Canoe/Kayak Outing to Rankin Bottoms 6/4/2016 - This Harvey Broome Group outing to Rankin Bottoms was described as a "wildlife float." There were seven paddlers: Mac, Kim, Ellen, Carol, Stacey, Frank, and Ron. We did have to paddle a bit (over 5 miles), but we had a near perfect morning for it. The lake level was at 990 feet. We put in and took out near the coal tower at Rankin, and paddled a big loop in that area before heading to a large cove on the east side of the lake/river. There were several "high points," but one was certainly the small Great Blue Heron rookery (I counted 6 nests) we passed on our route.

Other noteworthy sightings included a several Prothonotary Warblers. Altogether, we observed 38 bird species: Canada Goose  10, Mallard  9, Double-crested Cormorant  35, Great Blue Heron  20, Great Egret  20, Green Heron  1, Black-crowned Night-Heron  2, Turkey Vulture  3, Osprey  4, Bald Eagle  1, Mourning Dove  1, Yellow-billed Cuckoo  2, Belted Kingfisher  1, Red-bellied Woodpecker  2, Downy Woodpecker  2, Pileated Woodpecker  1, Great Crested Flycatcher  3, Eastern Kingbird  3, White-eyed Vireo  2, Red-eyed Vireo  1, American Crow  2, Tree Swallow  3, Carolina Chickadee  3, Tufted Titmouse  3, White-breasted Nuthatch  2, Carolina Wren  1, Eastern Bluebird  3, Wood Thrush  2, Prothonotary Warbler  10, Common Yellowthroat  5, Northern Parula  1, Song Sparrow  2, Eastern Towhee  4, Northern Cardinal  2, Indigo Bunting  3, Red-winged Blackbird  30, Common Grackle  5, Orchard Oriole  3.

See more slides at: https://ronshrieves.smugmug.com/Rons-Photo-Journal/20160604RankinBottoms/