Running Gates and Farms, September 2006

September 4, 2006 (photo by SZap). Labor Day was pretty spectacular. The remnants of Hurricane (then tropical storm, then tropical depression) Ernesto cleared out, the River was up, but not too much and we decided to head for the gates on the feeder canal. Robert enjoyed his introduction to slalom kayaking (such as it was), and we enjoyed the weather.
September 4, 2006 (photo by SZap). September 4, 2006 (photo by SZap).
September 4, 2006 (photo by SZap). September 4, 2006 (photo by SZap).

If you look the larger version of the photo above on the right (as we're stalking turtles) you can see a kingfisher in the shadows on the right side of the photo. At least that's what we decided it was. Perhaps one of our birder friends will look a the bigger version of the photo and correct us -- it may be hard to tell due to the image quality from our freebie digital camera.

Correction: Dan points out that actually that's a black-crowned night heron rather than a kingfisher and offered this reference work. For comparision, see this, from the same site.

We also returned to Oxon Cove Farm over the long weekend. It was a great chance for Robert to try out his new rain boots. We did explain that he's only to jump in puddles when he's wearing his boots... How long will that last? September 3, 2006 (photo by SZap).
September 3, 2006 (photo by SZap). September 3, 2006 (photo by SZap).
September 10, 2006. The next weekend, we took advantage of more nice weather to visit Butler's Orchard, just a few miles up 270 in Maryland. While the idea was to pick berries and bring them home, Robert was well primed by his favorite book from our Maine Trip, Blueberries for Sal, to eat as he picked. Which is exactly what he did...
September 10, 2006. September 10, 2006.
September 10, 2006. September 10, 2006.
September 10, 2006. September 10, 2006.
September 10, 2006. September 10, 2006.
September 10, 2006. September 10, 2006.
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