Friday, March 28, 2014

Lakeview Wildlife Management Area, Part 3

Hi and Happy Spring...

Well, it doesn't actually look or feel much like spring in Northern NY, but the calendar says we're on our second week of it, so hopefully we'll see some signs soon!  My yard still has over 2 feet of snow in the flat places that have not been plowed, snowblown or shoveled!!  I would really like it to start warming up.  I am looking forward to a good kayaking season, if it ever arrives.

Here is a photo of the beach are near the outlet to Lake Ontario from South Sandy Creek and the ponds, looking north.




On this part of the beach, there is a curious little cement box in the ground.




Here is what it looks like up close:



I peeked inside and it's probably 3 feet deep total (about a foot is above ground.)  It looked like a great place for snakes to hang out, so I didn't do a whole lot of investigating, but I'm very interested in what it might be.  Anyone have an idea?  If you do, add a comment after this post.  I'd love to hear what you think or know about it.

This is that same beach area on Lake Ontario, this time looking south/southwest.  I think the drift wood is pretty interesting, and there's always lots of it here.




Another interesting piece of driftwood.  I tried to get the camera to focus through the hole but it didn't work out.  This gives you the idea, at least.



There are lots of water birds on the ponds, in the creek and in the lake or along all of the shores.
 I don't know what type of bird this feather came from, but thought it looked such a pure white against the sand.

This is the tree trunk we used for a seat and to eat our lunch on.  The view is looking east, with South Sandy to the far right, the ponds straight ahead, and the outlet nearer, in the foreground.



Here is another view of the outlet, looking southeast.


I love seeing patterns in nature-- hence this photo of the pattern of the sand in the shallow waters of Lake Ontario.



More bright white feathers against the darker sand.  I would hazard a guess as to this feather-- probably some kind of seagull (?)




And here is Brody, doing the limbo during our walk along the beach!!



He was not cooperating with me so that I could get a photo of his face, so my husband took the camera and Brody did not want to turn around for the photographer.  He can be a little bit stubborn!

    iwtbswy



Although I have trouble getting him to look at the camera, he is at least not afraid of getting his feet wet!  He enjoyed wading through the water, climbing on the rocks.
 


 

Lake Ontario, looking southwest.



Our kayaks, waiting in the late afternoon sun for us to hop back in and paddle back.



More cool looking driftwood with the lake sparkling behind it.



Brody, people watching.  There are usually kayakers and boaters in this area.  Come early for less people, and go in the spring and fall if you'd rather not share the beach with many.



Brody has found something in the sand that smells REALLY good.  It was probably bird poop!



After a stroll on the beach, a picnic lunch and some time relaxing on the sand in the sun, we headed back up South Sandy Creek.  In this photo we're still on the outlet, South Sandy is to the right and some of the ponds are straight ahead.


   




I love the curvy trunks and branches of these alders.  The leaves also look kind of lacy when viewed as a whole with the sky behind them.



Brody, taking up his position as navigator:




Got one more nice reflection shot on the way back to the put-in.



And, for the first time here, we saw a green heron among the driftwood on the side of the bank.




As I've said in previous blogs about Lakeview Wildlife Management Area, it's one of our favorite places to paddle.  There is a huge variety of scenery,  lots of birds to see, and a great place to stop, stretch your legs and eat a picnic lunch.   

This last photo is of South Sandy Creek before reaching the put-in/take out.  It's a pretty spot, don't you think?


Please feel free to leave some feedback, either a comment or just checking off the boxes if you liked the photos or the information, etc.

Thanks!  And although I can't say "Happy Kayaking" yet for those of us in the northeast, I hope those of you further south are able to get out and paddle soon!


4 comments:

  1. The snow is slow to disappear here in Michigan too. I have gotten out the last couple of weekends, but it will be nice to not have to put all the gear on to paddle. Hope you have a good summer of paddling.

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  2. We're vacationing in the area and live to kayak. Based on your photos we will check it out. Hope it looks pretty in summer too.

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  3. Just returned from trip that included a day paddling Lakeview WMA. Terrific day! We put in at S Sandy Creek, explored several of the ponds and headed out to the lake. In addition to perfect paddling conditions, there’s now a wrecked sailboat at north point of the lake estuary which is interesting to check out. You can easily wade to it – do it soon it won’t survive the winter! We paddled into the lake and headed north , beached the boats near the Oswego Tiki Bar, where we enjoyed our shore lunch. The bar is a real testimony to the genius of some of the local boaters. (The Red Neck Yacht club of the lower Susquehanna salutes them.) The flora and fauna were diverse and my wife put her camera through its paces. The cliff swallows are really something. The concrete structure you were inquiring about may have been the pump house for a residence years ago. Thanks for your blog and photos

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  4. The concrete box is likely to be a military pill box. If you ever visit Wehle Park located north of Lakeview WMA they have them there as well. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pillbox_(military) Thank you for an enjoyable read. This has always been one of our favorite sites.

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