Views From Our Kayak: 2014

Saturday, December 13, 2014

Blue Springs - St. Johns River

Bald Eagle

OK. Finally finished the post. Still in a hurry folks so this one will be almost all pics. It was a spectacular paddle in the waters of the St. Johns River out of Blue Springs in Orange City. Did go there after the manatees and they are there. But ended up being an eagle's fest.

Manatees at the Blue Springs Run

Put In / Take Out: Blue Springs State Park in Orange City. Please feel free to check previous post from this location for more details. Most likely I put a link to the state park site.

Cormorant

Warning: Park personnel told me that you cannot use a GoPro, or any other under water camera, without a permit. If you do you will be fined. They warned me against putting any video or picture on YouTube if I already had one, because "they monitor it, will go against you and fine you." I am lucky that none of my videos or pictures came out good; it was too dark and there was no visibility. I have nothing good to say about this so I will zip it. Still had fun at the boardwalk as the manatees are in high numbers.

Gray Catbird

Manatee in the Blue Spring Run

Manatees

A young lady works counting manatees at the Blue Spring Runs

Manatee

Manatees enjoy the Blue Spring main vent

After the manatee experience, I put the kayak in the waters of the St. Johns River. Knowing that a pair of Bald Eagles like to hang out near the end of the Blue Springs Run I paddled over there. They were not in the area so decided to paddle downstream to Lake George. I thought that was going to give me the best chance to see Bald Eagles...and I nailed this one. Here we go:

Snowy Egret

Juvenile Little Blue Heron

Anhinga

Great Egret

Great Blue Heron

American Bittern

Gator

Sandhill Crane

Cattle Egret

Sandhill Crane

Snowy Egret

Turtles

Juvenile Little Blue Heron

Ibis

Little Blue Heron

Then at Lake George...

Bald Eagle

After all that paddling from the Blue Springs Run to Lake George to see Bald Eagles, a pair gave me a show where I looked the first time in the morning: near the end of the run. Not complaining about it.

Bald Eagle

And this is it for this one but I will post a few more pics in Facebook. Thanks for your patience and hope you like this one, which probably is my last post of the year. This is because I have to take care of a few things at home and will not have time. That being said, Merry Christmas (you can wish me Happy Hollydays...will not offend me) and Happy New Year.

Blue Springs Run early in the morning

Saturday, December 6, 2014

Merritt Island and more (from Manatee Cove)

Leaping Away!!!!!!

The way I feel and the things I want to say are not a good so will say nothing right now. Blessed weather man!!!!! Was supposed to be "smooth" in the intra coastal. It was not. Not even close. I will leave it like that. One hundred and thirteen (113) pics of the pair of dolphin fooling around (mating if you ask me what they were doing). Only around 5 of them came out close to decent, including the opening. Had to put something so that one it is.

Florida Scrub Jay

Put In / Take Out: Manatee Cove Park. Check the link for information if you are interested. The previous pic would have been my opening but it is not from the kayak so it took the passenger's seat. It is a Florida Scrub Jay and taken at the Scrub Ridge Trail in Merritt Island.

Mid sized gator hiding in the banks of Manatee Cove

After all was said and done was not too bad of a day. Quick summary; Planned to kayak at the Indian River from Manatee Cove Park since the forecast had it "smooth". Arrived early, overcast, breeze, and more choppy than smooth. Thought about going back home but was already there so decided to gave it a try. Two dolphins were making a huge splash and chasing each other. Unfortunately moving water as a background messes the focus for the camera and also, it was like trying to take pics while riding a horse. Spent almost an hour with the dolphins looking for a chance of a perfect pic. Did not happen. Here are the pics I was able to get. Nothing to call home about...

Gator at Manatee Cove

Dolphin's tail. Canaveral Energy Center in the background

Indian River Dolphins

Dolphins at the Indian River

Dolphins came to a nearby cove. The Sun showed up...for a minute or so....

Going down....

Tail shot

After the dolphins decided that had enough of battling the wind and the bumpy Indian River. After one hour had my mind set to go back home. My original plan was to go to Pine Island Preserve to the North. The wind, the current, and the dolphins, took me to the South. Here are the pics from where I was to Manatee Cove Park. The Sun was out for this part of the trip.

Ring Billed Gull

Ibis

Juvenile Ibis

Brown Pelican

Sandwich Tern

Cormorant

Royal Tern

Belted Kingfisher

Great Blue Heron

Spent some time at Manatee Cove trying to get a manatee pic and obtain the Florida Trifecta for this trip. Manatees were skittish and did not give me a decent pic chance. Got a couple of tail shots and that was it. A mid sized gator entertained me for a few minutes too. It was funny. A young lady who saw it said it was a 12 footer. A fisherman said it was more then 500 pounds. Really it was no bigger than 9 feet.

Manatee Cove gator

Smaller gator at Manatee Cove

12 feet, 550 pounds monster (not really)

Going back to the spot

Left and decided to take a look at the conditions to the North, at Haulover Canal. Made it there and while it was not too bad it was a bit bumpy and I was already in a bad mood. Decided to call it a day. Made a stop in the road to take a pic of a hawk and approaching the Scrub Ridge entrance thought that giving it a try was not going to kill me. Glad that I did...