The appearance of the eagle was startling as it left its unseen perch and flew low and directly overhead. Paddling upstream through the channel to Canada Lake, it disappeared around the corner where a sawmill once stood in 1867.

After the Hornbeck Canoe also turned the corner, it was pleasing to see that the eagle had perched once again, even if much higher off the water.

It remained perched as I approached.

Soon there was a cacophony of screeches. A red-winged blackbird had taken issue with an oversized opportunistic predator near his turf. A loon also joined the chorus with an unexpected two-note mournful cry.

The red-winged blackbird harassed the eagle, making multiple passes at it.

It seemed odd that the marsh-dwelling blackbird would bother with the eagle near the top of a mature white pine, but perhaps its mate was on a nest somewhere nearby which was visible from above.

Eventually, the eagle flew off and out of sight.

There was probably merit in the actions of the red-winged blackbird. Just days before, this family of geese included two more goslings.

Further upstream, the previously heard loon appeared.

A heron was also headed upstream.

The end of the upstream journey was just past the entrance to Canada Lake. There the dwellings of wildlife are intermingled with those of humans.

Lest you be left with misconceptions about an idyllic passage through this unofficial Adirondack wildlife preserve, note that the slight wind headed downstream was a godsend. On the return, when the Hornbeck moved nearly in unison with the air, other flying beings explored every bit of exposed flesh looking for their next meal.

It’s the height of blackfly season in the Adirondacks.