Chassahowitzka River

Yellow Crowned Heron

First paddle of 2015 did not go as planned in any ways. Woke up thinking going to Silver River but wifey asked to go somewhere else: The Chassahowitzka River (The Chaz).  I was more than happy to comply with the request as my most recent paddle at the Chaz was simply awesome but this one did not come close to be a good one.

Great Egret

Put In / Take Out: 8600 Miss Maggie Dr at Homossasa. Please check my previous post from this location for details.

Brown Pelican

The Chaz was very low and fast. We hit the bottom several time even in the main channel. Motor boats were having the same problem. The algae and the wind made it hard to move even going downstream. With that in mind, and the strong breeze coming from the North, we cut the paddle short and decided to call it a day after two hours. Here are the pics of what we saw...

Great Blue Heron

Brown Pelicam

Anhinga

Brown Pelican

Two for One...Brown Pelican and Needle Fish

Cormorant

Cormorant

Osprey

Yellow Crowned Night Heron

Yellow Crowned Night Heron

Little Blue Heron

Killdeer

Ring Billed Gull

Tri-Colored Heron

Belted Kingfisher

Belted Kingfisher

Red Shouldered Hawk

Red Shouldered Hawk

Osprey

This is it for this one. We did not post as much by the end of the year and this is only our first one of 2015. We have been dealing with some pending issues but things are improving so you can expect more posts. Consider yourself invited for the next Views From Our Kayak...

Chassahowitzka River

Blue Springs - St. Johns River

Bald Eagle

OK. Finally finished the post. Still in a hurry folks so this one will be almost all pics. It was a spectacular paddle in the waters of the St. Johns River out of Blue Springs in Orange City. Did go there after the manatees and they are there. But ended up being an eagle's fest.

Manatees at the Blue Springs Run

Put In / Take Out: Blue Springs State Park in Orange City. Please feel free to check previous post from this location for more details. Most likely I put a link to the state park site.

Cormorant

Warning: Park personnel told me that you cannot use a GoPro, or any other under water camera, without a permit. If you do you will be fined. They warned me against putting any video or picture on YouTube if I already had one, because "they monitor it, will go against you and fine you." I am lucky that none of my videos or pictures came out good; it was too dark and there was no visibility. I have nothing good to say about this so I will zip it. Still had fun at the boardwalk as the manatees are in high numbers.

Gray Catbird

Gray Catbird

Gray Catbird

Manatee in the Blue Spring Run

Manatees

A young lady works counting manatees at the Blue Spring Runs 

Manatee

Manatee

Manatees enjoy the Blue Spring main vent

After the manatee experience, I put the kayak in the waters of the St. Johns River. Knowing that a pair of Bald Eagles like to hang out near the end of the Blue Springs Run I paddled over there. They were not in the area so decided to paddle downstream to Lake George. I thought that was going to give me the best chance to see Bald Eagles...and I nailed this one. Here we go:

Snowy Egret

Juvenile Little Blue Heron

Anhinga

Great Egret

Great Blue Heron

American Bittern

Gator

Sandhill Crane

Cattle Egret

Sandhill Crane

Snowy Egret

Turtles

Juvenile Little Blue Heron

Ibis

Little Blue Heron

Then at Lake George...

Bald Eagle

Bald Eagle

Bald Eagle

 After all that paddling from the Blue Springs Run to Lake George to see Bald Eagles, a pair gave me a show where I looked the first time in the morning: near the end of the run. Not complaining about it.

Bald Eagle

Bald Eagle

Bald Eagle

And this is it for this one but I will post a few more pics in Facebook. Thanks for your patience and hope you like this one, which probably is my last post of the year. This is because I have to take care of a few things at home and will not have time. That being said, Merry Christmas (you can wish me Happy Hollydays...will not offend me) and Happy New Year.

Blue Springs Run early in the morning