We set out up the main channel and soon encountered many dead shrubs in the channel.  They were easy to knock down but there were so many it was a bit of a fight to get through.  Many of the channels we went down had the plants but the more open areas were clear.  Check out our photos on the website to see the collection of twigs we amassed in the boats by the end of the day.  I suspect that these plants built up during the low water periods and then were killed when the water came back.  The water weed is building up but we have paddled the lake in the middle of summer and although much of the lake is covered with water weed then it is still possible to get around.

 

There were not too many birds flying around, certainly not as many as expected due to nesting season.  Maybe they were all back in the forbidden areas.  As always there was a large flock of buzzards as well as some ibis, a fair number of yellow crown night herons, blue wing teals, coots, etc.

 

We saw only one gator but did see three snakes; one rat snake, one small swimming snake of undetermined pedigree and a ribbon snake on a tree with whom we ate lunch.  Check out his photo on the website.