Views From Our Kayak

Saturday, September 8, 2012

Orlando Wetlands Park - Update!!!

Deer at Orlando Wetlands

Inspired by a Facebook post of a lady I have learned to admire, Joanne Bolemon, wifey and I (mostly wifey...I wanted to go kayaking) visited the Orlando Wetlands this morning. Joanne took pics of a couple of Bobcats and deer during one of her visits. It was early in the morning so hoping for the same kind of success we drove to the wetlands and were there at 7:05 this morning. It was a nice one one hour and forty five minutes walk. Did not see Bobcats but saw a young deer, the one in the opening pic. As it is usual when the post is not kayaking related, will go directly to the pics. We do not have many to share but here we go anyways...

Tri-Colored Heron

Great Egret

Grand Slam - Four different kinds of birds Snowy and Great Egret and Little Blue and Tri-Colored Herons. Add a moorhen to the mix.

Snowy Egret

Red Shouldered Hawk

Orlando Wetlands Deer

And some scenic pics to finish...

Orlando Wetlands Park

Orlando Wetlands

An Ibis' flock flying over the Orlando Wetlands Park tree line

Orlando Wetlands Park Dawn

Orlando Wetlands Park

UPDATED VERSION!!!!!!!

Wifey woke me up early this morning and asked to go again to the Orlando Wetlands Park again. She really wants to see and get the pic of a Bobcat so was pushing hard. With the weather forecast for today I canceled my kayaking plans and since she asked, drove her back to the wetlands. No Bobcats but saw another deer, a doe this time, and a couple of eagles posed for pics. It was a shame that the Sun was hiding at the time. Would have been very nice pics. Here are the pics...

Great Blue Heron

Deer

Red Shouldered Hawk

Little Blue Heron

Tri-Colored Heron

Black Bellied Whistling Ducks

Wood Stork

Juvenile Moorhen

Gator

Snowy Egret

Limpkin

Bald Eagle

The eagle prepares to land

Eagles

?????

Black Bellied Whistling Duck

And a couple of scenic pics from today...

Dawn at the Wetlands

And now this is it for this one. Thanks for reading and hope you come back for our next post, that will be from the water, and then we will share the Views From Our Kayak.

Orlando Wetlands Park

Monday, September 3, 2012

Lower Wekiva River

Sunning in the Wekiva River

A wise man once said..."Never go to a State Park on a holiday weekend". Being a socially unadapted as I am, according to Dilbert, have taken that phrase as part of my MO. So to the Lower Wekiva River I went for a solo trip. Wifey did not come this time but I did my best. Sadly the Wekiva is running high and there is way too much room for the wading birds to be. Not too much variety in the river today, per Wekiva River standards, but a good paddle. The leaves are already changing colors and the scenery is special.

Sandhill Crane at Katie's Landings

Put In / Take Out: Katie's Landings, as usual, was the put in and take out.The fee is $3(honor system). Please check previous posts for more details.

Anhinga

This one will be short and sweet. That being said will give the summary of my day in the river. The river is high but is not running terribly fast. Not too many people there, saw 7 kayakers in three different groups, two motor boats, and that was it. Most of the five hours in the water had the river to myself and the few pics chances I had. Saw several Pileated Woodpeckers but had no chance to get a pic. Also saw a Red Shouldered Hawk and a Green Heron but had the same luck I had with the woodpecker. But let me show you pics of the wildlife there...