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Paddling Journal December 2005 100 trips already - shooting for 600 miles Trips this month: 9
Back to Journal Index
12/2/05 The weather forecast called for light winds and temps in the mid 60's but when I got up it was anything but with temps in the low 40's and winds around 15. I had thought about doing a circumnavigation of FGI but I quickly gave up that thought and put in at Hannah Mills for the first time in over a month. As I got ready to put in a couple of signs of winter appeared - a pair of Mergansers and a Northern Harrier who was swooping over the grass. I paddled over to the Mergansers and of course they flew off but I found them hanging out in a small group a short time later and actually got a couple of shots as they flew off. The rest of the birds in the marsh were trying their best to find shelter on the leeward side of the grass banks and I didn't have many opportunities as I paddled to the cedar and then down to the Kingfish Park by the streams that run parallel to the ICW. The small pool behind the shell bank at the corner across from the old marina was full of herons and mergansers but I didn't get many shots and so I began the trip back. See the pictures from this trip
12/4/05
When I got up this morning I saw that the weather report for the rest of the week kinda sucked so I took the opportunity to get out on a beautiful day. I got in the water about 30 minutes after sun rise with the tide low but already coming in with a good flow. There was a good breeze coming out of the SW at my back so I took a very leisurely paddle out toward Tiger Point. There were about six White Pelicans hanging out on the sandbars in front of the put-in but my clanging around with my cart scared them off before I could actually get in the water. Not long after I began my paddle I spotted the Immature Bald Eagle that I have seen here in the past flying along the shoreline and he disappeared around the point. There were also a pair of male Ospreys chasing each other above the water. After I rounded the second bend of the creek I saw the White Pelicans again - this time joined by another six or seven. I paddled past them shooting them as I went until they flew off. I paused around the next bend to shoot an assortment of Sandpipers and Terns who were sunning themselves in the intense morning light. I continued on toward the point finding it occupied by a pair of Wood Storks and a Green Heron. I paddled on up Edwards Creek a little further than usual and explored one of the little feeder streams in the marsh before turning back for home - stopping at the point to stretch my legs. The wind had kicked up a bit by the time I set out for home but the tide was still coming in so it was not a bad paddle, really. See the pictures from this trip
12/12/05 Just keeping the rust off after a week ashore due to inclement weather and schedule. With a few clouds on the western horizon the light was dimming even before I was getting in the water. I headed the usual direction toward SJRPP and the water was high enough to paddle easily into the runoff pond. The spillway was roaring with all the rain water that has been dumped in the plant ditches lately and there were some herons hanging out there looking for a meal. A Red Tailed Hawk flew off as I approached. Probably the most interesting thing I saw was a Brown Pelican who was sound asleep on top of the old stilling well near the spillway. His head was tucked backwards under his wing and he never stirred as I paddled around him.
12/19/05
The weather has been horrible lately and my schedule hasn't cooperated to let me get out so this morning I ignored the blustery, gray weather and set out into a 10 mph NE breeze. The heavy rains over the weekend plus the Nor'Easter meant that there was a lot of extra water in the marsh and two hours before high tide the water level was already at the high point. I didn't see too much on the way up to the confluence point but as I approached the sea daisy island there I could see three Northern Harriers who were swooping down on a large bird roosted there. When I got closer I could see that the object of their concern was a vulture who was doing a good job of ignoring them. I continued on north toward Cedar Point and took a break there where the small branch heads north toward the road. I continued on up that branch with the tide pausing to shoot several birds along the way who were seeking shelter from the breeze. I paddled to within 100 yards of the road before I turned and made my way toward home. The tide had just turned so the trip back was pretty easy. See the pictures from this trip
12/21/05
I decided to head over to Guana Lake to do a little more exploring of the area north of Six Mile Landing. When I arrived I was stunned to find the parking lot filled with duck hunters and camouflaged boats. The prospects of a getting a face full of buckshot not to mention negotiating a crowded marsh sent me further south to the dam. Once I got there I was again surprised at the changes the area had undergone since the last time I was there five years ago. They have built an enormous visitors center as well as gating off the access to the ramp area with an automatic pay station. I didn't mind paying a fee to get access to the water but after several attempts at getting the damn thing to take my credit card (I've since realized that it takes only cash!) I gave up in frustration and headed further south on A1A hoping to find another place to put-in. I found such a place just a few yards south of the dam next to a Gate Station. There's an