Carpe Diem!

I've been feeling jinxed here.  Every time I get days off, at least two of them, and sometimes all three of them are cold, rainy or some combination of the two.

Today was predicted to be rainy - with an eighty percent chance of rain.  I got up and got the cleaning down on trailers and cottages, then went to the safety meeting. All that kept me busy until after 11:00 A.M.  By then the sun was coming out and when I checked the regional radar, the incoming storm was just getting to Mississippi.  I figured I had at least six hours to play so packed up my paddling gear, snacks and water and hiked down to the boathouse where the staff lets me store my canoe.

Prairie View

By noon, I was paddling down the Suwannee Canal enjoying the sunny, shirtsleeve weather along with gators and turtles. When I saw the sign to Cedar Hammock, I decided to check it out. I paddled through the channel through the marsh under the patrol of turkey vultures and to the calls of sandhill cranes and ibises. Pileated  and red-bellied woodpeckers as well as kingfishers made themselves heard.

Sandhill pair

Two of three vultures hanging out

Another view

Cedar Hammock - a day use shelter

Anhingas were hanging out to dry all over the place.  One was on a low branch just before I got back to the boathouse.  He tried to fly off, but was still too wet, so he dove into the water and swam ahead of me.  He popped up about a yard ahead of the canoe, and immediately dove again. The following series is of an Anhinga high in a tree just past the shelter.

Anhinga drying

And grooming

All done

Lift Off

White ibis

Feather and reflections

Red shouldered hawk

I had my GPS on and found I had paddled six miles. I could have paddled another two or three.  My shoulder is just a little sore and I expect it to be better by tomorrow. I'm expecting two sets of paddling friends to visit me in March and I'm excited to think I'll actually get to go on a a two-night paddling trip Swamp with them.

Wednesday morning:

It finally started raining about bedtime and rained all night.  Yesterday was cool and dark with misty rain and heavy clouds until late afternoon. I was so glad I'd saved this one day.  Now I'm almost ready to leave on another birding trip, followed by a little shopping.  Harlequin duck, here I come.

Hope you also will grab your day and make it a wonderful one.

Early Christmas Gifts from Okefenokee Swamp

In both the days when Indians lived in and around the swamp and when they were replaced by white settlers, the swamp gave them almost everything they needed, including food, building materials, and even fibers.

Today it's gifts are more for our spirit, and Okefenokee was especially generous Christmas Eve Day. Cindy and I left the East Entrance boat launch at 7:00 A.M. and started down the day use trail in time to watch the sun come up through the left-over clouds from yesterday's storm.  But soon the sun had brushed away the gray clouds, leaving only pink and white ones for us to enjoy.

Sun coming up 

View in the day-use trail

The early light turned the ordinary into magic and everywhere there were things that needed to be remembered and shared with photos.

I was particularly enthralled with the mastery this leaf had in rolling itself up into a golden horn. I listened closely but it must be waiting to play its music Christmas day.

I love the plant called golden trumpet, or never wet. I has the most beautiful blue-green and glowing leaves. Water will not stick to it so you never see water drops on it.

Orontium aquaticum

Just the best clouds left

Birds were very active our entire trip.  I started taking pictures of red-tailed hawks about the time the sun came up.  Catbirds and American goldfinch were often within sight and hearing, but too far for pictures.  Also two flocks of cedar waxwings stayed out of camera range. Lots of great egrets and first year little blue herons were too far and two brightly lit to make good pictures. A flock of ibis obligingly flew over while I had my camera on and ready to take their picture.  And we got really close to other species later.

Part of a flock of white ibis

The best of several photos of red-shouldered hawks

Cindy dressed for our cold (fifties) weather

This combination of colors and textures was another gift

A pair of sandhill cranes let us get close to them. Cindy was in the best place, closer still. 

Another crane landed just in front of Cindy, too close for her to take out her camera

Cindy found this barred owl and then guided me to it. It patiently sat around 

for both of us to take lots of pictures during two visits. 

The patient barred owl

Christmas vignette

I must have spent ten minutes enjoying bubbles made by our paddles and trying to photograph them.  For most of them, the camera wanted to focus on the reflections of trees instead of the bubble.  This one popped just after I got this shot.

Only a few minutes after we started, it was already time to go home. I was afraid to push my shoulders, or I would have been willing to stay out all day.  As it was, I got home a little after noon.

The end - for now

Merry Christmas.  Hope you have a wonderful time with friends and family.