Jenner Paddle and Sea Lions Mean Spawning Fish

Thursday February 10, 2022 Jenner CA.

Paddle day

I headed out for Jenner just after noon today for a paddle on the Russian River.

The sun was out and the wind was low for a nice day paddling.

I put my boat in the water at the boat ramp and looked up the river where I would go today. So I paddled across to Penny Island by that big tree.

Sea lions in the estuary

A small sea lion surfaced right next to me as I crossed over the river and I noticed a couple more sea lions in the estuary today hunting.

Sea lions in the estuary usually means big spawning fish are either coming into the river from the ocean to spawn or fish that have spawned are headed back to the ocean. Salmon spawn and die, but steelhead spawn and go back to the ocean if they can make it in their weakened state.

Island

And then I paddled on up along side of the island until I got to it’s upper end and pulled into this spot for a sit and watch for a bit.

Across the river from me I could see some geese and some cormorants resting on the shore.

Eagle’s Landing

I worked my way up the river going along here by these big trees that I call Eagle’s Landing as it’s one of the first places I saw eagles when they returned to this area a number of years ago.

I worked my way along here and was almost at the spot I’d sit and watch before turning back down the river.

Sit and watch spot

I backed my boat into that grassy area where I sat in my boat and watched for a half hour or so.

Great Blue Heron

When I sit in my boat by the shoreline and I don’t move much, I’m just another log on the shoreline, soooooooooooooooo.

I was a bit startled when this great blue heron tried to land on me, but retreated at the last instant squawking it’s displeasure.

River view

This was my view up river from my sit and watch spot looking up river at the highway one bridge.

After a good break there I turned my boat down river and crossed over to the other side to have a look for birds along the shoreline where I spotted these geese.

I continued on down the river along here watching for birds along the shoreline.

And paddled by these mallard ducks taking it easy.

Jenner up ahead

Then I paddled back across the river and stopped and sat at this sit and watch spot for a bit headed for Jenner just up ahead a bit.

This pair of merganser ducks swam by.

Harbor seal

As I crossed over the river towards Jenner I went by this harbor seal resting on this submerged redwood log. The seal watched me closed as I passed on by.

Boat ramp

I was headed for the boat ramp but first I waited for the people to clear the ramp before paddling on in.

That was a nice paddle. I loaded up my boat and went on home for the day.

Nice day.