Prairie Creek and Newnans Lake

My friend Angela and I went kayaking today on part of the Potano State Paddling Trail, named after the Potano indians who once inhabited the area. The trail circles Newnan Lake and meanders down Prairie Creek to Paynes Prairie State Preserve. We put in at Kate's Fish Camp, a quaint piece of history in itself.
Note the flock of resident geese:

Angela has a really nice lightweight Swift Adirondack Kayak.

And here I am in my slightly under-inflated "Esprit." I need to get a new pump, although the helpful fish camp owner worked on fixing a leak in my foot pump while we were gone. Nice guy.

The geese all came out into the creek to see us off.

Since neither Angela nor I thought of insect repellant, we opted to paddle out to Newnans Lake and save Prairie Creek for another day.

Cypress knees, knees, knees...

Entering the lake

With it's beautiful calm paddling waters.

We explored the shoreline

Great blue heron in a tree

Snowy Egrets

The red-winged blackbirds were singing their hearts out.

There were Boat-tailed Grackles....male

And female

Moorhens were Common

Little Blue was too

We drifted by lily pads,

And watched Bald Eagles soar

We saw many eagles...or a few eagles many times. I think this is a juvenile Bald Eagle

Now I know how it feels to be a "sitting duck." I think this was a decoy.

Getting hot...time to turn back

Back up Prairie Creek

 which has gotten rather sultry.

And the geese came out again to welcome us back.

Back at my site at Sportsman's Cove, artists have come to capture the view.

 I used to paint...

 Now, I'd rather just take a picture.

So Many Birds

I see so many different kinds of birds from my site in McIntosh, that I decided to give them their own blog post.
There are many regulars...birds that are here all the time, like this Red-shouldered hawk that hangs out on the light pole or a tree near my site. He's fun to watch and listen to:

I'm not sure what he caught after a brief struggle by the lakeshore, but it may have been a baby gator.

Ospreys, Bald Eagles, and Vultures are regulars too, vying for the fish. The Ospreys do most of the work:

 Looking, looking...

 In position for the dive...

 Going in for the catch:

 Not sure what he caught, but it's a good 'un...

 I think he may be in competition for the "Big Catch Certificate"! Too bad I only got one picture of his catch...he needs two to enter.

Next comes the Bald Eagle to harass the osprey and get him to drop it. When he drops it, the eagle zooms down for the steal.

Also a player is the Turkey Vulture. I'm guessing he either tries to pick up the dropped fish, or else he's getting too close to the Eagle nest. Anyway the Eagle regularly chases him off.

Some of the other regulars include, but are not limited to:

Tri-colored herons and American Coots

Great Blue Heron and Greater Yellowlegs

Better views of the Greater Yellow Legs

And I like this pic of GBH with the sun glinting off the water.

Snowy Egret and Glossy Ibises

This immature Little Blue Heron comes around every day.

And so does the Great Egret

And then there are the occasional transients like this Wood Stork. His yellow beak makes me think he's a juvenile...Birdie will know.

And this Swallow-tailed kite

Sand Hill Cranes fly over daily, but occasionally come close.

A pair of Common Moorhens

There are many "little" birds I hear or see, but only rarely can get an ID or pic

Mourning Dove with (perhaps) a Great Crested Flycatcher?

and an Eastern Bluebird (female I think)

There are others and I'll probably figure out some more before I leave this place on Friday, but you get the picture.

Oh, he's not a bird, is he? But he does live in McIntosh along with two others....ya just never know what you'll see on a walk around here. This one made me think of forum friend Li...I think he wants to kiss her.