Views From Our Kayak: A Day in The St Johns (Hontoon Island Loop)

Snail Kite at Snake Creek

Had a wonderful day in my kayaking comeback. Decided to put the kayak back at the St Johns River out of the Blue Spring State Park. Had seen pics of a Snail Kite in Snake Creek and quite frankly was hoping to see it since Snail Kite is not a bird I often see. The only one I have seen was at the Orlando Wetlands Park some years ago. Never one from the kayak. Besides I knew manatees were present at the Blue Springs Run. I was not dissapointed.

Snake Creek

Put In / Take Out: Blue Spring State Park. Check the link for park information. This one is located at Orange City, Florida.

Anhinga (female)

Decided to start kayaking the St Johns near the end of the Blue Spring Run. More times than not there is a Bald Eagle at a tree at the North East side of the confluence of the run and the river. It was there this day.

Bald Eagle

Usually I am patient and shoot tons of eagle pics. But it was not the best day to take photographs with a dark gray background. Beside, a pair of manatees decided that I was interesting. Spent some minutes recording and shooting pics of them....

Manatee in the St Johns

Do I know you?

Manatee Encounter...Of the nice kind!!!!

Finished with the manatees and headed toward Snake Creek. Had a small detour in the lagoon South of the park launch...

Belted Kingfisher

Anhinga (Male)

Osprey

After the stop, to Snake Creek!!!!!

Little Blue Heron

Moorhen

Great Blue Heron

Little Blue Heron

Ibis

Black Crowned Night Heron

Turtle

Juvenile Black Crowned Night Heron

Limpkin

Black Crowned Night Heron (cannot remember seeing so many of these in one place)

Black Crowned Night Heron

Saw a bird coming toward me and could not ID it. It was not until it flew right over me that realized that was the reason I was kayaking there, a Snail Kite. Turned around and saw where it landed. Several minutes and a perch change after left the area very satisfied. Had to admit that at one point I put the camera away and just admired it. What a beautiful bird!!!!

Snail Kite

That was the highlight of my paddle. After that continued through Snake Creek all the way to the Hontoon Dead River. Once there decided to continue North and do the Hontoon Island Loop. Rest of the pics here....

Tri-Colored Heron

Deer

Wood Stork

Snowy Egret

Juvenile Little Blue Heron

Purple Gallinule

Cormorant

Green Heron

Gator

Tri-Colored Heron

Arrived to the park around 3:30 PM. Almost 6 hours in the water. Was tired but satisfied. Around a 10 miles paddle. Got more than I was expecting. Thanks for checking the blog and let me invite you to come back to the next post. We will be sharing with you the Views From Our Kayak!!!!!