On Saturday, 9/9/06, Dot and I went to the St. Mary's River and put in at Stokes Bridge. The river was about half a foot higher than the last outing which made progress a bit easier. The other edge of the sword was a faster current. We were hoping to get a glimpse of the river otter Charlie Bear said he and Donna saw up there last weekend. We didn't get to see the otter, but Dot did see a deer briefly. We also saw some interesting bugs which had we known what they looked like up close probably would have motivated us to vacate our lunch spot. We also saw a pretty neat looking heron. I'm looking in my bird reference right now to see what is was. H'mm. It wasn't what I thought it was. I thought it was a green heron, but the picture of a green heron in my bird reference looks nothing like what we saw. When we first saw it, I thought it was a limpkin because of its' coloration and markings. But the bill was all wrong. Well this is when it pays to have a friend who is the curator of birds at the Jacksonville Zoo. I don't see anything in my bird reference guide that looks like what we saw.
This is at our put-in at Stokes Bridge. This is a pretty rough put-in. Actually more like a pretty rough take-out. One must go over an eight foot bank to get to the water. Putting-in is relatively easy since gravity takes over. Taking out is a bear because gravity again takes over. Dragging the tandem, which weighs in at 70 pounds, up the bank is pretty tough, especially after paddling all day. But this is one of the most scenic places on the river, so it's all worthwhile. The bank you see is on the opposite shore. I'll have to remember to take a picture of the 'take-out' bank on our next outing up there.
See what I mean about scenic?
As I mentioned in the last web posting, my new Canon XT camera takes black and white photos. And I also mentioned that it can also add color tints like sepia to a picture. Someone asked me what sepia was. Sepia is that 'old-time' looking tannish photograph look. The next photo is black and white and the one following it is a sepia toned photo.
There were still quite a few low spots we had to wade through. Only a couple times did we both have to get out due to low water. Other times it was deep enough for one person in the kayak, but not two. So we took turns giving each other 'free' rides. I wished I had had my camera on me after giving Dot a 'free' ride. I looked back at her and she had her feet propped up on the front of the boat and was leaned back in the seat with her eyes closed.
So, here is the heron. I'm pretty certain it is a heron because of the shape of the bill. We figured he/she must have been young because the current kept moving the boat around a lot and we had to near constantly paddle to maintain position. Yet he/she never flew away. We think he/she was just as curious about us as we were of him/her. On the way back downstream we saw him/her in the same tree nestled into a crook between two limbs cutting zzz's.
I received an email from Cheryl (not Donna) about what this bird is. It is believed this is a juvenile Yellow Crowned Night Heron. And after looking at the pictures that Cheryl referenced, I must agree with her on this. Thanks Cheryl !
Oh jeezel ... here we go again. I have received another email from Ed Strickland, a Florida State Park ranger who works up at Talbot Island State Park. He has identified this bird as a juvenile BLACK Crowned Night Heron. Here is what Ed emailed me ....
You were correct about it, your mystery bird being a heron and also about it being immature. The full name is the Black Crowned Night Heron. When it gets it's adult plumage it will be white with a solid black stripe along the back of the head and back. It will also have very distinctive big reddish eyes. As the name implies it is nocturnal and forages for it's food after dark.
Regardless, thank you Cheryl and thank you Ed for your inputs on this. Personally, 'I' was clueless. So I guess the eyes were the 'giveaway'?
OK. I got an email from Donna, and like me, at first glance she also thought it was a Yellow Crowned Night Heron. But upon closer inspection, she said the bill indicates it is a Black Crowned Night Heron. ID confirmed eh?
I'm hoping Donna will enlighten me as to what kind of bird this is. She usually does. When she does, I'll post it here so we all know.
As I'm sure most of you know by now, this is Dot and I's favorite river for kayaking. We never seem to tire of it. At low water it has lots of places to get out and walk and it always has lots of shade. We both wish we lived closer than we do. Such is life.
Here's the insect I was telling you about in the preface. There were scores of them. They seemed to prefer walking, but they could fly as well.
Chuck Hubbuch, our campus horticulturist has enlightened me as to what this little critter is. I think some of you will find the answer a surprise. This is called a Tiger beetle. Anyone who has been in Florida for a while knows about Ant Lions, the little things that make the little small 'pits' in the sand. Well .... Ant Lions grow into Tiger beetles. Who woulda thought?
Oops ! Hold the presses. WE have a small dispute going on here. Frank Bouchard from the University of Florida has agreed that this is a Tiger beetle but has disagreed that it is an adult Ant Lion. I am awaiting Chucks' response on this. This is NOT an attempt to discredit one individual over another. Chuck is a dear friend and a fellow kayaker. I've only met Frank once. He was one of the intrepid explorers on the homemade raft he and a friend made and floated down the Suwannee River in January of this year. (See Suwannee River January 14, 2006 webpage at the bottom of this page. ( Suwannee River Jan. 14, 2006) However, the truth must prevail. I will keep y'all posted on this latest news.
OK ... Chuck has 'fessed up that he gave me some wrong info. Frank Bouchard (of U. Fl.) is correct. Ant lions do not grow into Tiger beetles. They are entirely different critters.
Here is a zoomed in look at one. LOOK AT THOSE CHOPPERS !! If Dot and I had known they had mandibles like this, I'm sure we would have left the area. As it was they seemed to pay us no never mind. We tossed them bits of bread and when they found them they seemed to enjoy eating it.
And when I tossed the last bit of my barbeque rib sandwich in their direction, they REALLY went for that. Must be some kind of carrion fly or something. I'm hoping that one of my biology professor friends may be able to give me a hand on identifying this little creature. But like I said they paid us no never mind, so we just enjoyed watching them. Ignorance is bliss eh?
I didn't want to leave you with bugs in your minds, so I included this one last shot of the bird. Sometimes it makes identification easier if you can see how it walks. It was making its way up the branch here. For Donna: the bird was about a foot and a half in length.
Enjoy !!
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