Birds in the Marsh, Fish in the Creek
We got a fairly early start, leaving all those other RVs at Cabelas.
Our first stop was for breakfast at a local breakfast spot. Not a good choice and will remain nameless as the meal was mediocre and expensive.
After that it was off to Potter Marsh, one of the best birding spots in Anchorage. It is an accidental marsh created when the railroad was built. The Alaska Railroad built a causeway along Turnagain Arm which enclosed a low area just south of Anchorage. The low spot turned into a fine wetland with a creek and pools for waterfowl. It is now a very popular park with two boardwalks out over the wetland. It was a little rainy when we were there, but it was worth it. There were a large number of warblers, thrushes, ducks and other wading birds while we were there.
After the marsh we continued south along Turnagain Arm to the Bird Creek State campground where we caught up with Harry and Sally. After confirming that we could share their site, we all piled into Speedy to go back up the road to the Turnagain Arm Pit BBQ, a place for some good ol' Alaskan 'Q. The brisket was pretty good, as was the pulled pork and the baked beans...it wasn't Texas or the Carolinas, but someone had learned their lessons well.
After lunch we went back to the campground and squeezed Speedy in next to Shiny, then I faded out while Ellen and Sally attempted a bird walk. It was a pretty birdless walk, but I had a bit of a nap.
We then walked down to the mouth of Bird Creek to watch the salmon fishing. Harry and Sally had done some fishing there yesterday with about a hundred of their closest fishing buddies. It is sometimes called "Combat Fishing" as everyone is lined up along the shore, each repeatedly casting into the patch of stream right in front of them hoping a passing Salmon will pick their lure or fly. Surprisingly, it works...but is quite messy.
The mouth of Bird Creek is very muddy along the banks. People were coated in mud, as were their fish. It was not a pretty sight. I think we'll leave the combat fishing to Harry and Sally.
No comments:
Post a Comment