J.N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge

Roseate Spoonbill

This is the time of the year that usually time goes and I do not even realize what is going on...VACATION time!!!! Sanibel Island was the choice this year after going on a cruise ship last time. It is only my second vacation in 11 years so I plan to enjoy this one as much as I can. Cannot go kayaking all days, my wife would not be happy with that, but will go out at least twice. Today was the first one and started kayaking a place that have been in my bucket list for almost two years: J.N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge in Sanibel Island. Had a good very short solo paddle and decided that there will be another paddle before we go back home, this time with my photographer.

Brown Pelican

Put In / Take Out: Used the facilities of the refuge. The fee per vehicle is $5 and there are more than one launch areas for non motorized boats. Click on the link to see a map of the wildlife refuge, "Ding"Darling National Wildlife Refuge. I did launch at the area where you see the first sign(the canoe sign), which is the closest to the gate. There are more launching areas than the map says, at least one more. I will clarify that on my next trip.

Pileated Woodpecker

Juvenile Yellow Crowned Night Heron

Had a good start since leaving the villa where we are staying. On my way to the refuge saw a bird flying parallel to the road in the opposite direction. It landed in a power pole just in front of me, a Pileated Woodpecker. Since there was no one behind me, and no one was coming neither, put the van in reverse and went back to the pole, now in front of me. From the van did shoot the pic above. The PW is our favorite woodpecker and if we have the chance to take a pic of it, we will. Just as a disclaimer, no humans or woodpeckers were hurt taking the pic and if you are thinking I am crazy for going in reverse in the road just for a pic, it was a long straight road and no one was behind or in front of me. Once in the refuge entrance a pair of  Yellow Crowned Night Herons gave a nice welcome posing for a pics. One was an adult and the other a juvenile. How lucky can you get? It was not the only sighting of this bird, which I was expecting from what I have read of this place.

Yellow Crowned Night Heron

Reddish Egret

Was on the water at 8AM. A Reddish Egret put a show for me hunting in the shallow area in front of the launch spot. Even took a video but it was too jumpy so will not be posted here. A light breeze coming from the north was not an issue at the moment. It was later when became a pretty strong wind. Here is when I made a mistake. Not knowing the area wanted to paddle close to the Wildlife Road just for this first time. But was not able to find a spot in the mangroves to paddle thru. Looking at the map thought there has to be an entrance ahead so did paddle to the North East looking for that entrance. Well, did find an opening but it was a the edge of the No Motor Boat Zone(if you see the map, the slashed lines mark the NMBZ), far away from the road. I did not know it at the time. This had an effect because cut my paddle short due to the time exposed to the Sun, as I found out on my way back. But I am not regretting that unplanned detour. Enjoyed the time and the scenery. A Frigate Bird teased me several times flying high in the sky, Anhingas also gave me a hard time posing for pics and then flying when I was close for the shot. Ospreys flying and perched were abundant. This place is incredible. Even a Black Crowned Night Heron, who was my frustrating bird of the day, gave me show.

Anhinga

Magnificent Frigate Bird

The tide was coming in and together with the wind it became a nuisance because it was difficult to position the yak and take pics. I knew that something was weird about my location when after going thru a small entrance saw a line of mangroves way to the West and a car on the road. Was farther to the East than I thought so crossed to the mangroves in the area where an overlook is. It is the Red Mangrove Overlook area in the map. To give you an idea on how long was my detour, took me two hours(pic stops included) to go from the launch the the other launch area near the Observation Tower. Made my way back to where I launch in 1 hour and fifteen minutes. Of course, had the tide and the wind in my back on the return but the important thing is that during the return had the cover of the mangroves most of the time, which was not the case at the beginning of the trip.

Osprey

Spoonie

It was in the Overlook area when the highlight of the trip happened. Sadly I was not good enough to capture the moment but a Frigate Bird and a Bald Eagle were in the same area at the same time. Did shoot several pics but the birds were too high in the sky for a decent one and came out with only one good pic of the Frigate. The eagle's pics were terrible. I am sure my wife would have done better so hoping for some similar display whenever we go together. Made it to the second launch site in the map after two hours, give and take ten minutes, landed to take a break and stretched my legs. Not before spotting a Spoonie in the mangroves, the same one that made the opening pic of this post. Thought about walking to the observation tower but it was crowded. Was not able to help myself and thought that the view from the kayak was much better than whatever they could see. Just as started my way back spotted a Yellow Crowned Night Heron in the mangroves.

Yellow Crowned Night Heron

Did You Know That?  J.N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge is named after Jay Norwood Darling, an American Pulitzer-Prize winning award cartoonist. Although Darling is better known for his political and conservation cartoons, he was very important in the conservation movement. He was the creator of the Federal Duck Stamp Program and drew the first stamp design. He was appointed by President F.D. Roosevelt as head of the Biological Survey, the forerunner for what is today U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. In addition to the National Wildlife Refuge in Sanibel Island, Florida, Darling State Park in Iowa, and a National Conservation Training Center in West Virginia are named after him. Darling also founded the National Wildlife Federation in 1936.

Tri-Colored Heron

Here are more pics of that I saw at the refuge...

Reddish Egret

Anhinga

Great Blue Heron

Osprey

Osprey

Great Egret

Cormorant takes off

Cormorant

Cormorant

Brown Pelican

Brown Pelican

Brown Pelican

Red Bellied Woodpecker

Horseshoe Crabs

Horseshoe Crabs

Yellow Crowned Night Heron

Yellow Crowned Night Heron

HorseShoe Crab

And that is it for this one. There are many more pics from Sanibel Island but are not from the kayak. When this vacation is over, sadly it will be soon, will make a post with the views from Sanibel. You do not want to miss that one. Thanks for reading and see you soon to share more Views From Our Kayak.

J.N. "Ding"Darling National Wildlife Refuge scene