10/11/2011 - Perch Creek

Launch: Home
Destination: Perch Creek
Distance: 16 Miles (round trip).
Time Paddling: 4-3/4 hours
Weather: Mist and drizzle. Temp 66 degrees. Winds 5-10 mph out of the northwest. Low tide. No current. Waves less than a foot. Water temp 77 degrees.

Header Image is a photo of White Ibis in flight.

Started off in the dark this morning. Some places along the river put out bright lights making it difficult to see until you get past them. Some people refer to it as light pollution and say it is a global threat that destroys our view of the heavens, wastes money and natural resources and provides absolutely no benefit to society.

A snowy egret.

Groundseltree shrubs (Baccharis angustifolia) are in bloom. Also known as False Willow or Saltbrush. What you might not know is Baccharis is dioecious meaning the male and female flowers are on separate plants.

The female flowers of Baccharis (shown here) have tufts of silky bristles about a half inch long while the male flower bristles are about half as long and are usually enclosed tightly in bracts.

The cormorant stretches out for a pose.

A little blue and a little purple heron in flight.

Sure wish the waters would have been glass smooth for this shot of a wood duck.

White Ibis were in the water right in front of me as I rounded a corner in Perch Creek. We were all a little startled. The Ibis furthest to the back had just caught a crab.

Aren't nutria the absolute cutest things? Hehehe.

(Just kidding.) No so cute from this angle.

Since the bird book says Clapper Rails frequent salt marshes and King Rails frequent freshwater marshes, I'm thinking this is a Clapper Rail since this is a salt water marsh.

If you ever wonder how I get some of those clear photos of birds that are posted here, close proximity is the answer. This clapper rail came out of the needlerush and paid no attention to my presence. It seemed to be impressed with the kayak. I took photos, slowly backed up and it never flew away. Sometimes you get lucky - that's how or the Creator decides to steer a critter near you for some reason.

Golden rod flowers nestled among a yaupon shrub brightened a rather drizzly day.

06/15/2011 - Lesser and Greater Lights

Header image is of a yellow crowned night heron.

1) The lesser light quickly disappeared beneath the horizon and it was a beautiful moonset which I hadn't expected to see.

2) Not long after, the greater light quickly appeared above the horizon. It was fantastic to get to see both this morning. Life is good.

3) Sunrise near the Dog River Bridge.

4) A scorching sunrise with a pelican silhouetted on a piling. I've added a new link to the Weather section called "Air Quality" as an additional aid for trip planning. Today's air quality forecast for Mobile is "Unhealthy for sensitive groups."

5) A crew is off to work in the early morning being transported by the boat Margaret M. At least it is cooler near the water compared to inland.

6) These ducks were having a serious breakfast on the bank of Perch Creek or maybe this is the way to stay cool headed on a hot morning.

7) A neat looking reflection on the water rotated 90 degrees. What you see is left to your imagination.

8) A white ibis was crabbing and caught a few little ones.

04/28/2010 - Perch Creek

Launch: Hoppe's off Dauphin Island Parkway in Mobile, AL
Destination: Perch Creek

Header Image

1) It is ironic that the Mobile media has whipped the public up into a frenzy about the Oil Rig leaking oil, yet Mobile urban waterways are as trashy as ever.

2) Which is worse in our water, oil or battery acid? This battery was seen next to a local marina.

3) This vegetation was tired.

4) You just never know what you'll see on a kayaking adventure. Crab traps apparently catch more than crabs. What an awful way to die.

5) As this was my first time paddling the Perch Creek tributaries, I was impressed how clean and beautiful the waterways were.

6) Perch Creek was a lot less residential than I thought it would be.

9) At times it felt like I was in the middle of the deep woods in the Delta. 

8) Other times it was back to society in man made canals.

9) Saw a wide variety of birds today, nutria and a muskrat, but no alligators except for the cement kind.

10) Brown Pelican.

11) While Perch Creek only goes upstream for about 2 miles, with all the side tributaries and canals (about 10 total), it'll take you most of the day to explore them. 

12) Perch Creek is as impressive as some of its displays of spider lilies.