone with you, she lunges for her friend's boat and sends her into the drink. The two girls listened to my instruction of the rescue and within minutes we had both kayaks drained of water. With all paddlers back in their boats, we headed back to the store with a great tale.

Our Sunday afternoon trip into the Valley Falls wetland started out with a mute swan hanging out on the sandbar across from our boat launch site. With high hopes of wildlife sightings this day, we set off. Just passed the Lonsdale Ave. Bridge the kayakers pass a small raft of Canada geese. After that though all was quiet. Entering the first cove after John Street I point out a large school of shiners swim under my kayak. Other than that not a bird, insect or mammal stirred. Heading down stream to Central Falls Landing and we pass a fisherman in his boat. He's having the same like, no fish. From the Central Falls Landing the group paddle into Valley Falls Pond not even a dragonfly is stirring. While in Hidden Pond an unseen bullfrog lets out an echoing call. With a warm sun and a blue-sky overhead we start our return trip. We are escorted up the Blackstone by half a dozen kingfishers skimming the water ahead of us. At the silted in channel to the Lonsdale Wetland a member of our group spots a green heron fishing. With no stage fright at all, the foot and a half tall bird flips up a shiner and swallows it down. Arriving at the boat launch a kingfisher flies by and I think to myself I guess we had enough wildlife after all.