Paddling upstream on the Musconetcong River just below Saxton Lake I came upon a great blue heron perched on a drowned tree limb in the river. I watched the bird as I quietly glided toward it. Surprisingly it did not fly away right away like so many of the other herons I encounter do. This one was very patient while all around it the river activity continued. Behind on the far bank the swan family and a wood duck family swam around the river flora. Another great blue heron flew down the far bank landing in an over hanging tree. While all along the red-wing blackbirds sang their songs around me. It was a brilliant encounter and one for the books for sure.