With a trip to Wisconsin pending next weekend, I thought I would go somewhere to see things I will not see there. I have seen a single white pelican in Wisconsin. From the Lake Butte des Morts Causeway, on the way Up North. I was thinking more dolphins, manatees and spoonbills.
9:35 AM launch into the Indian River.
Pleasantly surprised to see so many white pelicans at Mullet Head Island so early in the season
May be a harbinger of an early winter up north.
A wide variety and number of birds on Mullet head, but, no spoonbills. Paddled back towards the Canal.
Into a side canal, looking for manatees
None seen
Osprey in the natural canal that parallels Haulover
Osprey along Haulover Canal
Saw a couple manatees in Bairs Cove. Unable to get a picture
It was a good morning for osprey
NASA launch complex, Mosquito Lagoon
How the drawbridge works
More osprey. Or, the same ones I saw on the way to Mosquito Lagoon
Landed at 12:35. Too hot to stay out longer. 98 for a high in Orlando. Cooler on the coast I'll guess 94.
A very brief stop at the Scrub Jay Trail. The jays are often at the start of the Trail. Not today, and too hot and mosquitoey to hang around. At Bairs Cove there was a sign. Free Fee Day. So I went to the Playalinda Beach entrance of the Canaveral National Seashore. And was told the Free Day was tomorrow. "They put the signs up early" I left, as I did not plan to spend much time their. Not $5 worth. Next stop, Blackpoint Wildlife Drive. Free with my Duck Stamp. It also had a Free Fee Day sign
Out of the car on the Wild Birds Unlimited Trail
Back in the car
Two other sections of the Drive are up for adoption
More white pelicans. No spoonbills. Time to try Orlando Wetlands Park
Sign is wrong. This is a tri colored heron
Black bellied whistling ducks
No spoonbills
Gopher tortoise
Seminole Ranch Conservation Area. Across the road for Wetlands Park.
Last stop of the day.
Replica of a Second Seminole War outpost. 1837. The wars helped settle Florida. Many cities in Florida grew around the forts. And not just the obvious ones with Fort in the name. Like Myers, Pierce, and Lauderdale. Fort Gatlin-Orlando. Fort Brooke-Tampa. Fort King-Ocala. Further settlement came as a result of the Armed Occupation Act of 1842.
http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/ampage?collId=llsl&fileName=005/llsl005.db&recNum=539
I'm confused
Now I know from looking at the Orange County Park website, the Park closes at 6, the Fort and pioneer buildings at 4.
And this ends another kayaking, and more, day.
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