| Saturday 1 november 2014 |
Situated in the middle of The Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge, Lake Drummond is two and one-half miles across and 3.5 miles from the nearest paved road. One of only two natural lakes in Virginia, it is over 20 feet above sea level, unique for a US eastern coastal swamp. A jungle atmosphere is pervasive; you do not want to go off the trail here. The Refuge, larger than the city of Norfolk, has a population of some 300 black bears, along with grey and red fox, mink, bobcat, and deer. We are more likely to see their tracks on the road than the actual critters. The Swamp is rich in history and lore from Colonial days as well as a haven for a large variety of birds and flowering plants. We launch into the historic Dismal Swamp Canal part of The Inter Coastal Water Way that George Washington built. From there we follow the Feeder Ditch through the Refuge to the spillway that holds in The Lake. There is a campground here with flush toilets and picnic tables. From the spillway it is only a quarter mile to the Lake. We paddle north along the eastern shore of The Lake where we see dozens of Cypress trees growing just off shore creating an obstacle course for those who want to search for dry land. We return along the same course and have lunch at the spillway before paddling back out the Feeder Ditch. This is our longest trip. We are paddling for approximately 5 hours with several breaks and lunch. We will paddle 10 to 12 miles. We go at a leisurely pace. Spring: Many migratory songbirds with warblers being most abundant. The Prothonotary Warbler is common, occasional Osprey, Wood Ducks will begin nesting. Orchids, coral honeysuckle, and yellow Jessamine are in flower. Summer: Bear, deer, and bobcat are more active so we are more likely to see their tracks. The Green Heron, Red-tailed Hawk, Barred Owl, Pileated woodpecker, Prothonotary Warbler and more are common breeders here. Great Blue Heron and Belted Kingfisher are active along the ditches. Trumpet and passion vines bloom. Fall: Autumn colors peak in late October through November. Wild fruits like Paw Paw and wild grapes are abundant along the ditches. Common Loon, Tundra Swan and Snow Goose, Great Blue Heron will begin coming into the area. I wanted to thank you for another set of awesome trips. Everyone had a great time. Lake Drummond reminded us of the time of the Druids and of Lake Avalon. The old cypress trees reminded us of the tree people from the Lord of the Rings - that is truly a magical place. Hearing the tree fall just as we were leaving the lake, was just perfect. -- Gail, Alexandria, VA Email : [email protected] Url: www.kayaknaturetours.net |
| Sunday 2 november 2014 |
First Landing State Park hosts a pod of Dolphins as year round residences, the highest concentration of Osprey in the area and a pair of resident Bald Eagles. Seeing Dolphins or Eagles is only occasional but there are 8 to 12 Osprey nests along the 3-mile route we take, some are easily visible. You will not get a closer look at a wild raptor without binoculars. We launch from a beautiful beach shaded by Maritime Forest deep in the Park. We paddle above the sand flats of Broad Bay which are the Southeast border of the Park. We often see Egrets, Heron�s, Red Winged Black Birds and occasionally one of the nesting pair of Bald Eagles. Dolphins can sometimes be seen. The shoreline is alternating salt marsh and small sand beaches where at one point the remains of a once primary dune still reach 40 feet tall. If the tides are right we can paddle into White Hill Lake where we can see 4 to 6 Osprey nests around the Lake. For our half-day trips we stop along one of the many beaches for drinks and a snack, before returning to our original launch site. Spring: Some Dolphins are year round residences and Gulls are always there. Ospreys arrive and begin rebuilding last year�s nest. More Egrets and Herons come into the area. A Belted Kingfisher or two may be around. Red-winged Black Birds will begin arriving. Migratory song birds pass through on their way to nest up North. Summer: We are more likely to see Dolphins now because the summer migration is in. The young Osprey will be large enough to see the top of their heads in the nest and flying later in the summer. The Snowy and Great Egrets, Great Blue Herons as well as Common and Royal Terns are more frequent now. Fall: The Dolphins are still prolific through September, Herons, Egrets and Terns will remain through October. Blue-winged and Green-winged Teals can be seen on the open water, American Bittern in the salt marshes and Plovers and Sandpipers along the beaches. "Just wanted to let you know what a wonderful time we had on the kayaking adventure. The guides, Laurie 1 and Laurie 2, were wonderful, attentive, and fun to be with!! Gail, Lorraine and I, had a great time.... the lagoon was awesome.....Gail and Laurie got to see an Eagle and we got to see Osprey and Egrets and a Baltimore Oriole...it was a great experience!!!" --PAT D.C. Email : [email protected] Url: www.kayaknaturetours.net |
