On our trip to see the check in and start of the Everglades Challenge and do some sailing, we also took my canoe. With the help of Ken, a friend that lives in the Ocala Forest we set up shuttles for both Juniper Springs and Silver Springs. They are high on my list of favorite places to paddle. However, they are popular with many other people too. Weekends can be crowded. The upside to the crowds is the animals become very tolerant of the human activity. This is especially true of Silver Springs. Making it a wonderful place to take photos of the wildlife.
Enjoy the trip on the clear flowing waters.
Juniper Springs Run
Silver Springs
Tilapia on the nest.
Snake Bird (Anihinga) on the nest. There is a female lower left and male upper right.
Double Crested Cormorant on the nest.
You can see the double crest on the bird in the nest.
They seem to want the sticks found in and under the water for nest building.
Off to the nest.
Rare double headed turtle.
Mama gator with partial view of a baby in the middle of the photo.
Moor Hen calling.
Wood Duck hen feeding. They are a dabbler.
Six-hundred-year-old dugout canoe on the bottom that once paddled the springs.
Wood Duck drake.
Tricolor Heron on the prowl.
Spider Lily.
White immature Little Blue Heron.
Arrowhead in bloom.
Close up of the immature little blue. Compare it to the bird we saw on the coast.
This is the White form of the Reddish Egret which is rarely found outside of Florida.
A pair of Sandhill Cranes seem on our way to the springs. They are common in this area.
The line up.
Rusty took these photos.
A Snapping Turtles head by Rusty.
A mermaid…I mean Manette.
A breath of fresh air.
They do get big.
A Limpkin calling.
Two 12’ Adirondock canoes and a Wenonah Voyager in the middle. headed for the take out.
