Haulover Canal

Atlas V S rocket - Mars Science Laboratory spacecraft inside

We had a heck of a paddle at Haulover Canal today, Saturday November 26. It was not our original plan since I wanted to paddle either Crystal or Homosassa River. Problems with our vehicle forced us to stay at or close to home. Decided for the latter since I knew NASA had a launch on schedule, The Atlas V carrying a laboratory spacecraft going to Mars. It turned out really good in a beautiful day. It was not cold, it was not hot, but it was breezy and that made us change our routine regarding on how we paddle at Haulover Canal. Other than that we had a sensational day at one of our favorites.

Cormorants

Put in/ Take Out: As usual, our Put in and Take Out spot was the end of the dirt road North and West of the draw bridge over Haulover Canal. It is still free of charge. There were a few cars at the time we arrived (9:00AM). I was somehow surprised since was expecting many more cars since it was a launch day. No outfitters, no tourists, no Coast Guard post at Bair’s Cove. “Maybe they scrubbed it” was my first thought. No big deal anyways since there is plenty to explore at the Haulover Canal area.

Browns Pelicans

Osprey

Our first pic was taken at 9:15AM. An osprey perched near the put in was the first subject of my beloved photographer’s attention. At that moment we decided to paddle to the East end of the canal in order to be on time for the launch, in case that there was still a launch. That did not stop wifey from shooting pics at a dolphin hunting at Dolphin Cove, a small cove just West of Bair’s Cove where often dolphins are present. A quick peek at Bair’s Cove was not promising regarding manatees. That would be the second time in a row that manatees were not present at a place where you would see a manatee 9 out of 10 times, depending on the season and the weather. During the winter the manatees leave this place looking for the spring's warm waters. But with the warmer temps we have had lately in Central Florida, I did expect for the manatees to still be present at Bair's Cove.

Brown Pelican

Dolphin

There were many boats with fishermen at the canal and also many people fishing from the banks. We had to paddle in the center of the canal to avoid the multiple fishing lines. Sometimes I felt that we were paddling in zig-zags all the time. After the draw bridge, if you are going East, there is an opening on the North side of the canal. Another dolphin was hunting in the area and wifey asked me if we still had time for more pics since she wanted to shoot some at the dolphin. She was not happy with the pics she took at Dolphin Cove. We had a few minutes so we stayed in the area. A manatee surfaced once near the dolphin but we did not have a chance for pics at that one. The dolphin was more pic friendly and gave us some pics chances.

Dolphin at Haulover Canal

Belted Kingfisher

When we arrived at the area where we wanted to watch the launch I was not sure there was still a launch. There were no kayaks in line, no boats waiting, and no people walking in the South bank of the canal, as we had seen during the shuttle’s launches. A boat came speeding from the North side of the Mosquito Lagoon going South when suddenly a boat in front of us did speed up to intercept it. It was the Coast Guard, and that meant the launch was still a go. The canal is as far South you can go in the Mosquito Lagoon on launch days and the USCG is very strict about it. Did not want to test them again and decided to beach the kayak in the South bank and watch the launch from land. We arrived at our spot 5 minutes before the launch. There was nobody around and, other than a few boats in the canal area, there were no other boats around. No kayakers this time. Quite a contrast from the Atlantis' launch. Looks like nobody is interested on what is happening in Mars or not too many people knew about this. Anyways, here is what we saw at the time.

Launch pads - Cape Canaveral

Lift off!!!!!!!!

Atlas V rocket

To infinity and beyond!!!!!!!!!!

37" Redfish...Told you were going to be in the internet...

After watching the launch we headed back to Bair’s Cove. We used the same route we use on our way to see the launch and use the openings in the North side of Haulover Canal. That gave us some shelter from the wind and also avoided the incredible large amount of people fishing in boats. We were about to enter the canal again going around a boat when one of the guys inside told us “You are OK on that side. We do not have lines there. Hey…that guy in that other boat hooked a big one”. Another fisherman was fighting with some big fish as the line was bending and he was making efforts to reel whatever was at the end of the line in. Just out of curiosity we waited to see the outcome. The guy pulled a 37 inches redfish (sorry…did not understand what did he say because the wind) out of the canal. Wifey did ask them for a pic and here it is.

Great Egret

Racoon

After that we continued and stopped near the manatee observation area. A solitary manatee, which we did not see on time, was there but swam away when we approached. Just after crossing under the bridge I saw something odd on one tree. It was a raccoon!!!! For wifey and me it was really funny to see a raccoon like that. She did shoot some pics and we left to Bair’s Cove and this time several manatees were there. When we are observing manatees we stay still and let them to come to us. Manatees are curious but if you are too aggressive trying to get near them they will swim away. Besides is illegal to harass these creatures. The stay still thing usually works for us every time. This time it did not. No manatee was curious enough to come to check on us. Wifey had to settle for shooting long distance pics, what was a hard task since the manatees will surface to breath and then go under quickly.

Manatee

Gator

After maybe thirty minutes we left Bair’s Cove. On our way out a dolphin came in but left the area in less than a couple of minutes. It continued to the East so we went the other way. It was our plan at the moment to paddle thru Dolphin Cove, check how strong the wind was, and then maybe go to Mullet Head Island, just west of the Put in. At Dolphin Cove another dolphin was swimming around. Wifey did shoot a few pics before the dolphin decided to leave. I asked wifey to go to an area with small canals that is just South of Bair’s Cove. We have been there only once but saw some birds that day. There are also some tall trees and for some reason I believe that it would be a good area to see an eagle. Well, I am 0 for 2 regarding the eagles in that area but this time our visit there paid off. On our way out spotted a gator, which wifey proceed to shoot pics at. She smiled and said…We got the Trifecta. Funny thing I did not think about that this time when I usually think about that each and every time we kayak Haulover Canal. If you do not know yet, my kayaking mentor calls a Trifecta when you see a dolphin, a manatee and a gator in the same paddle.

Snowy Egret

Did You Know That?

A mating pair of snowy egrets cannot recognize each other except at the  nest, where the returning egret performs a greeting ritual to avoid being attacked as an intruder. While in flight, the the snowy egret hold his or her neck in an "S" curve.

Snowy Egret

Great Blue Heron

We left the area and did paddle thru Dolphin Cove again on our way to the Take Out. Once at the Take Out wifey asked to go to Mullet Head. She loves to go there because the lots of birds to photograph. It is our routine here to paddle Mullet Head Island first when we come here. Today because time constrains we did not do it when we arrived. Now she wanted to go and we tried, but the wind was too strong and it was really choppy. Not fun to paddle in the open waters of the Indian River under these conditions so we turned around and called it a day…well not yet… First she killed some time photographing a butterfly while I brought the mini-van. Then, on the road,  we saw a bald eagle in the area where one of the radars is and stopped to shoot one pic.

Sandpipers

More pics of what we saw today...

Osprey

Haulover Canal dolphin

Belted Kingfisher

Hundreds of birds across the sky

Big bird - Just before the launch

Raccoon on a tree

I see you!!!!!!

TBD

Great Blue Heron

Belted Kingfisher flying away

Green Heron

Green Heron

Gator

Cactus and flowers

Roseate Spoonbill

Roseate Spoonbill and something else

Little Blue Heron

Little Blue Heron

Little Blue Heron

Butterfly

Manatee at Bair's Cove - Haulover Canal

Dolphin

Bald Eagle

This is it for this one. Here is the usual link to the rest of the pics from this trip and all the past trips at Haulover Canal pics.

Thanks for reading and see you soon to show you more Views From Our Kayak.

Haulover Canal