Thursday, March 05, 2009

Wakula Springs State Park, Florida

Howdee all,

Today Jeff and I went to Wakula Springs State Park.

Home of one of the largest and deepest freshwater springs in the world...beautifully crystal clear today...
Yeah that's us down there saying hi to you all....that is how clear the water is...our shadows did not get wet while taking the photo.


There is a lodge that was built in 1937 by financier Edward Ball. Nice place to stay if you want to visit this part of the Pan handle of Florida.

We grabbed a cup of Coffee at the Lodge before taking a hour boat ride.

We actually took two boat rides today.......The water was clear today so we also went on the half hour glass bottom boat tour.

The scenery is quite beautiful ...Spanish moss...clear water...lots of Birdies.
Click on the video to get a flavor of the area!



Coots, Blue wing teal, Morehen, White Ibis,Little Blue Herons, Great Blue Herons
Osprey, Bald Eagle, Turkey Vultures and many more.


many alligators...
Wood ducks and Hooded Merganser...yeah I was wishing I had a big camera today...
could have been a really cool close up of these birdies.Great Egrets were plentiful.

Yellow Crowned Night Heron

We didn't see Tarzan..but one of his movies was filmed here.

After the boat tours we had lunch at the Lodge and then took a three mile walk in the park.
I love warblers and was happy to spot some...... Yellow throated warblers, Black and white warblers and Northern Parulas.
I am hoping we catch some of the Warbler migration ...
calling all warblers ...
here pretty warblers....come to see us on your way North....

Tomorrow we go canoeing...We met a father, daughter today on one of the boat rides,
They are camping and canoeing in the area...actually they happen to be camping in the same campground as us. The only problem I have with this trip is that the Fathers nickname is Gator bait....yep...you read it right...Gator Bait... long story...made short...he was canoeing....alligator lifted the canoe bit the side of the boat because it couldn't get to him...and then left....if the boat tipped or if the alligator got hold of him...he probably wouldn't be alive to tell his story. The big ole alligator would have taken him under the water until he drowned.....and then had lunch. YIKES....
Wish us luck!

16 comments:

  1. Wow, ...great photos..sounds like an adventure with those gators.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I've never seen a yellow crowned night heron before. Looks like one fun diversified trip.

    ReplyDelete
  3. What a super shot that first one is! And how clear the water!
    It must be great fun to tour the country as you do.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Let me get this straight...you are going canoeing in waters that have alligators in them?

    ReplyDelete
  5. Very nice photos Dawn!

    It's good to know that shadows are waterproof! :)

    ReplyDelete
  6. Thanks a lot for that story Dawn, Know I know I'll never go canoeing where aligator live! Diane

    ReplyDelete
  7. Now that's what you call a great bird day!! Loved the hooded mergansers and the coots! Enjoyed watching your video which made me long for our visit (which we gave up for this yr $$) to fl. :(

    Beautiful pics..what a wonderful place to visit..

    loved the water proof shadows!! lol

    ReplyDelete
  8. Loved your photos Dawn! But I'm sorry - I cannot allow you to go canoeing after you told us that story about that Alligator Bait guy!

    ReplyDelete
  9. I really think that water is very blue.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Wow, what a great looking place.
    And how cool to ride in a glass bottom boat.

    ReplyDelete
  11. It has been years since I visited Wakula Springs. It is still a beautiful wild place. Don't you just love Anhingas? Stay dry and enjoy those warblers too. Thanks for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
  12. That sounds like it was quite the place.. Cool pictures. I haven't watched the gator video yet..

    ReplyDelete
  13. I can't get over the clarity of the water or the gators! Have fun on your canoe ride tomorrow.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Hola Dawn,
    Those pics are great! That place looks awesome!!
    Love the first pic :)
    Besos,
    Mel

    ReplyDelete
  15. Sandy...
    It is always an adventure with gators around...Yikes..

    Natural Moments,
    yes the night heron was really an interesting looking birdie..

    Bobbie..
    Yes we just love traveling ...

    beachgrl...
    yes gators..and I survived to tell the story

    Maine birder...
    yes I made sure they were waterproof before taking the photo.

    Tina...
    Glad you liked the video...
    hope you can go to florida next winter..

    Shellmo..
    Sorry I went canoeing before I read your comment..ha...I am alive...

    Gselyn,
    yes you must come vist sometime..you can volunteer at the refugee..

    Lydia..yes anhingas are cool..hope you get to see Wakula again someday

    Kallen,
    thanks..had a great time on the canoe trip

    Mel..
    yes it was such a beautiful place.
    thanks

    ReplyDelete
  16. We went to Wakula Springs quite a lot when I was growing up. I've got so many memories of the place: some good, because it's a pretty dang cool place; and some not so very good, because I was on occasion a whiny, pissant kid who'd not be happy no matter where I was dragged.

    One good memory is of feeding peanuts to the squirrels there. There were white ones (like in your picture a couple of posts up) and black ones and even piebald ones, like a domestic bunny!

    Nice photos. Thanks for the memories! Haha!

    ReplyDelete

ok what do you really think?????