We started our informal "Out and Back" (no close-proximity shuttles) at the Bay Area Park / boat ramp at 10:00 AM. It was overcast. Alice and Charles were already there when I arrived, so prep was pretty quick. It was actually too quick for me. I launched awkwardly, and as I floated away from the ramp, it occurred to me that I didn’t have my paddle. So, paddling back to the ramp with my hands in shame, I got my keys out of my dry bag and retrieved my paddle from the car for a second, and more successful start.
We paddled south on Armand Bayou directly to Horsepen Bayou, per plan. We came around the point that defines the beginning of Horsepen Bayou and started a counter-clockwise Search and Rescue pattern, looking up into the grasses and bushes along the shore to try to spot any alligators that might be lurking there. We theorized that’s where they would be, trying to warm up on this relatively cool morning. Instead, we saw white birds, belted kingfishers, a tricolor heron, an osprey and a little blue heron.
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| Osprey |
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Charles photographing
Osprey |
| (Click to enlarge) |
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| Alice |
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Charles |
We took a lunch break near some shade, trapping ourselves in some hyacinth. After lunch we started seeing alligators – all of them small to medium sized animals floating on the surface and then sinking as we approached
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Hyacinth-choked
passage to nowhere |
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Socially-Distanced
Lunch |
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Water View
from Lunch Spot |
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Water Hyacinth
Flower |
Interspersed with the alligators, but appropriately socially distanced, were more birds. Here’s a snowy egret: (See below)
On the way back from Horsepen Bayou we stopped and tried out the floating kayak dock at the Armand Bayou Nature Reserve boat house. It works great! Every place we paddle should have one – especially on the Brazos. (See below)
Leaving the innovative, feet-dry docking system, we encountered a solitary non-breeding adult laughing gull (sticking my neck out on this one).
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| Snowy Egret |
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Floating Kayak Dock |
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Laughing Gull |
Shortly after that we saw a “fools” snowy egret (a juvenile little blue heron). NOTE: My track record on bird identification is somewhat spotty, but I think I got these right). I invite Bruce to correct any mistakes. See below.
Then we saw noticed a great blue heron camouflaged pretty well against some tall grass.
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GBH |
Juvenile Little
Blue Heron |
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Great Blue Heron |
We spotted our last alligator floating just offshore around the corner from the heron. Here’s a sequence of how these sightings progress:
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Charles hunting
gators |
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Alligator |
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Alligator
Submerging |
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Alligator
Submerged
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We finished off with a couple of great egrets and another snowy egret.
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| Great Egret |
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Another Great Egret |
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Snowy Egret |
It was a very nice day on the water.
About the alligators:
We saw a total of five 6-foot to 8-foot animals in our 3.5 hours paddling today.
CONCLUSION: Most of the big ones have left for their winter migration.
Here’s where we went:
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| GPS Stats |
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Our Route -
more spread out |
Photo album link: HERE