Lonsdale Marsh & Central Falls Wetland Cumberland, Central Falls & Lincoln, Rhode Island
The inlet to the marsh’s manmade lagoon has been silted in since the 2005 flood of the Blackstone, so I lead my fellow paddlers up the outlet to start the day off with wildlife. This parcel of land where 1,640 cars each weekend would come to watch movies now is home to a variety of wildlife. Rounding the island that is located in the center of the lagoon a kingfisher flies by and we send a pair of Canada Geese paddling ahead of us. At the northern end of the lagoon a partly submerged tree is the resting place for several turtles sunning themselves. They reluctantly slip into the water at our approach. Passing the west side of the small island a great blue heron struts along the shore and nesting Canada geese are found. Leaving the marsh a lone fisherman casts his line just behind the kayaks. Passing by the first cove after the John Street Bridge, I leave it to a pair of fisherman. At the next cove we start to and see movement along the east bank, a small herd of deer is seen. Looking through the brush and small trees five deer are counted. At the waters edge a muskrat swims by before disappearing below the surface. Slowing paddling into the twin fingered cove the deer keep pace with the kayaks and offer several opportunities for excellent pictures. At the end of this section cyclists can be seen on the bike path. I wonder if any of them realize that there are deer and kayakers only a couple hundred feet away. Continuing to another section of the cove, turtles drop into the water and a pair of purple martins is seen flying in and out of a wood duck box, each with nesting material in their beaks. Returning to the river the group shortly arrive at the entrance to the Valley Falls Wetland Area. Heading into it, Robin calls out and asked if that was an osprey flying overhead. Floating there we watch this sea-hawk soar high, then stall and flap it’s wings to gain altitude once more. After several attempts the bird goes into a dive only a couple of hundred feet from us. Just as quickly as the dive, the osprey emerges from the water, fish in tow. Once it disappears from view I lead them along the shoreline checking out Canada geese and a couple mute swans nesting areas till a commotion draws our attention. Checking it out, pair of large snapping turtles raise their head from the murky swamp. One comes to a couple of feet from my kayak for a picture. Returning upstream, the vegetation seems to have gotten greener. Passing others enjoying the warm spring day, I see a yaker in a green kayak with a yellow paddle heading towards us. It’s Evan one of the regulars that made fun of me for my date choose. He smiles, makes a comment about the day and tells me he’ll see me back at the store. Rounding the bend with our portage in sight, I think to myself "It’s been a great way to spend the weekend after Earthday." Live the Experience!
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Customers had made fun of me for predicting
that there would be paddling on April 25th,
but they stopped laughing when the weather turned sunny
and 78° . Our small group left the store for an
afternoon paddle down stream with visits to the Lonsdale
Marsh and Valley Falls Wetland. Arriving at our put-in,
we find a couple of new trees that had washed down during
the winter. Quickly passing the Lonsdale Bridge the
current slows down at the bend near the inlet to Lonsdale
Marsh.