St Charles Bay and Big Tree Wildlife

The weather along the coastal bend of Texas, has been really great this winter. A couple of cold fronts have come through but then the wind switches to the south and the temperatures rise to even the eighties. We took advantage of such a day and went canoeing on St Charles Bay.
Our wildlife viewing started on the drive as we neared the Big Tree put in spot, A family of whoopers has decided to spend the winter in Lamar and have taken possession of a cattle grazing spot on eighth street and so we passed five vehicles parked and viewing the whoopers. Arriving at the launch site, the tide was in making it was an easy launch as we slid the canoe into the water.

We have stopped using the stabilizers and we have picked up quite a bit of speed, and so we quickly headed towards a cut into the peninsula where several abandoned summer camps lie shrouded in tall weeds.
It's usually a good spot for herons and even cranes and the spot didn't disappoint us, in fact it even provided us with a surprise. In the back of the cut  floated an alligator which seemed to view our approach with disdain. Turning the canoe toward it Renita had the camera in hand as I tried to get closer but the gator swirled and sunk below surface. Was it being cautious or was it starting its stalk of some Wyoming snack?
Turning the canoe away from the gators last location I couldn't help but think of the kayaker in the news who disappeared as a large crocodile pulled him from his craft. My fears were needless however as the gator soon reappeared in the same location. None the less the warm temperatures made it the fist swimming gator we have seen while canoeing!
We headed further up the peninsula and passed several waders and yakers,(kayakers). One was landing a nice trout and so of course my thoughts turned to fishing and we tied up to an abandoned duck blind to cast out our poles. No fish bothered us however and so we reeled in and headed further up the bay to a large oyster bar.

Looking for the opening into a back bay, we had canoed it last year, we passed it unfound and instead paddled around the oyster bar.which makes a prominent point on the west shore of the bay. Sandpipers fed along the shore and great egrets and American ibis, both extremely common here, waded the shallow water.
A great blue heron sat perched on a duck blind, also empty, and the water was a smooth as the first ice on a northern lake, as we continued along effortlessly. Of course mullet were jumping and it was just a beautiful day canoeing the coastal bend.

A small cold front passed and the wind shifted to the north, blowing us back to our take out point. We never did have a bite but it didn't matter, it was winter time and we were in t-shirts and shorts. Every moment we spend on the water is a blessing and a reaffirmation of our decision to go full time. Clear skies.