Monday Float

It's very hot on the river now but this seems to have drawn the birds back in numbers. I like to see the birds and turtles sharing space. The egrets know that turtles don't mean them any harm. They share sun drenched logs .
Two baby Barred Owls were born near Little Cassidy Spring recently and they are together there now. The babies give a funny squeaking noise which I have begun to notice in other spost along the river now that I know the sound. This is one of the pair seen below at the spring. These babies don't know humans well yet and they aren't very fearful, but they do seem curious.
This ibis was peering at me over Little cassidy Spring.



Here are the two babies together by the spring. Have I ever mentioned that I began to call my camping friends Springhoppers a few years ago. This name still fit s me. I am drawn to springs and I imagine myself owning land with a spring like the one at the back of Jim's property near the river. I think I should have a piece of land with a deep well. Fresh water is a precious resource and it is certainly at a premium in other parts of the world at this point. We are still spoiled by its abundance here in America. I would not want to depend on the Ganges for my water.

I get a great deal of pleasure sitting still in my kayak while the birds settle in around me and behave in birdlike ways. I seem so much more myself floating along the edge of the river peering into the trees to see what is up. I have heard the double knock south of the only house on the river again and I found a shady spot today and tried to get a glimpse of the bird making the noise. I did not hear the characteristic pileated call associated with these knocks. Of course I imagined I heard a tin horn call. So the fact is I am still looking for the Ivory Bills along the Wacissa. If they are here, eventually I will see them. But after being told by the seaweed farmers that they saw a panther along the river I have been reluctant to get out and search. And having seen my first big moccasin at Blue Spring I am much more snake conscious than I have been in the past. Too many responsibilities to get myself into a moccasin problem while floating alone, I'm afraid.
Yellow crowned night dracula!