Lower Wekiva River - From Katie's Landings

Red Shouldered Hawk

Finally...The yak went back to the water!!!!  Had a typical day on the Lower Wekiva River on a windy sunny day. The Wekiva is not running as low as I was expecting but was not able to paddle in sections of the area in front of Katie's, as did before, because the water level was not high enough. Regardless, spent five hours in the river mostly because let the current do the job on my way down stream.

Great Blue Heron

Put In and Take Out: Katie's Landings. Please check for previous posts about this location for information. There is a charge of $3 per vehicle. You will not find an easier and nicer facility in this area.

Green Heron

Going to the Lower Wekiva River was not my Plan A. Wanted to go to Haulover Canal, but had a rough night and got only two hours of sleep. My little dog was on alert the whole night, like she was sensing something outside the house, and kept us awake and concerned. So overslept past my time to wake up and drive to Merritt Island and decided to go to a closer familiar area, that was Katie's Landings.

Pileated Woodpecker

Arrived at 10:20 at Katie's, on my way down stream by 10:30. Paddled the lagoon area in front of the put in and then pushed my way west of the small island downstream. By the way, on my way back used the same route but then, in the small section I did push myself through in the morning, there were at least a dozen little gators sunning in the reeds. It was quite a show when all of them moved to hide from my mean green Tribe. Am not doing that again, never ever. Usually Mama gator is close by the little ones. It was dumb to push myself across that spot.

Limpkin

The river was busy today. Shared the river with several motor boats and a few groups of kayakers. Had a stop at the popular high ground area at the left bank of the river(if you are going downstream) and was back at Katie's by 3:30. No deer and only a few gators on this trip. Bummer. Let me show you now more pics of what I saw today...

Bald Eagles. Pic taken at my favorite eagle spot on CR419, east of Hwy 417.

Bald Eagle

Red Shouldered Hawk

Ibis

Two for One...Ibis and Little Blue Heron

Great Egret

Green Heron

Do not know what is this...

Little Gator

Yellow Rumped Warbler

Belted Kingfisher

Belted Kingfisher

Turtles

Ibis

Great Blue Heron

Anhinga

Black Crowned Night Heron

Black Crowned Night Heron

Did You Know That?...The Black Crowned Night Heron is listed as Local Concern in the state of Florida, among other breeding zones, due to the decline in population. They are sensitive to water quality changes and wetlands destruction.

Turtle

Great Blue Heron

Eastern Phoebe

Turtle

Turkey

Turtle

Ibis

Turtle

Biggest gator of the paddling trip

Flying Black Crowned Night Heron

Female Wood Duck

Red Shouldered Hawk

Red Shouldered Hawk looking for a meal

Pileated Woodpecker

Great Blue Heron

Nesting Great Blue Heron

Little Blue Heron

Limpkin

And that is it for this one. Thanks for reading and one more thing. I did create a Facebook page for Views From Our Kayaks. Here is the link...Views From Our Kayak - Facebook 1/ Click on the link and, if you really like the page, click on the page's Like button. Hope you come back for the next Views From Our Kayak.

Lower Wekiva River