Orlando Wetlands Park

Vermilion Flycatcher

Today woke up with low temperatures outside but, worst than that, strong winds all over the area. Haulover Canal, where I really wanted to go, ruled out. Marine forecast called it rough in the intra-coastal waters. Maybe the Lower Wekiva River then? Not too eager to face the strong wind on my way up or down river. What to do? Then I remembered that the Orlando Wetlands Park is open again since the first of this month. Nothing like a good walk to start your day so that was the call. There I found an old friend from last year: The Vermilion Flycatcher.

Vermilion Flycatcher

The beautiful little red and black bird was the highlight of my walk. It was a pleasant surprise to find him, it is a male, in the same general area where saw him last year. Most of the shots I took ended on the recycle bin but before leaving the area he was kind enough to fly to a stick very close to me and stay there for a few seconds. As it is my habit for non kayaking posts will only post the pics without the boring details of my walk. It was really cold and the breeze was brutal. My face was numb at one point. Anyways...here are the pics...

Glossy Ibis and Little Blue Heron

Coot

Moorhens

Blue Winged Teal

Anhinga has breakfast

Do you mind Dude? I am having breakfast here!!!!!

And down the hatch the fish goes

Great Blue Heron

Great Egret

Pine Warbler????

Vermilion Flycatcher

Vermilion Flycatcher

TBD

Glossy Ibis

Little Blue Heron

Little Blue Heron

Tri-Colored Heron

Great Blue Heron

A brave Gator fights the cold weather to enjoy sun light

Turkey Vulture

Triple threat...Little Blue Heron, Glossy Ibis and Tri-Colored Heron

Tri-Colored Heron

Mottled Ducks

Cattle Egret

And that is it for this one folks. Hope next week-end goes better than this one in terms of the weather. Thanks for reading and see you soon on another Views From Our Kayak. Visit the Views From Our Kayak - Facebook for more pics.

Econlockhatchee River - Back to The Eagle's Nest

The Eagle's Nest at The Econlockhatchee River

Let me introduce you, from left to right, Econ 1, Econ 2, and their Dad. They are the Econlockhatchee residents at The Eagle's Nest at The Econ. Mission accomplished. Did paddle The Econ today just to see if the eaglets were still at the nest and they were.

Bald Eagle

Put In / Take Out: Snow Hill Rd Bridge. Did put in and took out the yak there. Be careful when using this facility. It has a steep slope with loose gravel. Not a good combination.

Great Blue Heron

Not going to bore you to death with this one. Took me 1 hour and 40 minutes to reach the nest area. Only one hour and change on my way back. The Econ is low and did have to portage on my way up around three times. Only once on my way down with the help of the current. Lot of people in the river banks and a few kayakers also. One on my way up and around 5 on my way down. There is not too much to say about this trip. The Econ does not have too much variety of wildlife to offer but did see what I wanted to see: The Eagles. That being said, here are the pics...

Econ River Turtle

One of those things is not like the others

Downy Woodpecker

Econ 1, one of the Eaglets

The Eaglets

Econ 2

Dad arrives with food

Excuse me...Do you want something?

Bald Eagle at The Econ

Econ 1 & Econ 2: The Econ River Eaglets

Bald Eagle

Happy Family

Econ 1, Econ 2 and Dad

Eaglets

Econ 2

The Eagles at the nest

Bald Eagle

Econ 1

Econ 1

Econ 1

Econ 1

Econ 1

Belted Kingfisher

Belted Kingfisher

By the way, and before I finish this one, did open a new Facebook page: Views From Our Kayak - Facebook. At this point I am keeping the blog. Will post the same pics that posted here and much more, if I can find what the problem is since cannot do it right now. But the purpose is, within a reasonable time, use the Facebook page instead of the blog. Let us see what happens. Thanks for reading and see you soon on another Views From Our Kayak.

Flagler Trail Bridge