Long Island Sound Mamaroneck Harbor and Otter Creek Jan 1st 2013

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It was a pretty mild day for this time of year (4degrees C (38 F)), light winds,  so I headed out to Mamaroneck for a short paddle.
There was a good boat ramp - It costs $5 to launch a kayak and $5 to park there in the summer. Right now it's free. 

Boat Ramp

 It only took 25 minutes to  get there and it turned out to be an interesting paddle. 

First I went under the bridge , looking to see how far up Mamaroneck River I could get. - The tide was half way up, and the river was almost immediately impassable. 

I then headed up what seems to be called Beaver Swamp Brook, but again could not get too far. 

A very old cemetery complete with crypt

Deer taking it easy. 

This was as far as I was able to go. 

Going further out of the harbor I noted another creek coming in on the east, and this turned out to be  Otter Creek. I found out later that it runs through  Otter Creek Nature Preserve . It is a tidal wetland area of marshes with ducks abounding. The tide was getting close to high as I was there, the perfect time, as without the tide, it would be a very muddy creek.

Clams in the mud 

The Harbor itself musty be very busy in the summer, but  I spotted only one other boat, a kayak, while I was out. Winter is such a great time to paddle

The gulls have been feasting on shellfish on all of the pontoons.