Mullet Head Island

Mullet Head Island Typical View

My van was in the mechanic so did not go kayaking this morning. Decided to go a late afternoon paddle thinking the intra-coastal was going to be smooth. No comments. Will only say that it was a real bumpy ride. Was going to choose another pic for the opening but decided  against it since the pic is a real summary on how busy Mullet Head Island was this afternoon.

White Pelican

Put In / Take Out: Please check other posts about Haulover Canal for information about the put in as is the same one.

Ibis

The reason that I named this post Mullet Head Island is because that is the only thing I did. Paddled around the island and went back to the take out area. The Indian River was very choppy and it was tough. A manatee got me all wet when paddled over them in a shallow area in the river. Never saw it until came out and down creating a huge wake that splashed against the yak. Good thing the cameras where deep into the cabin. Anyways...no harm...no foul. Here are the pics.

Mullet Head Island Scene

White and Brown Pelicans together with cormorants

Brown Pelicans, White Pelicans, and Cormorants at Mullet Head Island

Great Blue Heron

Cormorants in the front, Brown Pelicans in the back

Juvenile Black Crowned Night Heron

Black Crowned Night Heron

Cormorant

Roseate Spoonbill

Reddish Egret

Snowy Egret chick

Spoonie

Tri-Colored Heron

Reddish Egret in its White Morph edition

Reddish Egret

Juvenile Black Crowned Night Heron

Juvenile Black Crowned Night Heron

Spoonie

Spoonie

Spoonie (adult)

Brown Pelican chick

Reddish Egret

Reddish Egret

Vulture eats a dead Horseshoe Crab

Great Blue Heron

Brown Pelican

Black Crowned Night Heron

Juvenile Brown Pelican

Brown Pelican

Cormorants

White Pelicans

Brown Pelican

And this is it for this one. Thanks for coming and be invited for the next post, when we will be sharing with you more Views From Our Kayak.

Mullet Head Island

Spring Garden Creek

Swallow Tailed Kite

Finally!!!!! Got a Kite pic. Really thought I was going to go kite-less this season but it all changed in less than 60 seconds today. Kayaked the waters of Spring Garden Creek out of De Leon Springs. Not my finest day with the camera in a steamy hot day.

Limpkin Chicks

Put In / Take Out: De Leon Springs State Park. Check the link for information about this place.

Osprey and chick

The day started badly and did not get better. Misplaced my annual pass, good thing I had cash with me, the young lady did not give me the lock combination for the gate at the State Park, and my back is bothering me again. Was close to call it quit 5 minutes after starting the paddle but somehow found a comfortable position in the kayak. Did not take a single pic until one hour into the paddle. The Spring Garden Lagoon area and the creek were lacking wildlife but not motor boats. Did go to Lake Woodruff and returned to the State Park. Here are the pics...

Anhinga...First pic of the paddle one hour after the put in

Anhinga

Was thinking about turning around when a Swallow Tailed Kite flew across the creek in front of me. It was kind enough to circle the trees nearby before leaving the area. Gave me time to shoot a few pics...

Swallow Tailed Kite

Swallow Tailed Kite

Swallow Tailed Kite

That was the highlight of the trip. Continued to Lake Woodruff...

Osprey

Osprey

Gator

Spring Garden Creek gator

Osprey and her chick

Osprey

Explored the nearby edge of the lake for 20 minutes. Am not afraid of gators but the one in the following pic gave me the creeps as it kept following me and going down every time I turned the kayak to look at it. It came as close as 20 feet from me at one point. 

Curious gator

Returned to the State Park. No pics on my way up creek but stopped at the lagoon to take pics of a Limpkin family...

Limpkin

Limpkin

Limpkin

And this is it for today. Not too many pics so my apologies. It was that kind of day. Thanks for coming and considered yourself invited to check our next post. We will be sharing with you more Views From Our Kayak.

Spring Garden Lagoon gator