| Saturday 8 november 2014 |
First Landing State Park hosts a pod of Dolphins as year round residences, the highest concentration of Osprey in the area and a pair of resident Bald Eagles. Seeing Dolphins or Eagles is only occasional but there are 8 to 12 Osprey nests along the 3-mile route we take, some are easily visible. You will not get a closer look at a wild raptor without binoculars. We launch from a beautiful beach shaded by Maritime Forest deep in the Park. We paddle above the sand flats of Broad Bay which are the Southeast border of the Park. We often see Egrets, Heron�s, Red Winged Black Birds and occasionally one of the nesting pair of Bald Eagles. Dolphins can sometimes be seen. The shoreline is alternating salt marsh and small sand beaches where at one point the remains of a once primary dune still reach 40 feet tall. If the tides are right we can paddle into White Hill Lake where we can see 4 to 6 Osprey nests around the Lake. For our half-day trips we stop along one of the many beaches for drinks and a snack, before returning to our original launch site. Spring: Some Dolphins are year round residences and Gulls are always there. Ospreys arrive and begin rebuilding last year�s nest. More Egrets and Herons come into the area. A Belted Kingfisher or two may be around. Red-winged Black Birds will begin arriving. Migratory song birds pass through on their way to nest up North. Summer: We are more likely to see Dolphins now because the summer migration is in. The young Osprey will be large enough to see the top of their heads in the nest and flying later in the summer. The Snowy and Great Egrets, Great Blue Herons as well as Common and Royal Terns are more frequent now. Fall: The Dolphins are still prolific through September, Herons, Egrets and Terns will remain through October. Blue-winged and Green-winged Teals can be seen on the open water, American Bittern in the salt marshes and Plovers and Sandpipers along the beaches. "Just wanted to let you know what a wonderful time we had on the kayaking adventure. The guides, Laurie 1 and Laurie 2, were wonderful, attentive, and fun to be with!! Gail, Lorraine and I, had a great time.... the lagoon was awesome.....Gail and Laurie got to see an Eagle and we got to see Osprey and Egrets and a Baltimore Oriole...it was a great experience!!!" --PAT D.C. Email : [email protected] Url: www.kayaknaturetours.net |
| Sunday 9 november 2014 |
Situated in the middle of The Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge, Lake Drummond is two and one-half miles across and 3.5 miles from the nearest paved road. One of only two natural lakes in Virginia, it is over 20 feet above sea level, unique for a US eastern coastal swamp. A jungle atmosphere is pervasive; you do not want to go off the trail here. The Refuge, larger than the city of Norfolk, has a population of some 300 black bears, along with grey and red fox, mink, bobcat, and deer. We are more likely to see their tracks on the road than the actual critters. The Swamp is rich in history and lore from Colonial days as well as a haven for a large variety of birds and flowering plants. We launch into the historic Dismal Swamp Canal part of The Inter Coastal Water Way that George Washington built. From there we follow the Feeder Ditch through the Refuge to the spillway that holds in The Lake. There is a campground here with flush toilets and picnic tables. From the spillway it is only a quarter mile to the Lake. We paddle north along the eastern shore of The Lake where we see dozens of Cypress trees growing just off shore creating an obstacle course for those who want to search for dry land. We return along the same course and have lunch at the spillway before paddling back out the Feeder Ditch. This is our longest trip. We are paddling for approximately 5 hours with several breaks and lunch. We will paddle 10 to 12 miles. We go at a leisurely pace. Spring: Many migratory songbirds with warblers being most abundant. The Prothonotary Warbler is common, occasional Osprey, Wood Ducks will begin nesting. Orchids, coral honeysuckle, and yellow Jessamine are in flower. Summer: Bear, deer, and bobcat are more active so we are more likely to see their tracks. The Green Heron, Red-tailed Hawk, Barred Owl, Pileated woodpecker, Prothonotary Warbler and more are common breeders here. Great Blue Heron and Belted Kingfisher are active along the ditches. Trumpet and passion vines bloom. Fall: Autumn colors peak in late October through November. Wild fruits like Paw Paw and wild grapes are abundant along the ditches. Common Loon, Tundra Swan and Snow Goose, Great Blue Heron will begin coming into the area. I wanted to thank you for another set of awesome trips. Everyone had a great time. Lake Drummond reminded us of the time of the Druids and of Lake Avalon. The old cypress trees reminded us of the tree people from the Lord of the Rings - that is truly a magical place. Hearing the tree fall just as we were leaving the lake, was just perfect. -- Gail, Alexandria, VA Email : [email protected] Url: www.kayaknaturetours.net |