10/01/2011 - Moore Creek and McCullough Creek

Launch: Home
Destination: Moore Creek and McCullough Creek
Distance: 7-3/4 miles (round trip).
Time Paddling: 2-3/4 hours
Weather: Sunny, temp in the 60s, winds out of the north at 0-5 mph with occasional gusts. Tide receding. Current negligible. Water surface calm. Water temp 82 degrees.

Header image is a photo of a Big Blue Heron.

Sunrise over Dog River.

Slight surface fog with a fog tornado.

Lower Moore Creek. The small craft advisory for strong winds was not an issue on this inland waterway where waters were calm.

In upper Moore Creek the waters were clear.

Wow, third morning in a row I've seen raccoon families.

In upper Moore Creek, the wildflowers were taking on a fall like appearance just like the temperatures. I love this time of year.

A green heron.

Female and male wood ducks.

Had to back up to take a second look at this pastiche of trash items that took on an appearance of a head with a hat when viewed from a distance.

In McCullough Creek, there were several large limb hooks with chicken used for bait. Alligator poaching is alive and well in Dog River Watershed. (October 3rd UPDATE: I stand corrected - the limb hooks were not put up by poachers. An Alabama Conservation Officer put those bait hooks up to "catch a large nuisance gator." Drat! I always look forward to seeing that alligator. Too bad that it "bothered" someone while living its life in its natural territory. Why don't Alabama Conservation Officers put out limb hooks with meat on them to catch vicious dogs that chase bicyclists instead of going after Alligators that don't chase people.)