Manatee and More on the Silver River

March 1 –12, 2026                                                          Most Recent Posts:
Silver Springs State Park                                      Unexpected Trip from Myakka
Silver Springs Florida                                            Myakka Has a Water Problem

I finally arrived at Silver Springs State Park 3 days after my reservation was supposed to start.  If you want to know why, see the first link above.

I was feeling fine and headed out to tow my kayak down to the campground dock about a mile walk.  It’s fine going down but coming back of course is up hill.  Luckily I can leave it there for the rest of my two week reservation and go out on the water any time I want.  How many times I wanted turned out to be nearly every late afternoon or early morning when it wasn’t raining.    I am so bad at selfies but this is me towing it down the path.

This was just my first day on the Silver River.  You can see why I come back here at least twice every winter.

I had just started up stream when I met these two.

I love being able to get such close shots of the birds to reveal their beautiful colorings and markings.  This is a Limpkin.

Male Anhinga drying his wings on this wonderful cypress.

The little Pied Billed Grebe is one of my favorites.  He’s just too cute.

Green Heron.  Looks like he’s skulking to me.
Look closely as I have another totally different picture of him later.

Further on I came upon a group of manatee and hung around with them for most of the rest of my time on the water.

They were playing and rolling.

This one looks like a torpedo.

I was just getting ready to put my paddle in the water when he surprised me.  Can’t believe I got these shots.

I had tried and tried to get one coming up for air and finally did.   They are mammals and you can hear them breathing when they surface.   It sounds just like anyone drawing a deep breath.

More flipping.

The boat traffic from up stream starting picking up, March is spring break month unfortunately, and that’s my sign to turn around.

But there was lots more to see on my way back.   Laurel, is this a Kingbird?

Look at the nails on this turtle.

I laughed out loud when I saw this picture.  It looks like an old west shoot out. 
Back to back, ten paces and draw.   Little Blue Heron on the left, Great Blue on the right.

Here is the Green Heron picture I was talking about.  Hardly looks like the same bird when he’s “standing up”.

Two of my very favorite birds are the male and female Wood Duck.  It is amazing to me how abundant and tame they are on this river.

Everybody is hanging out together.  The Wood Ducks, the Common Moorhen and the turtles.  There is a line of turtles on the log off to the right.

I’m not sure this Great Egret meant to be hanging out with the gator on the log just behind him and to the right.

But he didn’t stay long for whatever reason.

Here’s a funny picture of I guess a wet headed Anhinga.  Not sure what makes his feathers stand out like that.  Looks like he has a bristle neck.

I couldn’t resist highlighting the gorgeous design and coloring of the Wood Ducks.

Aren’t they both amazing!

And those golden slippers of the Snowy Egret.   What a great day on the Silver River.

I’m going to try to post much more frequently so the posts can be shorter and I can get caught up to April.  We’ll see how that goes.