Everglades National Park, Day 4 – Monday–February 11, 2013

Day 4 – Eco Pond, Noble Hammock Kayak Trail, Nine Mile Pond, West Lake, Coot Bay Pond

Our day started out with just two objectives.  Nancy wanted to go to Eco Pond to look for Roseate Spoonbills and then the two of us planned to kayak the Noble Hammock Kayak Trail. 

Our plans got altered a bit,

so I have included this map for your reference later in the blog;o))

 
Nancy here:  Our day started at Eco Pond,  a short walk from the campground.  

 

As I rounded the entrance to the pond,

I realized that the PROFESSIONALS had beat me to the view;o(

 

 

As I inched forward, trying to sneak a peak,

the only Roseate Spoonbill there took flight!!

 

He was kind enough to circle around right over my head:o))

They are beautiful and strange looking birds!!

 

Since there was no room to see at this spot, I decided to walk the trail around the pond. 

 

Turns out there was a lot more to be seen on the trail than on the water today!!

 

Pileated Woodpeck                                                         Cardinal

 

Red Shoulder Hawk

Pine Warbler                                               Gray Catbird

Painted Bunting

I know I will be returning to Eco Pond most mornings!!!

 

When Nancy got back, we ate breakfast, packed our lunch and drove to

the Noble Hammock Kayak Trail launch.

We weren’t the first to arrive and one of those cars belongs to Sherry and David!!

 

We had been given rave reviews about this kayak trail. 

 Since we have an inflatable kayak,

we need to be a little more concerned about possible obstacles and low water levels. 

 

Before we decided to do this kayak,

we check with the park ranger and he assured us we would be fine ;o)

 

The launch and first channel were a little narrow;o((

 

 

Then things opened up :o))

 

 

Marker #4 was a little tight;o(

 

 

 

Then the water level started going down;o((

 

 

It got narrower and shallower;o(((

 

 

 

At marker 21, we decided to call it quits and turn around.

Just not worth taking any chances in the middle of The EVERGLADES!!!

 

 

Later when we talked to Sherry and David, who had kayaked the entire trail in hard kayaks.  They said there were over 100 markers and we had made a good decision to turn around.  It just got more narrow and more shallow towards the end!!  Sometimes, you just can’t go everywhere with an inflatable kayak!  You can read about their kayak trip here.

 

 

Once we got back to the launch point and packed up the kayak,

we decided to check out a few other points along the road.

I knew this map would come in handy!!

 

 

We have signed up for a free Ranger-led canoe trip at Nine Mile Pond.  We drove there so we would know just how long it will take since we have to be there just after 7am.  We will share lots of photos of that trip later.  Today, we just enjoyed our lunch and watched a few birds;o)

 

These Crows were very entertaining!!

 

Caspian Tern                                                              Pied-Billed Grebe

 

 

 

After lunch, we stopped at West Lake where there is a boardwalk trail and a canoe trail.

 

We opted for the boardwalk trail this time;o))

 

 

 

It was a beautiful boardwalk through the Mangroves with lovely Bromeliads everywhere.

 

 

When you visit the Everglades, you WILL learn about Mangroves!!!

 

 

We finally reached West Lake and had a view of new Mangrove Islands

 just starting to form!!

 

 

 

Mangroves are really hardy!! 

 

Their roots are in salt water and are covered with barnacles…amazing!!!

 

 

There was so much sea foam that it looked like the mangroves were in SNOW;o))

 

Next stop

 

 

This lovely pond sits right next to the road and is a favorite early morning birding spot!!

 

 

Just across the road is Coot Bay Pond.

 

What a lovely pond!! 

 

We may have to return to kayak this one:o))

 

Even when plans didn’t go as planned, we still had a fantastic day!!!