Yesterday I took Pam and Joe down trip one for a guided tour. They were visiting from Connecticut and drove over from the Sheraton Sand Key in Clearwater. Pam and Joe come to Florida once a year to visit family, but this was the first time they paddled on the Hillsborough River. I think Pam looks nervous in this picture. Could it be the Alligators?
After leaving Sargeants Park we headed up into Flint Creek and saw several gators, a limpkin and a variety of Herons. Here is nice 8' alligator enjoying the morning sun in Flint creek.
Once Moving Down stream we found ourselves paddling under the canopy of trees. There was an amazing amount of wildlife out. We saw roughly 40 gators, 6 limpkins, 10 Woodstorks, countless turtles and all the Egrets and herons. November is the Beginning of the wildlife viewing season, and it will continue to get better until it peaks March-May. I've said it before and I'll say it again, you will see more wildlife on a 2 hour canoe ride here than on a week long trip in the Everglades.
About 1 hour into the trip we came to "the Lake" a small section in the middle of the trip where the river gets wide. Usually we take a break somewhere here to eat lunch and observe the wildlife.
Wood Stork in flight.
Camo Gator.
A little further downstream we come to where Cowhouse Creek starts and the Hillsborough turns due North. The next mile you will always see alot of turtles and alligators. Although Pam is now relaxed around the gators, Joe is still keeping a watchful eye.
Sun tanning friends?
Super turtle!
This was another amazing day on Hillsborough river,. We were on the water for 3 hours and for a final treat, I spotted a red shouldered hawk on the bank. It had a banded water snake in his talons! The snake looks like a branch in the photo but if you look close you can see it. From here we had only a few hundred yards to go before ending out trip at Morris Bridge Park.
No comments:
Post a Comment