Haulover Canal

Dolphins

Has been a brutal Summer for us. Changes, stress, and more stress. But today am back to where am supposed to be on my day off. Had a nice paddle, what else is new?, in the waters of the Indian River out of Haulover Canal. Got the visual trifecta right out of the bat, as a small gator was patrolling the end of the canal at the river, dolphins were hunting there too, and manatees swam by in herds. Not a bad start. Was not able to get a decent pic of the gator so no trifecta.

Bair's Cove manatee

Put In / Take Out: The end of the dirt road at the NW side of the bridge over the canal. I posted a link in one of the previous Haulover Canal posts. Look for it and chances are you may enjoy other pics there too.

Small "islands" in the Indian River

I have been out of the kayak for a while and could not remember when was the last time I kayaked there. So, that was why I was intrigued about the "island" formations just a few hundred yards from the put in. Also, was so distracted by the numerous dolphins hunting in the river that did not pay attention to the "islands". All that changed when heard a loud and continuous splash. Something startled the "islands".

Manatee herd splashing

Closer look

I was just glad the splashing was not because of me, It would have been a very wet proposition. Anyways, after this kept trying to catch a dolphin on air, as they were jumping out of the water often, I had no luck in that enterprise. Unless a tail shot counts. It was fun...

Tail shot

Dolphin

Dolphin

Dolphins

Dolphin

Dolphins

Indian River Dolphin

Left the dolphins and paddled around Mullet Head Island, a mile West from the put in. It was a bit choppy so did not get too many pics. Besides, the island was not too active this time.

White Pelicans

White Pelican

Brown Pelicans

Brown Pelican

Wood Stork

Snowy Egret

Osprey

Wood Stork

Rudy Turnstone

Brown Pelican

Gull

Roseate Spoonbill

Spoonie

Spoonie

Osprey

Paddled back to the canal area through the usual less traveled path, an alternate canal South of the big one. This one takes you to what my kayaking mentor, Dave from Dave's Yak Tales, called Dolphin Cove. More times than not a dolphin hunts there. This time was a NOT time so straight to Bair's Cove, where stretched my legs and enjoy the manatees from the kayak and the dock...

Rudy Turnstone

Manatee

Manatee

Belted Kingfisher

Manatees

Manatees

Manatee comes to check my kayak

And this is it. Thanks for checking our blog and considered yourself invited to our next post. Just a hint of what is coming, we will visiting the North part of the state more often now since a piece of my heart lives there now. So good things coming. Stay tuned, we will share with you more Views From Our Kayak

Mullet Head Island ahead,,,and a dolphin photobomb