Day 3 of Advanced Camp 2012

Yesterday, was about being on the water instead of in the water. The first two days of advanced camp at the Audubon Center at Francis Beidler Forest involved some travel on foot through the water. However, with yesterday's starting point at Mallard Lake, which is 15-20 feet deep and home to several large alligators, we thought it prudent to travel via canoe. Of course, being in a water craft, we brought along some fishing gear. We traveled up the canoe trail to Singletary Lake and then returned to Mallard Lake ahead of the afternoon thunderstorms.

You can check out our map here to see where we paddled and where we saw what is listed below.

Juvenile Yellow-crowned Night Heron - Mark Musselman

 A juvenile Yellow-crowned Night Heron and several Yellow-bellied Sliders greeted us as we began our paddle.

Ryan and the rest of us on a lazy paddle - Mark Musselman

Cameron and Will wetting hooks in Mallard Lake - Mark Musselman

Emmie and Ricky fishing in Mallard Lake - Mark Musselman

Mallard Lake - Mark Musselman

 Although we did not catch any fish and had not expected to based on the water level, we did have an enjoyable day on the water.

Stopping for lunch - Mark Musselman

Brown Water Snake along canoe trail - Mark Musselman

 We saw several non-venomous, fish-eating Brown Water Snakes and one Banded Water Snake.  As we returned to Mallard Lake, we spied several alligators swimming ahead of us.

Mouse in canoe shed - Ricky Covey

Finally, this mouse bid us farewell as we placed our gear back in the canoe shed.