Spring of 19 - #9 - Manatee Cove Campground -Pelicans, Frogs, Food, Helen & Allan Cruickshank Sanctuary

Thursday April 25th, 2019
I've been trying to catch up with the blogs and it has taken up a lot of my time.  At this campground I do have a good view out of the window when I need a break.

Friday April 26th, 2019
Guess what the pelicans were doing when I got up this morning.  They were diving(fishing) again.  I grabbed my camera and took this shorter VIDEO.  You can even see a few of them swallowing their catch!!!!!  I apologize for the quick movement and out of focus toward the end of the video.

It became overcast and got windy, creating rough waves.

and we had some rain.

We were glad we didn't have to go out today.

Here's a picture of the three small frogs that sit by our light at night, catching flies.  We always seem to get frogs at this time of year.  It's dad's birthday today and I think it's his way of saying he's with us!!!

Saturday April 27th, 2019/Sunday April 28th, 2019
We stayed in and I continued to play catch up with the blog.  We made Beef Enchiladas in the crock-pot. It turned out quite well and it was good to have a change.  We both worked together to make it, and had a lot of fun.  It was definitely a team effort and it was interesting defining our roles, and workspace in our little kitchen.  I prepared the food, relayed the recipe, and Bryan precooked it. We both layered it in the crockpot.  We had rice with it.

Monday April 29th, 2019
After a few days in, we decided to go for a walk around the Helen & Allan Cruickshank Sanctuary.

This was the start of the pathway.

stopping for a rest in the shade

This bridge and the lily pads were probably the best things we saw here!!!!

We walked for a while and didn't see any signs of wildlife or birds.  It was quite warm and I started to get very hot as there was no shade.  My body overheats quickly if I'm not careful, so we started to walk back to the car.  We then got to see a Scrub Jay.

The reviews we had read said they were very tame and would come right to you, but this one stayed up in the tree. The Scrub Jay was put on the list of threatened federal species in 1987. In 1993, there were estimated to be 4,000 breeding pairs in the wild and it is still thought to be on the decline.  So, it was great that we got to see them and the day wasn't a complete bust!!!!

Back at the base, this C130 had unusual tail markings.

Tuesday April 30th, 2019
It was an overcast day, but we still had an interesting sky at sunset.  The campground has really emptied out and I could see much more of the pier through our window.

Tomorrow we leave here and head south on our way to Pembroke Pines, which is near to Fort Lauderdale.  I will be seeing a friend from England that I haven't seen for 32 years!!!!  Looking forward to catching up!!!!!

Spring of 19 - #8 - Canaveral Lock

Wednesday April 24th, 2019 - Part 2 of 2
We went back to Canaveral Lock.  The sign when we went the other day said it would be open between 2 & 4pm, so we planned to arrive after 2pm.
The bridge before you get to the lock was opening.

Here's the boat that was going through the open bridge.

We were in luck, the lock was open.  It turns out it is a one man operation, hence the reason it is closed at times.

We arrived at the lock at the same time as the boat we had seen going through the open bridge.

The lock gates at the far end are closed.

Pigeons walking the plank

We could see the Kennedy Space Center in the distance.

This tour boat went for a tour of the lock.

Lock gates where the boat had entered are starting to close.

Finally, lock gates are closed 

The lock keeper rides to the gates at the other end.

Water level is 17ft.

Lock gates at far end are closed

Lock Gates at far end are now open.

Boat going through the open lock into the Banana River

The water depth didn't change.  It seems the lock is here to control the tidewater and help with the separation of salt and fresh water.  When the gates are closed, a walkway is created across the top of the gates. This is not for public use.

The big boat leaves and the smaller boat enters

smaller boat now tied up in the lock

We didn't stay to watch the small boat go back through the lock.  I didn't find these locks as interesting, as there is no waiting and watching the water level go up or down.

We felt as though we had done enough for today and headed home.

Spring of 19 - #7 - Ritch Grissom Memorial Wetlands

Wednesday April 24th, 2019 - Part 1 of 2
I have split today into two blogs as there are too many pictures for one.
We started the day at the Ritch Grissom Memorial Wetlands.  Boy, oh boy......so many pictures!!!!
There's lots of birds, usually I would look them up and find out what they are, but there's just too many.  I found a photographers site and tried to match up some of them but it's really guesswork.  So, if you know the names of any of them please, please let me know.

Red Wing Blackbird

Birds in nests on top of the stumps

Like the reflection in the water on this one

Lily Pads

High up on their nest

Alligator, the only one we saw here.  He was right out in the open water.

Limpkin??

Great Blue Heron

In flight

Anhinga

In flight

In flight

Turtle stretching

Wait, there's 3 of them!!!

A gazebo to view from

Spot the two birds

Great Blue Heron

Birds in the trees

What's this hiding in the tree

Just casually strolling across the road

It was a fun hour or so driving through.  We decided to drive back over to Canaveral Lock to see if it was open.  We were in luck and I'll tell you all about that in the next blog.