unmarked and unpaved parking area apparently intended for people to use to access the beach across the street but there was a small road that ran down from the parking area to a beach along the river so I went ahead a launched from there around 10:45. The area just below the dam is marshy on the west side of the river and I could see several Great Blues flying about so I headed that way. I spent about an hour exploring the many streams that run up close to the shore on the western shore - shooting a few herons and watched a Red Tail Hawk swooping over the lake near the dam. I heard a raptor call and looked up to see another Red Tail fly out from one of the pines near where I was and land on another tree nearby. As I explored this area I saw what appeared to be a well maintained Eagle's nest in one of the pine trees. After a while I decided to head south not sure how far I would go. I knew that the ICW wasn't too far but although I hadn't planned this trip I knew that the wind and tide would be in my face on my return trip so I was bit apprehensive about going too far. As usual, my curiosity got the better of me and each point of land beckoned me further on so before I knew it I had reached the end of the river and found myself in the ICW. There was a group of Brown Pelicans hanging out on a shell beach at the point and as they began to fly away I saw that a pair of White Pelicans were in their midst. I took a break there at the point and explored the area which has been set up for boat visitors to explore. It had a very well maintained trail that headed into the woods along with a wooden bench. It looked like a really great place to spend the day. After eating lunch I headed back north into the wind that had picked up and shifted from the NW to the N-NE so I took shelter on the eastern bank as I made my way north. I didn't find much shelter there but I made slow steady progress and got back to my truck within 90 minutes. See the pictures from this trip
12/22/05
I was just shy of 600 miles for the year so when I got up this morning the bright blue skies were enough for me to ignore the temperatures in the 30's. Of course it helped a lot that high tide was past mid-day so by the time I got in the water at noon in Browns Creek the temperature had climbed to a balmy 50. It was not quite as breezy as the day before but still a good 10 mph coming out of the north so the wind chill was in the low 40's. I knew that the breeze and high tide would send the birds into the trees on the leeward side of the islands so I headed on my usual westerly route toward the SJRPP runoff pond shooting a large group of herons on the first island. Not much of interest in the pond except for another sleeping immature Pelican near the spillway. At first I thought he must be the same one I saw the other day until I saw a dead one floating in the water near the stilling well. I'm not sure what may have killed him but the live one near the spillway didn't look too healthy. I headed north skirting the woods and wound up sitting for several minutes beneath a young Osprey who stared me down but stayed put until I got ready to leave. Later I saw him dive into the water and emerge with a small fish. He wound up sitting on a tree just inside one of the many inlets and I watched him eat it for quite a while. I continued on and entered one of the deeper inlets along the way that I have partially explored in the past. This time I explored quite extensively another branch of it until a freshly fallen cedar blocked my way. It was quite peaceful and pleasant back in there and were it not for the close proximity to my workplace it would be a great place to camp. I went on along the woods until I reached Island Drive and began heading east toward the island in the NE corner of the marsh which was full of herons. There was nothing worth shooting and they flew away as I approached anyway. I was preparing to leave when I heard some rustling coming from the Palmetto underbrush on the shore. I paused expecting a Raccoon to emerge but instead an Armadillo came snuffling out - pawing the ground as he searched for grubs. He was pretty oblivious to the fact that I was sitting a few feet away and at one point he lost his footing and fell off the bank and nearly into the water. Unfazed he took the opportunity to explore the cavity beneath the overhanging roots of a tree on the banks and then climbed back up to continue his scrounging. I finished my trip back to the truck as the tide turned not seeing much along the way. See the pictures from this trip
12/27/05
Yesterday, we took a hike with the family to Black Rock Trail on Big Talbot Island and it put me in mind of where I should paddle today. As we drove back home we saw some defiant kayakers loading up at the closed ramp at Simpsons Creek which made me glad to know we weren't the only ones determined to use the old access. I got in the water around 7:45 am which was about mid-tide and the current carried me swiftly downstream. As soon as I was around the first bend of the creek I spotted a Great Blue sitting on the bank sunning himself in the bright morning light. I thought for a minute that he was sound asleep since he never flinched as I approached and flew off only when I was within five feet and then only a few feet from where he had been. I think the incredible brightness of the sun must have blinded him as I approached since in the photos you can clearly see his eyes wide open. I had a few more wonderful photo ops on the rest of the trip to the sound so I took my time getting there. Once in the sound it was more of the same with Sandpipers, Turnstones, Yellowlegs and Oyster Catchers hanging out in abundance on the oyster beds. I paddled over to the small hammock tree I use down from the trail's terminus and ate my breakfast and relaxed a bit before heading back. I waited until the tide was slack at low before setting back for my truck and it was just starting to turn back in as I entered the mouth of the creek. I paused to shoot a Reddish Egret dancing in the shallows and then continued on my way - a pleasant easy laid back trip both coming and going. See the pictures from this trip
