Haulover Canal

Saturday, September 29, 2012. I saw alligators, dolphins, manatees, and roseate spoonbills.   But the first photo of the day gets the coveted lead off spot.  On the water at 11:15 after going into the new office for a couple hours.  Which is on the east side of the Orlando metro area.  So, I was at Haulover for the second consecutive Saturday.

 I headed to Mullet Head Island with a manatee.  Did not get any photos of it.

Wonder if this is the same alligator I saw last Saturday.

Always good to catch a belted kingfisher.

A lone spoonbill on the backside of the island.  Supervivid setting.

 

 

Coming around to the east side of the island, a flock of spoonbills, that had been hidden in the interior, took flight.

And landed.

Now, some barely visible dolphin photos.

 

There were two dolphins.  Leapt out of the water a couple times as the fed.

Two dorsal fins beyond the red kayak.  Part of a tour from A Day Away.  Another outfitter, whose name escapes me, also had a group out on the water.

Into one of the dead end canals.

And out.

 

 

Into Bairs Cove.

 

 

 

To my delight, I had the Cove to myself.  I watched the manatees for about 15 minutes, than headed into the Canal, paddling towards Mosquito Lagoon.

 

 

 

 

I did my usual exit of the Canal before the east end, than back in. 

 

To the end of the Canal and a look at NASA launch and communication towers. 

I did not paddle into the  Mosquito Lagoon, choosing to turn around and head back. 

 

 

Back to  Bairs Cove.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Manatee video

 

 

 

Another video

 

 

 

 

 

Final video

 

 

Last photo, brown pelicans, before landing at 2:30.

Next stop, well after Publix for chicken and beer, Orlando Wetlands Park.

 

A new sign.  I pedaled in the Lake Searcy direction.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The turtle liked it. Caught in mid clap.

 

Well, not  really.

 

 

 

Palmedes swallowtail

No ID required.

 

Any day I see a bald eagle, in addition to alligators, dolphins, manatees and roseate spoonbills is a great day.

 

Cat tails. For someone who mentioned he had not heard of them.

 

 

Cattle egrets

 

Glossy ibis

 

 

A final red shouldered hawk. I spent about an hour forty minutes at the most scenic

wastewater treatment facility I know.