The almanac uses observations written by naturalists, river lovers of all ages, and scientists to assemble a journal of the river's unique moments.

The almanac is printed by Purple Mountain Press, Ltd., (800-325-2665). It is available for $10, plus New York State sales tax, and $3.50 for shipping. E-mail address is: Purple@mail.catskill.net

Limited copies of The Hudson River Almanac: Volume II are also available at the same price. Volumes I and III are sold out.

These excerpts are taken, with permission from the publisher, from the Hudson River Almanac, Volume IV, 1997-98. Each month, we'll be adding another excerpt from the book that corresponds to the current month.

November 1997
November 3 - Croton Point - Following two big and destructive storms in as many days, I hoped for something out of the ordinary this morning: unusual flotsam on the beach, or perhaps a magnificent frigate bird blown far off course. Instead? A pair of woodcock in a puddle, a greater yellowlegs on the beach, and the joy of many small flocks of bluebirds all over the point. Salinity was 8.0 ppt. Christopher Letts

November 6 - Croton Point - A raucous east wind swept the life from the north side of the peninsula -- a few crows, a few gulls, nothing more. On the sheltered south side, things were jumping. I counted 35 species of birds in as many minutes. Woodcock and yellowlegs were playing in puddles, and rafts of lesser scaup and ruddy ducks by the dozen close in under the land. The canopy and understory were thick with feeding birds, and every few minutes flocks would spiral up, up and then away on the east side for the far shore of the river. Most of the flocks were red-winged blackbirds and grackles, but hundreds of robins left and I counted at least 500 cedar waxwings as they took to the air. Christopher Letts
The wind was gusting to 35 mph as a prelude to an approaching nor'easter. A raft of ruddy ducks (150-200) bobbed in the chop of Croton Bay. A marsh hawk was quartering in the landfill searching for a meal. Before long it caught a gust, banked into the wind, executed a perfect roll, and then vertically embraced the east wind, nearly motionless for several seconds, before falling away. The inshore salinity was 8.2 ppt. Tom Lake

November 8 - Croton Point - A rain-lashed day with many fewer birds, though just as many species. The yellowlegs and woodcocks were wading in the flooded parking lot, and a pair of brant were keeping company with a flock of Canada geese that was busy mowing the lawn. A rough-legged hawk and a harrier were both interested in the same spot on the landfill, and hovered and flew over it for almost a minute. The harrier gave it up, made a pass at the rough-legged, and flew off over the marsh. The rough-legged hovered for another minute, then made off to the west into the trees. Christopher Letts

November 12 - Croton Point - As we eased them from our seine, the last of the young-of-the-year American shad were going to sea. Lori Molo, Christopher Letts

November 17 - Hudson Valley - Many calls to law enforcement agencies described "UFOs" in the cold autumn sky just before dawn. With green vapor trails, the Leonid meteor shower was a dazzling sight. Tom Lake
Croton Point - A flock of horned larks swirled down between the rising sun and a fat moon, and ran ahead of me along the road over the landfill. Flocks of redwings, hundreds of robins and scores of cedar waxwings continue to use the top of the peninsula as a point of departure. Christopher Letts

November 18 - Hudson Valley - A week or more of air temperature colder than normal by 10 degree F had most ponds and still-water skimmed with early ice. The ice was substantial enough to hold scores of gulls and, in some instances, mallards. Tom Lake

November 27 - Annsville Bay - A strong wind and ebbing tide had emptied Annsville Creek and reduced the bay to mudflats. Tom Lake
Croton River - It was an hour until low tide and yet you could walk across the Croton River just above the Route 9 bridge without getting the tops of your shoes wet -- an uncommon occurrence. The wind was blowing the water out of the river. Christopher Letts
Sleepy Hollow - The northwest wind was blowing a gale at 40 mph, spraying the tops off three-foot rollers, and making the wind-chill near 0 degrees F. It was a difficult day for children and small dogs. Ninety hearty souls had joined us at the Kingsland Point Lighthouse for the 6th annual Thanksgiving Day tour. Most of us opted for the warmth of the woodstove and were thankful for a cup of hot cinnamon-sassafras cider. Tom Lake, Andra Sramek, Christopher Letts

November 30 - Croton Point - Flocks of cedar waxwings were present during just about every visit I made during November, generally moving southwest along the point, and often flying high to the head for the western shore of the river. They fed ravenously, taking on fuel in the form of hackberry, poison ivy, bittersweet, wild grape, holly and yew fruits. I counted about 1700 through the month, about half the number I counted last year. Christopher Letts