Tarpon Bay and Otter Creek

2/12/13

Tarpon Bay and Otter Creek
This morning we took the Whaler to see if we could get from Otter Creek to North Prong thru one of the smaller mangrove creeks.

We went up the western side of Tarpon Bay, spotting numerous birds, including flocks of duckie looking birds that were neither teals nor coots. (my bird friends are banging their heads right now). I lost count of the alligators, though this one wanted his photo taken.

Once, when I had the outboard shut off, drifting to listen to the birds, I heard two otters calling to each other, but I never saw them.

Our mission to connect the two waterways was not possible by Whaler, so we ran back out Otter Creek, and down to North Prong. We also tried to get through a creek from there to Avocado Creek, but couldn't squeeze through the overhangs there either. We were however, within a half mile, and there was a lot of waterflow through the creek. If I'd had my kayak and a canoe paddle...

We returned to North Prong, and ran into Rookery Branch a quarter of a mile to drift out while we ate lunch. We stopped for a couple of minutes at Canepatch before returning to the MERCY.

We came down the Little Shark River to anchor in a more open, slightly less buggy area. 25 21.008'N 081 05.198'W We ate dinner and watched my favorite movie of all time, Captain Ron; that Casey and Mary didn't remember seeing before. Every boater needs to watch that movie!

I'm loving life with solar panels and an inverter!

Above Tarpon Bay, Everglades

2/6/13

Lila told me she had never seen a glossy ibis, and I promised we'd try to fix that! We left the MERCY anchored, under guard by our croc friend, and took the 19' Whaler through Avocado Creek, with a stop at Canepatch campsite and into Rookery Bay. We came down North Prong, crossed Tarpon Bay, went through a little creek over into the North Harney, cruised by to see my osprey buddies, and back to the boat.

Photo by Doug Rudolph

We spent the day looking at airplants, and orchids, and birds, and fish, dolphins, manatee, alligators, crocodiles, turtles... didn't see any snakes, no pythons!



Photo by Doug Rudolph
Frog on an airplant

We returned to the MERCY to go down river where we anchored 25 21.005N 081 05.210W, in a little more open place, where a gentle breeze kept the bugs off, and we could still hear the nearby woodpeckers, and later, owls. The dolphins cruised by, and the place was a pretty good flyway at dusk as the birds flocked past us.







Orchids
Photo by Doug Rudolph

Squawk Creek and Rookery Branch

2/4/13

In the morning, I decided I had to investigate a little beyond Avocado Creek into Squawk Creek and Rookery Branch.

Squawk Creek was interesting until it shallowed up enough I turned around. The dark, tannic water was amazing clear on the upper end. The creek was full of snook, and I saw one sawfish! I wasn't aware they went into that much fresh water.

I guess at this point I should mention, that this trip goes from the salt water of Florida Bay, turns brackish, and eventually fresh.

Anyhow, we reentered Acocado Creek, and continued into Rookery Branch. It sounded like a place to see birds, right? There were so many alligators that I wondered if it were an alligator rookery! There were a LOT of herons, woodstorks, ibis (including glossy) turkey vultures, and crows. It is a fun place to see big birds.

I returned out Rookery Branch, and into North Prong, to Tarpon Bay, and meandered through the bay, a couple of my favorite creeks, and back to the MERCY by way of the west side of Tarpon Bay. There are so many great places to explore in the Everglades!

I returned to the MERCY and cruised her back down to the Little Shark River to be able to give my guests arriving the next day the African Queen type adventure up the mangrove rivers....