12/28/05
I was pretty tired this morning so I was going to take a day off and relax around the house but when the sun came up I saw one of my favorite things - fog and so I loaded up and headed out to shoot before it burned off. I was surprised how crowded Browns Creek was. Three kayak fishermen were putting in at the same time that I was and I passed another heading in. Then as I passed the first big island there was a pair of kayaks pulled up there and I could see a tent set up in the clearing. As I approached the island I spotted an Osprey up in the trees on the eastern side so I pulled aside and got some good shots of him. I headed on to the runoff pond - not finding much that was willing to pose but enjoying the eeriness of the marsh in the fog. With the tide heading out I couldn't stay out for long so I turned back to home just as the sun began to break through the fog. By the time I reached the big island it was mostly gone but I noticed the same Osprey perched in the same tree so we had a another session before I wrapped things up. See the pictures from this trip
12/30/05
As I was contemplating where I should go for my final paddle of 2005 I remembered that it had been almost two years since I had done my last Circumnavigation of Ft. George Island. The time, tide and weather were about as perfect as they would ever be so I headed toward Alimacani about 30 minutes before sunrise. When I arrived at the ramp I was greeted by a Great Blue Heron sitting on the Manatee sign at the edge of the water so I took a few shots as I sat in my truck and then proceeded to set out. I was a bit worried at first that I had mis-timed the tides since the levels seemed to be nearly peaked out as I entered Haulover Creek and at first even appeared to be going out a little. That thought caused me make the trip through Haulover a little quicker than usual and I didn't pause to shoot anything along the way. When I reached the midpoint of the creek where normally I have to buck the last of the incoming current coming from the river it was actually heading out which confirmed my concerns so instead of taking a breakfast break I pushed on out into the river pausing only briefly to shoot an Osprey and Great Blue who were hanging out on the same dock.
I didn't have to fight much current in the river itself but, of course, the stretch there between Haulover and Shad Creek is very rough with many eddies so I stowed my camera and donned my PFD. Once I reached Shad Creek it appeared at first that the current was indeed heading out but apparently the eddies created enough of a backflow that I had little trouble getting through the bridge. I did notice, however, that the recent work they have done to shore up the bridge following the storms of last year have narrowed the passages somewhat and that is something to be aware of in the future. I always wear my PFD on this part of the trip and I make sure I am prepared for quick direction changes as I pass under. I made my way toward the channel tower on the ICW but decided to take the Deep Creek route instead of going out directly to the waterway. I noticed something strange as I passed north of the island near the tower. From a distance it appears that a nearly derelict boat is in the lagoon behind the island there and I wondered if it might not be the "squatters" that were a concern south of the river - something to check on and possibly report to the authorities if they stay. I paused at a small island to take a coffee break and as I did the Marsh Wrens began emerging from the underbrush and checking me out. I rarely get the opportunity to get good shots of these tiny birds but since I was being still I managed several good shots before heading on.
I wound up "exploring" some small streams along the way ( errr.... I got lost) and wasted about 45 minutes before I finally got straightened back out and found my way to the ICW. I headed straight across to the western bank and beached my boat near the slough the leads into the White Pelican's pool. I got out to stretch my legs and walked to the mudflat behind the island. The White's were there and it appeared that they have grown in number. There were two large groupings of at least 40 - 50 each so there might be as many as 100 in the flock now. After eating a late breakfast I shoved off and headed back to the eastern bank where the current was not as bad. The fishing boats were out in force today and a large group of them were gathered at the entrance to the FGR. The current was heading out from the entrance to of the river which made the rest of my trip easy. I stopped at "our sandbar" to eat lunch and drink a beer before completing the journey.
I was happy to find that something I had worried about for most of the trip had not happened. As I opened the door to my truck I realized that I HAD turned my lights off - WHEW! Anyway - a nice way to end the year. My 110th trip was 13 miles which put me at 626.5 for the year. Not bad old man - not bad.
See the pictures from this trip
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