paddling with a camera

During my last visit to the South Platte River I paddled about 4 miles upstream starting from Kersey. I believe that a duck hunting season is over and the river was pretty quiet in comparison to the previous weekend.

I stopped at a small gravel bar at a mouth of the Cache la Poudre River next to Mitani-Tokuyasu State Wilderness Area (river access during hunting season only, limited parking). This spot is often occupied by plastic duck and goose decoys.

In addition to Pentax Optio W30 I had Canon EOS 40D camera with 60 mm macro lens in a Ortlieb Aqua Zoom bag on the rear deck of my Thunderbolt kayak. I carry only one lens attached to the Canon camera. It seems than I prefer this 60 mm prime lens over any of my old zoom lenses.

A lonely hunter was crossing the river, so I shot several pictures with the Canon camera to show how shallow the river was (not much more above his knees). He was setting fox traps on the other shore.

When I examined these pictures in my computer I noticed that the hunter wasn't alone. Look at the tree just behind him.

Maybe, it is just my imagination, but I see a small brown creature on the tree trunk partially obscured by branches. What it could be? Anybody has suggestions or educated guess? It looks to me bigger than a squirrel, brown, no visible stripes. It was sitting motionless during my 2 minute photo session.

Maybe, it is just a broken tree trunk. I will have a chance to check it during one of my next workouts.

Anyway, I wonder how often and how close I am passing wildlife when paddling on the river.

Related posts:

• Hunter and Prey, Part II. Mysterious Creature: a Fox, a Raccoon, or Just a Broken Trunk?
• Old Truck, Young Eagle and the South Platte River Mysteries
• Winter Paddling, Training and Racing on the South Platte River in Northern Colorado
• Photographing Geese Flying over the South Platte River Valley
• Paddling and Photographing South Platte River near Milliken
• Winter Canoeing on the South Platte River in Northern Colorado