Friday, October 16, 2015

Gilliard (Pelican) Island

Conditions were perfect for a couple mile crossing of open Mobile Bay waters over to Gilliard Island.

Gilliard's Island looks small but the man-made dredge spoils island is about 6 miles in perimeter.

I call it Pelican Island for an obvious reason.

If you ever want to see thousands of pelicans, paddle around Gilliard Island on a calm day.

If you're lucky a big ship will pass closely in the ship channel while you are on the east side of the island. I missed a close encounter with this ship by about half an hour.

Pelicans Galore.

Standing room only for pelicans along the rocks which surround the entire Island.

It is a surreal paddling experience to be around so many pelicans.

Always a fascinating ship to see is the Deep Blue.

Another big ship in the Theodore Industrial Canal near where I launched in North Fork Deer River.

2 comments:

  1. Hello, Rob

    My name is Kimi from Japan
    I would like to see wild american yellow lotus (nelumbo lutea)
    I see your blog by chance, and american lotus is in Tensaw river


    I would like to know more detail about american lotus in Tensaw river
    Where can I see american lotus in Tensaw river, because Tensaw river is big?
    I want to know the exact place.

    And Can I see the american yellow lotus flower at 25th of July to 3rd of August?

    If you have any nice information about american lotus, please teach me.

    My email address is
    kimi2takahata<&&>gmail.com && is @


    Regards, Kimi

    ReplyDelete
  2. Lotus grows in many places in many Rivers in the Mobile Tensaw river delta. Lotus can be found blooming in June and July. You'll need a boat or kayak or canoe to see them. Another option would be to visit Charles Wood Japanese Garden in Mobile (free). No boat is needed to see two species of Lotus: Nelumbo nucifera and Nelumbo lutea.

    ReplyDelete

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