Lower Wekiva River - Very short version

Red Shouldered Hawk

Took a day Off on vacation to kayak today. It has been a while since the last time I did paddle a regular Friday. The weather made me pay for this. The morning looked beautiful...until 9:30. Then it went South in a hurry. My camera is not waterproof and do not have a waterproof case so cut it short and returned to Katie's Landings as soon as I was able to do it. Dodged a bullet since made it just in time. Here are the few pics I was able to get...

Great Egret

Tri-Colored Heron

Tri-Colored Heron

Little Blue Heron

Juvenile Little Blue Heron

Juvenile Little Blue Heron

Juvenile Little Blue Heron

Green Heron

Great Blue Heron

Osprey

Anhinha

Little Blue Heron

Turtle

Neighbors

Ibis

Osprey

That was it. I did put in at Katie's Landings. Feel free to check previous posts about that location for information.Weather permitting will go kayaking tomorrow so maybe there will be one final post for July. Regardless considered yourself invited to check our next post. We will be sharing with you more Views From Our Kayak.

Blue Spring

Manatee and calf at the Blue Spring Run

Not many pics from this paddle as the main purpose was to spend some time with my SIL and her sons. Ended up having a good time at the Blue Spring Run and did paddle Snake Creek for some minutes. This one was more a family paddle so will only post the pics. Did explore Snake Creek for a few minutes alone  because the nephews did not feel comfortable paddling in dark water, which is understandable. For information about this place please check previous posts from Blue Spring.

Manatee at the Blue Spring Run

Mama manatee and her calf

Manatee

Manatee and calf

Baby manatee

TBD...I think that dude is bad news

Juvenile Little Blue Heron

Great Blue Heron

Green Heron

Green Heron

Osprey

Great Blue Heron

Limpkin

Snowy Egret

Great Egret

Limpkin

Little Blue Heron (still changing colors)

Turtle

Yellow Crowned Night Heron

Tiny gator at Snake Creek

Little Blue Heron

And this is it for this one. Thanks for checking us and come back for our next post. We will be sharing with you the Views From Our Kayak.

Blue Spring

Fort De Soto

Happy 4th of July from Fort De Soto

Against my best judgement agreed to drive to St. Pete to Fort De Soto on the 4th of July, specially after paddling 10+ miles at the Silver River the day before. Had a short entertaining easy paddle there and even came out with some nice pics, not too many, but enough to post a few here.

Laughing Gull

Put In / Take Out: Fort De Soto County Park. Check the link for information. Once in the park you can put in in several different areas. I did put in close to the kayak canoe rental facility at the South West side of the park.

Osprey

If you use the map to follow my route did put in near the the canoe sign, that is Soldier's Hole, paddled North to the first opening into the Mullet Bayou. The paddled North again to the very North tip of the park. I was trying to see dolphins and thought that the area was going to give me the best chance to do so. Did not happen though. Was sore from Friday's paddle so took a break under a shade and thought about crossing to the other side. The huge amount of motor boat traffic, at very high speeds should be added, convinced me not to do it so returned to the put in. Here are the pics of what I saw...

Green Heron

Green Heron

Manatees

Manatee

Exiting Soldier's Hole

Snowy Egret

Snowy Egret

Brown Pelican

Brown Pelican

Great Blue Heron

Cormorant

Cormorant

Osprey

Osprey

Osprey

Magnificent Frigate Bird (first decent pic I got from this one)

Brown Pelican

Snowy Egret

Laughing Gull

Cormorant

Laughing Gull

The last 5 pics above are from the fishing pier. Spotted a dolphin but when came back with the camera it was nowhere to be found. Anyways, this is it for this one. Thanks for checking us and considered yourself invited for our next post. We will be sharing with you more Views From Our Kayak.