If you weren’t among the small but hardy group of paddlers yesterday, you missed more birds than I’ve ever seen in the Okefenokee Swamp on a sunny cold December morning. We did draw the winner for the kayak raffle; we’ll announce that once we get a return telephone call.
Before even entering the Stephen C. Foster State Park, we saw a great blue heron, the bird on the WWALS banner, plus a wild hog. Inside, we saw three small deer ambling across the road. Paddling, seemed like every tree had birds: great barred owl, red shouldered hawk, great blue heron, little blue heron, ibis, anhinga, duck, buzzard, and many more. Doubtless Gretchen will post her bird pictures soon. Meanwhile, here are a few pictures, a few movies, and a google map.
The Fargo gauge was at 95 feet, well above low stage at 92.7 feet, and well below flood at 104 feet: good paddling level.
We saw no trash, which was refreshing.
Also only two other paddlers, who didn’t go as far out.
This was the same route we took three years ago, in ponchos in the drizzling rain. This time it was sunny the whole time, but there was only the one small gator, apparently due to the cold: it was just above freezing when we started, and maybe 50 degrees when we got back.
The cold also resulted in one fewer (5) paddler than three years ago (6).
Photo: John S. Quarterman, big gator, November 11, 2014; he was not visible this time.
See also Gretchen’s pictures at the start and Dennis Price’s pictures, both on facebook.
Next: first leg of the 2018 Alapaha Quest, Saturday, January 6, 2018!. See the WWALS calendar for more outings.
-jsq, John S. Quarterman, Suwannee RIVERKEEPER®
You can join this fun and work by becoming a WWALS member today!
Pictures
Paddling, 09:42:53,, Starting 30.8271391, -82.3615000
Little gator on the shore, 09:43:42,, Starting 30.8276640, -82.3613390
Closeup little gator, 09:43:42,, Starting 30.8276650, -82.3613400
Anhinga sunning in a tree, 09:45:48,, Starting 30.8280792, -82.3611849
Dan Phillips in the lead, 09:48:00,, Starting 30.8290199, -82.3609017
Spanish moss, Yaupon Holly, 09:51:58,, Starting 30.8302949, -82.3605347
Ilex vomitoria, 09:52:00,, Starting 30.8303202, -82.3605312
Tillandsia usneoides, 09:52:02,, Starting 30.8303530, -82.3605186
Gretchen at the crossroads, 09:54:35,, Starting 30.8319140, -82.3602700
Closeup, Gretchen, signs, 09:54:35,, Starting 30.8319200, -82.3602700
Upstream, 09:54:48,, Suwannee River 30.8319793, -82.3602952
Bittern fluffed up, 10:20:04,, Suwannee River 30.8348747, -82.3478817
Bittern closeup, 10:20:04,, Suwannee River 30.8348750, -82.3478817
Turn left for Minnie Lake, 10:29:31,, Suwannee River 30.8349246, -82.3431708
Closeup on signs to Minnie Lake, Billies Island, 10:29:31,, Suwannee River 30.8349250, -82.3431708
Very tall Yaupon Holly, 10:30:30,, Middle Fork, Suwannee River 30.8350869, -82.3429985
Dennis Price, Shirley Kokidko, 10:30:34,, Middle Fork, Suwannee River 30.8350869, -82.3429985
Reflected Holly, 10:37:44,, Middle Fork, Suwannee River 30.8375559, -82.3439512
Twisty, 10:37:48,, Middle Fork, Suwannee River 30.8375559, -82.3439512
Around the bend, 11:22:27,, Middle Fork, Suwannee River 30.8375559, -82.3439512
A bit of current, 11:24:56,, Middle Fork, Suwannee River 30.8526957, -82.3297734
A straight bit, 11:32:13,, Middle Fork, Suwannee River 30.8539807, -82.3291257
Left side, 11:32:16,, Middle Fork, Suwannee River 30.8558922, -82.3270201
Shirley and the birds, 11:32:17,, Middle Fork, Suwannee River 30.8558922, -82.3270201
Minnie Lake, Shirley Kokidko, Gretchen Quarterman, 11:42:54,, Minnie Lake 30.8558922, -82.3270201
Platform, 11:46:39,, Minnie Lake 30.8609704, -82.3233348
Getting out, 12:59:19,, Minnie Lake 30.8612218, -82.3234102
Movie: Gretchen, WWALS banner, platform, Minnie Lake,, Drone 30.8612160, -82.3235180
Movie: Banners on Minnie Lake platform,, Drone 30.8612330, -82.3234920
Go Higher,, Drone 30.8612280, -82.3234920
Dont drop that thing in the water,, Drone 30.8612280, -82.3234880
Good banner picture,, Drone 30.8612250, -82.3234830
Paddlers and banner at Minnie Lake,, Drone 30.8612240, -82.3234900
Dennis Prices kayak,, Drone 30.8612500, -82.3234480
Following, 13:29:13,, Downstream 30.8519444, -82.3300000
Steamed up, 13:34:02,, Downstream 30.8504250, -82.3301265
Movie: Flying heron, 14:28:45, (4.9M), Back on the main river 30.8347267, -82.3487198
Turtle, 14:24:28,, Back on the main river 30.8348459, -82.3445697
Turtle closer, 14:24:38,, Back on the main river 30.8345590, -82.3467683
Turtle closeup, 14:24:38,, Back on the main river 30.8345600, -82.3467683
Sitting anhinga, 14:28:33,, Back on the main river 30.8347267, -82.3487198
Tree full of ibis, 14:28:36,, Back on the main river 30.8347267, -82.3487198
Birds at top and bottom of tree, 14:28:45,, Back on the main river 30.8347267, -82.3487198
Movies
Click on this link, and a playlist is embedded below.
Google Map
Click on this link and it’s embedded below.
and it’s embedded below.
-jsq, John S. Quarterman, Suwannee RIVERKEEPER®
You can join this fun and work by becoming a WWALS member today!
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