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| Aerial Attack |
Did not plan to kayak at Blue Springs, or the St. Johns River, but had to cancel a plan to kayak the Lower Wekiva River from Katie's Landings with a co-worker. Was supposed to stay at home since a relative was coming to visit but she changed the plans Friday night and I decided to go somewhere else Saturday morning. Blue Spring State Park was my choice.
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| Bald Eagle |
Put In / Take Out: Blue Spring State Park in Orange City. For location and fees information please check previous posts from this place.
Arrived at the park shortly before 8 AM, waited in line for 10 minutes and was in the boardwalk by 8:20. Not too many pics but here is how it looked like. Less manatees in the run than I was expecting.
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| Manatees at the Blue Spring Run |
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| Playful manatees |
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| Manatee herd at the Blue Spring vent, including a tagged one |
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| Manatees at the Blue Spring vent |
While walking from the main vent observation area heard the unique call of a Bald Eagle. I knew exactly where it was, as I assumed it was only one, so hurried up to put in on the St, Johns River. To my surprise there was not a Bald Eagle. There were two in the usual spot across the end of the run. But now that I remember, have seen two eagles there before. Just got me by surprise this time.
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| Bald Eagles |
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| Bald Eagles |
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| His partner left but he stayed for a few more minutes |
The eagles left but there was a gator nearby and also decided to explore the waters of the small lagoon South of the State Park....
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| Gator |
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| Gator |
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| Cormorant |
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| Great Egret |
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| Gator |
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| Osprey |
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| Osprey |
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| Osprey |
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| Great Blue Heron |
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| Anhinga (Male) |
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| Anhinga (Female) |
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| Osprey |
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| Osprey |
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| TBD????? |
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| Little Blue Heron |
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| Little Blue Heron |
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| Snowy Egret |
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| Snowy Egret |
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| Glossy Ibis |
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| Red Shouldered Hawk |
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| Red Shouldered Hawk |
Thought about going back to the confluence of the run with the St. Johns. It was not that cold anymore and I knew manatees would be coming out. I was right, but three motor boats were already there and also a couple of kayakers, which were touching the manatees. Decided to go and explore the waters near the island West of the French Avenue...
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| Tri-Colored Heron |
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| Tri-Colored Heron |
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| Anhinga |
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| Ibis |
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| Juvenile Bald Eagle |
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| Juvenile Bald Eagle |
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| Little Blue Heron |
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| Cormorant |
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| Coot |
Was close to 3 hours in the water so it was time to leave. Stopped at the confluence of the run with the river and was lucky to have a few manatees swimming by. One of them stopped to explore me.
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| St. Johns River manatee |
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| Curious manatee |
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| Manatee explores my kayak |
And this is it for this one. Not too bad. Will post some more pics and a video later on Facebook. Thanks for coming and receive an invitation for our next post. We will be kayaking somewhere in Florida and sharing with you more Views From Our Kayak.
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| Scene from the kayak |
