Woke up early to go kayaking with my friend Becky this morning. It was slack tide when we hit the water at 8:30 which made for an easy and enjoyable paddle. The sun was a bit warm so we were appreciative of the light breeze that accompanied us.

Speaking of accompaniment, we were joined by a few Double-crested Cormorants. Endlessly entertaining watching them dive under our kayaks as they chase after the fish we stir up. It’s a pretty successful technique because we saw more than one gulp down a meal.

There was a distant manatee sighting today but sadly, no dolphins for us, though mullets put on a show with their flashy jumps. While paddling straight across the open water is a more direct route to Shell Key, it’s more enjoyable to slip into mangrove tunnels and explore (plus, they’re shady).

All in all, a lovely way to spend the morning!

• Note, This was my second trip out there in two weeks, I just can’t get enough of Shell Key Preserve! These photos are from both trips.