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Tuesday, February 18, 2014

Haulover Canal - Happy Anniversary Views From Our Kayak...and to me





Nope, do not adjust your calendar. It is Tuesday Feb 18th, 3rd anniversary of Views From Our Kayak...and my 50th birthday. Took the day off and visited one of my favorite places, Haulover Canal and its surrounding areas. Spent some quality time there.

Reddish Egret

Put In / Take Out: The end of the dirt road North and West of the draw bridge over Haulover Canal. There is no fee and is a very easy access.

Northern Cardinal

Started the day under a consistent breeze and a choppy Indian River. A dolphin was jumping at the distance near the Mullet Head Island, West from where I was. Too far for even a decent pic. That did not stop me from trying but it was fruitless. Roseate Spoonbills teased me flying away from the island, which looked and sounded very active. The wind slowed down and the river was not choppy anymore after some minutes so took advantage of that, and a super beautiful day, to shoot pics at will. Here is what I saw in Mullet Head Island...

Brown Pelicans

Brown Pelican

Oooops. Not a bird but it was there

Brown Pelican
Great Blue Heron


Reddish Egret

Reddish Egret

Cormorant...Ready

GO!!!!!!

White Pelican surrounded by two Brown Pelicans

White Pelican

Spoonie

White Pelicans

Typical Mullet Head Island scene

Royal Tern

Royal Terns

Royal Terns

Left the Mullet Head Island and headed back to Haulover Canal. Almost at the end of the canal a dolphin surfaced and I followed it for a few minutes. Took a video in the process but have not edited it yet. Will post it on the Facebook Page whenever I do that.

Little birds...Have to learn what they are

TBD

TBD

Belted Kingfisher

TBD

Little Blue Heron

Made it back to the canal through the alternate canal South of Haulover Canal. There is usually a dolphin at where this alternate canal joins Haulover Canal. Yak Dave calls this Dolphin Cove and since all that I know about kayaking is from him, I call it the same. The marine mammal did not disappoint and was right there. I waited patiently for a shot of a dolphin in the air. Did not get a good one but it is not terribly bad so will share it with you. Anyways...here is the dolphin...

Dolphin

Dolphin

Dolphin

Dolphin

There was some manatee traffic in the canal so went to Bair's Cove to see if there were chances for manatee pics. Not a single manatee was there but another kayaker told me there were like 20 at the Manatee Viewing area, East of the bridge. I was tired so did not go there. But did shot some pics at Bair's Cove and then to the dolphin again on my way back to where I put in.

Great Egret

Osprey

Brown Pelican

Ring Billed Gull

Osprey


Dolphin Cove

Dolphin

Dolphin

Finally a head shot!!!!!!

Big Splash!!!!!!!!!

And this is it for this one. Check our Facebook page for more pics of this and past trips. Thanks for your patience as this one took a couple of days to finish and hope you like it. Receive an invitation to come back to share more Views From Our Kayak.

Mullet Head Island at 1'O Clock

Saturday, February 15, 2014

Ichetucknee River

Wood Stork

Parenthood duties took us to Gainesville Friday night. Saturday morning paid our second visit to the Ichetucknee River, a beautiful spring fed body of pristine, crystal clear water. The weather was a factor today and in terms of pics and wildlife was not productive but we enjoyed our four hours in the river.

Robin

Put In / Take Out: This one was interesting. Initially the plan was to put in at the Ichetucknee Springs State Park South Entrance located in US Hwy 27, paddle up river and then come down with the current. There was no attendant at the South entrance and I did not have cash to pay the $5 dollar honor fee. So tried the North entrance with same results. Got change in a nearby store and decided to put in at the North entrance instead of going back to the South entrance. Got it? It is not complicated.

Eastern Phoebe

Paddling down stream first proved to be not a wise decision. The Ichetucknee is running high and swift, and paddling upstream after two hours was not an easy task, specially for my wife after months without paddling. The speed the river was running also affected the pic chances. We did not end with many good pics so will spare you the story and will share the pics, which were taken on our way down, at least most of them...

Great Egret

Great Blue Heron

Otter

Osprey

Osprey

Coot

Wood Stork

Wood Stork

Turtle

Yellow Rumped Warbler


Blue Gray Gnatcatcher

Yellow Rumped Warbler

Cormorant

Ichetucknee River scene

Belted Kingfisher

Yellow Sapsucker

North Entrance Canoe / Kayak launch area
Ichetucknee River


And this is it for this one. As you can see, not too many pics to share so our apologies. It happens every now and then. There will be a few more pics in our Facebook page, where you will find also pics from past trips. Thanks for reading and see you soon, when we will be sharing with you more Views From Our Kayak.

Devil's Eye Spring at the Ichetucknee River