Blue Springs State Park - St. Johns River

Bald Eagle

It was not the ideal day to be out but sometimes you do what you have to do. Day off but a 80% rain chance was not a good motivator to go out. Checked the weather forecast and it was cloudy all across the state in Florida At Orange City, where I checked the hourly forecast was going to rain but it was expected after 11 AM. Well, was my thought, if I get there at 8 have three good hours to kayak around the area and that is exactly what I did.

Gar at the Blue Springs Run

Put In / Take Out: Blue Springs State Park in Orange City, FL. Please check the link for specific information.

Cormorant

The cloudy day and the rain, who eventually came before 11 AM, made this one another short paddle. Went from the launch up the run to the head spring. Then down the run to the St Johns, and then around the little island in at the end of French Ave. It was there where the rain showed up. Here the pics of this mini paddle...

Limpkin

Limpkin

Bald Eagle at the confluence of Blue Springs Run and the St. Johns River

Bald Eagle

Bald Eagle

Great Blue Heron

Curious gator

Bald Eagle (same one from the previous pics)

Bald Eagle

Little Blue Heron

Juvenile Little Blue Heron

Juvenile Little Blue Heron

Cattle Egret

Great Blue Heron

Juvenile Little Blue Heron

Bald Eagle (this one across the put in in the State Park)

Bald Eagle

Dove (????)

And this is it for this one. Unfortunately a rain shortened  one but a bad day in the river beats a good day anywhere. Thanks for coming and check our Facebook Page for more pics from this and previous trips. Hope you come back for the next Views From Our Kayak.

Blue Springs Run

Lower Wekiva River - From Katie's Landings

Barred Owl

Had my shortest paddle ever today at the Lower Wekiva River...less than two hours. But short does not mean boring, or bad. In my opinion a good one. This one will be different and short as do not have many pics. Maybe you will like it better like that.

Bald Eagles at the North end of the Hwy 417 bridge over Lake Jesup

Put In / Take Out: Please check previous post about Lower Wekiva River and Katie's Landings for information about location and fees. Or if you have questions leave me a message.

Gator

My day did not start well. The plan was to go to Blue Spring but that did not work. Long story but that is not important now. Bottom line, arrived at Katie's around 8 AM and left by 10:30. Did not spend too much time in the water as had a softball game with co-workers at 12:30. Kayaking and playing some ball...two of my favorite activities. OK...enough...Here are the pics of what I saw in the two hours at the Lower Wekiva River...

Snowy Egret

Snowy Egret

Green Heron

Green Heron

Juvenile Ibis

Limpkin

Anhinga

Great Blue Heron

Northern Mockingbird

Northern Mockingbird

Pileated Woodpecker

Little Gator

Little Blue Heron

Juvenile Little Blue Heron

Juvie Little Blue Heron

And two more from on my way to Katie's this morning...

HWY 417 Lake Jesup Bridge Bald Eagles

A Red Tailed Hawk or maybe a young Red Shouldered Hawk

And this is it for this one. Maybe not what you were expecting but, was not a normal day at the Lower Wekiva River. I think that for the time spent there, it was not bad. Will post a few more pics in the Facebook page so this is an invitation if you wish to check it.  Thanks for coming and hope you come back for the next Views From Our Kayak.

Bald Eagles at Hwy 417

Spring Garden Creek - De Leon Springs

Coot...coot...(instead of beep beep)

Today visited De Leon Springs State Park and kayaked at Spring Garden Creek, all the way to Lake Woodruff, and then back to the State Park. The opening may not be the best pic of the trip but I love it so...it is the opening.

De Leon Springs outflow into De Leon Springs Run

Put In / Take Out: De Leon Springs State Park in De Leon Springs. The link will take you to a site with all the information you need, including location and fees. This is a very nice facility for kayaking with a sandy area to deal with your kayak besides the boat ramp.

Coots

This time here made it all the way to Lake Woodruff. Started my day around 8:45 under a beautiful sunny sky that did not stay like that much longer. About 10 minutes into the paddle the Sun was gone and a gray sky was dominating. What the heck happened? Explored the short run area and then crossed Spring Garden lagoon on my way to the Spring Garden Creek, which empties at Lake Woodruff approximately 3 miles after. The creek is wide and there is usually heavy motor boat traffic. When you are heading down creek Lake Woodruff National Wildlife Refuge is to your left side. The trip down the creek to Lake Woodruff took me about three hours but never use my times as a reference. I stop way too many times to take pics. Here are the pics of what I saw on my way to Lake Woodruff.

Great Blue Heron

Black Crowned Night Heron ( One of two in the same general area)

Snowy Egret (lots of them in the lagoon)

Black Crowned Night Heron

Pied Billed Grebe

Snowy Egret

Cormortant

Purple Gallinule...I would call it Purple Moorhen

Limpkin

Purple Moorhen

Tri-Colored Heron

Bald Eagle (max crop...too far for a decent pic so my apologies)

Gator and Snowy Egret (do not worry about the egret...they were not that close)

Juvie Little Blue Heron

Coot

Belted Kingfisher

Osprey

Osprey (female)

Gator

Osprey has lunch

Anhinga (female)

Green Heron

Gator

Gator

Belted Kingfisher (female)

Belted Kingfisher

Green Heron

Osprey

After arriving at Lake Woodruff took a break and just went with the flow. Heard a classic call of a Bald Eagle and looked for it since it was coming close to where I was. Did not see it but suddenly a juvenile Bald Eagle took off in front of me. That was the problem. I was looking for a white head and this juvie was well camouflaged; no white head yet. Started to paddle my way up the creek, stopped in an area to stretch my legs, and made it back to the State Park in two hours. Motor boat traffic picked up and there were several of them in the creek, no air boats. Here are the few pics I got on this leg of the trip...

Nesting Osprey

Another Osprey at lunch break

Sunning Gator

Cormorant

Cormorant

Gator...pretty good sized as had to paddle almost to the other side to get him in the frame

Gator

Real Wildlife Drama. Red Shouldered Hawk packed a Moorhen for dinner

And this is it for this one. Remember to take a look at our Facebook page for more pics from this and past trips. Thanks for coming and hope you come back next week, when we will be sharing more Views From Our Kayak.

Lake Woodruff Gator