A Paddling Guide to the Town Cove
& Nauset Salt Marsh
by Ryan Shea /Goose Hummock Kayak Staff
Heading Out
You'll start your journey at the Goose Hummock Shop and head north towards the Nauset salt marsh. As you paddle, keep in mind of the motor boat traffic. It can get very busy and dangerous in the summer months. About a half mile north you'll come across Hopkins Island. Beach your kayaks on the northern end or travel along the eastern side and witness an Osprey's nest high above the tree line.
Ospreys
Osprey are migratory birds spending their summers here on Cape Cod to breed and raise their young before heading to Central and South America for our winter months. These birds usually hatch around late May to early June and fledge by early August. Related to the Bald Eagle and the Red-tailed Hawk, these birds have a wingspan of roughly 5 feet. They live off of fish and small rodents which they catch using their sharp talons.1 To see a live camera feed of an active Osprey's nest visit the Cape Cod Museum of Natural History in Brewster, Massachusetts.
Clams & Red Tide
If it is low tide you can get out of the kayak and wade through water teeming with different types of clams. You can easily spot a mussel bed from the darker water which is a result of the deep blue color of their shells. Other clams you may find are steamers or soft shelled clams, quahogs or hard-shelled clams and Atlantic jackknife clams (mistakenly referred to as razor clams). Remember not to gather them unless you have a permit to do so.
The clams in this area may be affected by Red Tide. Red Tide is another name for an algal bloom of Alexandrium fundyense, a toxic dinoflagellate.2 While Red Tide is a natural occurrence in New England, it has been associated with increased nutrients in the water from human activity in other parts of the world.3 Red Tides can produce neurotoxins which accumulate in shellfish. If eaten in large quantities, humans can become seriously ill or even die from the affected shellfish.4
Greenheads
Around the next bend will be Rachel's Cove. Here you may notice blue square- shaped boxes around the edges of the salt marsh grass. These boxes are used to collect and control the population of the Greenhead fly, (Tabanus nigrovittatus) a type of horse fly which is a nuisance to most beach goers in July. The boxes are designed to trap the fly which is lured both by the color of the box and the scent of Octanol which is often placed inside. Once trapped, the heat of the sun kills them. Most of the boxes are placed in areas known as fly-paths where there is a break or opening in a bushel of trees. Similar to mosquitoes, female Greenheads bite us in order to gather blood for the development of their eggs. Unlike mosquitoes, the bite of a greenhead fly is a lot more painful. Luckily for us, their lifespan is only three to four weeks and thus they are gone by August.5
Nauset Salt Marsh & Erosion
Another bend will take you to the Nauset salt marsh. The tree lined Town Cove will open up to a vastness of the low lying vegetation. The salt marsh exists as a result of the barrier beaches which provide protection from the mighty Atlantic Ocean's currents. Erosion of the beaches is a constant problem on Cape Cod, both as a result of human activity and also as natural process from the continual movement of sand. Beach grass traps sand that is blown by the wind, helping to build dunes to protect environments like the salt marsh. But if stepped upon by humans, the beach grass can die and thus not perform its vital task. Therefore it is crucial for us to respect nature and stay on designated trails.6
Double-crested Cormorant
Weaving through the ever changing channels presents itself with multiple opportunities to observe various species of birds such as the Great Blue Heron, the Snowy Egret and the Double-crested Cormorant. Double-crested Cormorants are one of five types of Cormorants. Found mostly in aquatic habitats these birds feed primarily off of fish. People once believed these birds did not live in nests, however research has found that not only do they live in nest, but their nest are often made up of recycled junk such as rope and deflated balloons. Sometimes dead birds are even incorporated into the construction of their nests.7
Horseshoe Crabs
If you look towards the bottom of the seafloor you may see Horseshoe crabs scurrying about. Horseshoe crabs are often a wonder to many who visit Cape Cod. These creatures are not actually crabs, but rather anthropoids. This means they are related to spiders! While their lifespan lasts about twenty years, they have ancestors relating back to the Paleozoic Era between 540-248 million years ago! While they are not crabs, they do molt like crabs. Many times what visitors will find instead of a live horseshoe crab, is its empty shell. Humans use horseshoe crabs for a number of reasons. Biomedical companies use a component of the horseshoe crab's blood called Limulus amebocye lysate or LAL as a means to test the safety of vaccines and drugs.8 Read more about Horseshoe crabs by visiting horseshoecrab.org.
Piping Plovers
If you reach the barrier beaches you'll find often oystercatchers, terns, gulls, sandpipers and plovers. In recent years the Piping Plover has been a topic of debate among residents and naturalists. This type of plover is protected under the Endangered Species Act and when nesting occurs during the summer months the result is partial beach closures. The ORV or "off-road recreation vehicle" access is often a section of beach that is closed by the nesting plovers. Some residents and visitors who wish to use the area for recreation are angered as a result of the beach closures.9
The Outer Beach & the Nauset Inlet
Pull your kayaks up to the marsh side of barrier beaches and take a gander at the strong current that runs through the inlet. While the Nauset inlet is very dangerous for kayakers, it does allow the semi-Dural tides from the ocean to reach the salt marsh and the Town Cove. The ebb and flow of the tides provide a vital source of nourishment for the life of the surrounding environment. Walk towards the beach to see waves crashing as gulls meander over the water looking for fish to catch. Keep a watchful eye for gray seals that frequent near the beaches.
*Note: While there has been an increase in Great White shark sightings in the last five years as a result of the population increase of gray seals, there has never been a single sighting of any type of shark in the Nauset salt marsh nor in the Town Cove.
Journey Home
As you make your way back towards the Goose Hummock Shop remember that the learning and discovery doesn't have to stop at the dock. The Massachusetts Audubon in Wellfleet, the Cape Cod Natural History Museum in Brewster and the Cape Cod National Seashore visitor centers in Eastham and Provincetown are a few places to learn even more about the precious environments that makes up our beautiful Cape Cod.
