Views From Our Kayak: Canaveral National Seashore

Dolphin at the Mosquito Lagoon

Am not sure if this is the best pic of this trip. Have to look at the rest of them tonight but a leaping dolphin has to be the opening anyways so here it is. Regardless, had a very nice paddle in the waters of the Mosquito Lagoon. The best part of it came at the end of the day when a pod of dolphins decided to put a show with tails hitting the water and an acrobatic display. Add some manatees to the mix and it was almost perfect.

Reddish Egret

Put In / Take Out: North Access of the Canaveral National Seashore National Park in what is known as Apollo Beach. I used the Parking Lot #7 because this is how I learned but there seems to be another launch spot at Parking #6.

Manatee near Turtle Mound munches the vegetation around

The whole purpose of this trip was to see dolphins, which I did not see on my recent paddle at Haulover Canal. I saw one immediately on this trip, twice, but the little fellow was not pic friendly and after teasing me launching a mullet airborne with its tail and catching it mid air decided that it was enough and swam away.

Osprey

After missing the chance for a dolphin pic told myself there was going to be another chance and kept going north on the Mosquito Lagoon. My first stop was Turtle Mound and here is what I saw on that leg of the paddle.

Great Egret

Gull

Cormorant

Osprey

Brown Pelican

Say Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

How did I do?

Great Blue Heron

Royal Tern

Juvenile Bald Eagle

Osprey

Stopped at Turtle Mound because it is not unusual to see dolphins in this area. It was a nice break also as a shade was covering a corner. Was there, on the shade, when heard the classic "pfffftttt" of a manatee surfacing. A herd of 5, maybe 6, where around with some of them munching on the mangroves and the vegetation nearby.

Manatee near Turtle Mound

Manatee

After spending some minutes with the manatees and with no dolphins around decided to keep going North, this time to Bethune Cove, where planned to take a break and eat my lunch that left at home. Of course, did not know it at the time. There were some more manatees at Bethune Cove...

Manatees at Bethune Cove

Classic manatee tail pic

Manatee

I come in peace

Hello. I wanna be your friend.

Curious manatee

Left Bethune Cove on my way back to Parking Lot 7. Was hoping to finally see some dolphins on the return. Paddled down the middle of the lagoon but soon enough decided to stay at the West bank as motor boats were up and down frequently, The water level was high so was able to explore a few locations I had never been before. Some Reddish Egret pics are the only ones I have to show from this...

Reddish Egret

Started to feel dissapointed about not seeing dolphins. Sometimes things do not work our way and after all, this is not a zoo. But then saw a splash, a huge one, in the distance. Then another and another one. Dolphins!!!!!!!!!!! Good news...and it had to be more than one. Bad news...I was easily more than half a mile away. So put the turbo and paddle as fast as I could to the area. It was worthy...

Dolphins

Dolphin splashes with its tail

Dolphin

Dolphin pair

The pair left and thought it was the end of it. But then saw them leaping and playing like 400 meters to the South. Was going there anyways so it was an easy call to go near them and shoot more pics. More dolphins were in the area and it was a delight. It is a shame the Sun was covered by a stormy clouds in the distance. But here is what I was able to get.