Kayak Virginia Beach

Down But Not Out - North Landing River

I set out early this morning, because I knew the weather was going to get uglier as the day went on, and the odds of getting shutout for kayaking in February were pretty high. I looked at the USGS gage level for the North Landing River, and 8.08 feet was not promising.
I thought I would give Back Bay a shot so I headed down to Lovitts Landing, and I was getting more worried the closer I got, because along the road all the ditches were dry. I got to Lovitts land and my fears were confirmed, as you can see by the pictures below, not enough water to float a toy boat. So I thought maybe Drum Point might be a better choice, it was better but not much. I guess had it been summer, I would have waded out until I got to deep enough water, but even then, it would have been a hike, but with the water temps in the low 40s that was not going to happen.
So with things looking pretty bleak, I decided to go for Old Pungo Ferry Road, and upon my arrival I was pleasantly surprised. The water was above the lowest I have seen there, but still low enough to keep me on the main river, all I wanted to do was get about 6 miles in. The other thing I noticed upon arrival was that it looked like someone learned the hard way the difference between OLD Pungo Ferry Road, and Pungo Ferry Road. Skid marks, and a good portion of the deck taken out.

I got on the water, and headed up the North Landing River, thinking I may see the Eagle I saw a while back. I was glad to see that I called that one, but it did not give me the opportunity that it did on my last trip. I was still a couple of hundred yards away, when it decided to fly off, it circled the oxbow and crossed the river, and as I watched I noticed the nest. I crossed the river hoping to get a good picture of the eagle and the nest, but all I got was a couple of pictures of the nest. I figured that the eagle was seeking shelter from the cold, as it felt like the temperature had dropped a few degrees since I launched, so I continued up the river to make my 6 miles. Not much else on the river, except a barge load of sand and gravel. After about 3 miles up the river, it was time to turn around and head back, because the weather looked like it was preparing to get bad.
I approached the area where the Eagle had been before, and I slowed down searching the trees hoping I would see it again, and not one but 2 Eagles came out of the nest, both circled the over the river and one came down to the water and snatched a fish, and both returned to the nest. This was a big bonus for me, because I thought there was only one, but I guess we may have another breeding pair here.. The nest seems to be far enough from the river that there should be minimal impact on them.
I guess my timing was right on, because as soon as I parked in the driveway at home a light rain started, and upon looking at the National Weather Service, it appears things may get real nasty this afternoon and evening.