November 11 dawned with the threat of thunderstorms, but the intrepid women paddlers were not deterred. The forecast proved entirely accurate as the front passed very quickly and gave us the opportunity to visit as the rain first poured and then left. The purpose of our trip was to be leisurely, take photos and look for birds and the rain enhanced our photo opportunities, as did the slightly overcast skies and the hint of fall colors coming to the cypress swamp.
Here we are at the boat ramp as the storm has just cleared. The water was lower than what I’d paddled recently, 6.2’ on the gage at the fishing platform.
We paddled in a clockwise route to take advantage of the largest cypress trees. That’s Tracy Becker taking aim with her camera.
Although we didn’t see huge numbers of birds they were certainly around. Here are a flock of black vultures drying out after the storm.
Carol Bell and Kim Newberry paddled with us.
Marilyn Kircus took Ellen’s usual position in the front of my canoe and had a splendid time shooting photos.
We paddled west to the approximate area #9, then north to Caney Creek. There we ran into a luxuriant growth of duckweed, hydrilla and water hyacinth that took out the “easy” part of our paddle and required more effort than the float on the south.
Some of our favorite birds put in an appearance. I didn’t get a good shot at the desired anhinga until Marilyn and I walked the levee after loading our boat. Here’s a double crested cormorant.
And a tree full of ibis:
Great blue heron.
And finally, an anhinga. And why do these birds persist in putting a branch between them and me?
This big boy needs no identification. He found the one warm and sunny spot big enough…
He was most visible from the walkway to the dam and spillway, which at this water level was completely dry. Let me add that the walk to the spillway had the most butterflies, and caterpillars, of anyplace I’ve been in the park. Good bird viewing too. Life is good at Champion Lake, come join us next time.
Here is my approximation of our paddling route drawn on the official map:
The yellow line is our route of 3.5 miles.