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....