Lake Murray, named after former Oklahoma governor William Murray, is formed from damming Anadarche and Fourche Creeks, its area is 23 square kilometers. It has many coves and is a great place for kayaking.
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| Lake Murray and State Park |
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| Sunset over Tucker Tower |
After checking in at our cabin at Lake Murray state Park, we went for a late afternoon (4:30pm) kayaking near Tucker Tower. The ideal launching spot there is not the lake Murray marina boat ramp, but the marina beach. The beach is sandy and very close to the parking lot, really convenient to launch a kayak.
We paddled to the right from the beach and toward the Tucker tower. We were again the only human being on the lake, like it was that morning at Veteran's lake - no other boats or kayaks in the water. The lake was calm, quiet. The only other living thing on the lake we noticed was a group Canadian geese, whom formed a line swimming by the lake shore.
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| Canadian Geese by the lake shore |
As we turned around the Tucker Tower, two geese flew over, and landed in the water in front our Kayak Emma. We followed them silently and enjoyed the companionship - one couple in the water, the other on the kayak 💓. Their light brown feathers, black necks and white cheek patch stood out in the water, so did our bright yellow Emma and the red life vests. They took off when they reached the end of the branch of the cove, and we were getting too close to them for their comforts. We turned around and saw them again at the turn into the second branch of the cove.
It turned out that there were more life here than us, geese at this portion of the lake, there were many other lives! Several pairs of turkey vultures - big black body and red head, were on the trees by the shore and away. They formed another tapestry of this beautiful afternoon. We heard bird chirpings, but could barely saw any birds clearly. Following a mechanical rattling sound, I saw a small bird, with a crown and blue body, a white belt at the neck - kingfisher I declared to Lily, and as I was about to snap a shot, it took off, and flew away. Zoom-in of the photos I took of it, it is confirmed that the bird is belted kingfisher.
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| Turkey Vultures |
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| Black Vultures |
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| Belted Kingfisher (near the right side of the front tree - click on the photo to enlarge) |
We observed quite a few white birds flying in the sky, landing in water, and after while flying again. We paddled close to one such bird, and followed it:). It swam around and then toward Tucker tower until we were too close.
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| It is a sea gull |
Sun was setting, it was getting chilly on the water, and getting dark as well. We started paddling back to marina beach until we heard a large group of Canada geese's calls at the west end of the cove.
There were two groups of geese at the west end of the cove, near water grasses. As our bright yellow Emma getting closer silently, the geese were alerted. We saw them straighten their necks looking around, checking each other, nevertheless remained calm - no more calls, no flapping wings either. One group swam to the right hand side, the other left, slowly, and close to the shore. It was their roost time. We did not get too close to them, and left them alone.
As we turned around, the Sun was setting, the Tucker Tower was in golden sunshine, and nearby, a heron just landed on a golden light enshrined tree. When we got closer, it flew away with a scream, it was a blue heron!
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| Sunset on Tucker Tower |
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| A heron perched on a splendid tree |
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| It was was a blue heron! |
The Tucker Tower was in a darker shade of gold, and then the light was gone, the Sun set. Paddling past the tip of shore at Tucker Tower, the east horizon was in front of us, a big, pinkish full moon was rising in front of eyes! The second full moon of this October! (Note - the real full moon was the next day October 31)
What a beautiful afternoon and evening! It was magical.
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