A Christmas Paddle

Friday, December 8, 2023

Hi Blog! 

We have been transported into another dimension! We are now in Florida! After a series of short stays and frequent moves, we have finally landed in CB Smith Park in Pembroke Pines, Florida. This will be our home base during the Christmas season. During our trip south, we discovered an oil leak in the Jeep. The first order of business was getting the Jeep in for servicing. While we waited for our Jeep to return, we dusted off the kayaks and prepared for a voyage around the park.

It is such a pleasure to be able to launch our kayak right from our campsite. You can see Buster just over Kathy's shoulder.

This is our second visit to C.B. Smith Park. The park grounds were originally purchased in 1959 by Broward County from the U.S. Government. Before the purchase, it was known as Snake Creek Park and was a firing range for a gunnery school during World War II. 

The 299 acre park is a series of islands connected with various bridges. Large metal culverts allow the water to flow under the roadways. They are really fun to paddle through.

The limestone just below the surface with sandy soil on top makes it difficult for trees to put down deep roots. When a tree falls, it brings the soil with it.

As we glide through the canals, we keep a look out for local wildlife. This little guy is a green heron. Green herons are short and stocky, with relatively short legs and thick necks that are often drawn up against their bodies. They have broad, rounded wings and a long, dagger-like bill. They sometimes raise their crown feathers into a short crest. It's never easy getting close, as they are quick to take flight.

As we made our way around the back side of the park, we could almost forget that we were paddling in one of Florida's busiest urban areas. It's hard to believe that just beyond the tree line canal live 1.9 million people.

Not many park goers make it back this far into the park. With little boat traffic, the lily pads are beginning to take over the canal. 

We almost missed this guy as we paddled under the overhanging tree. A flash of orange caught our eyes. Turns out that male green iguanas often become more orange during their breeding season to appeal to potential mates. 

We soon found ourselves face to face with a flock of Muscovy ducks. These ducks are brown-black in color, with some pale wing coloration, but many of the domesticated ducks have been bred for white feathers. The drake grows from 12 to 15 pounds though the hen is much smaller, weighing from 8 to 10 pounds. Both have what is called a caruncle - a fleshy, bulbous growth- on the head. This is a breed distinctive trait. They are also quiet ducks - the male makes a low hissing sound, not a full quack, and the females makes a short, weak quack called a pip, which sounds like a flute. Not wanting to get hissed out, we gave the flock a wide birth.

We came upon a couple more ducks, but there appeared to be something off about them. Turned out they were decoy ducks.

We rousted a flock of White Ibis. These birds tend to flock in large groups in shallow wetlands and estuaries. With each step, their bright red legs move through the grass and their curved red bill probes the surface below for tasty tidbits. 

The calm waters of the canals created some really cool photos.

We spent the morning enjoying "the calm before the storm." When the weekend comes, CB Smith Park is transformed into an open air playground. The picnic pavilions are reserved for weddings, birthday parties and family reunions. In addition to batting cages and a driving range, you can play tennis, pickle ball, basketball, volleyball, baseball and soccer. The water park is closed during the winter, but you can still kayak and fish. There are miles of trails for biking and walking.

We are just starting to see some lily flowers. Once the days start getting longer, we will see more and more flowers.

Coots are some of the most common birds we see in our paddles. The black birds with their white beaks are easy to spot.

Coots are sometimes confused with moorhens. The big difference is the bright red beak of the moorhen.

As we paddled around the water park, we were entertained by the antics of the mating iguanas.  This one is not...ahem...mating at the moment, but he has taken possession of a magnificent arbor mansion and is inviting females to share the wealth.

Here is another one of those cool culvert shots.

Just beyond the culvert we came upon a Great Blue Heron and a Tri-Color Heron sharing the same fishing spot.

The park also contains a large concert ampitheater on a peninsula across from the campground. This area is closed off when not in use. It made a quiet place for a couple of Egyptian Geese to graze. 

The Egyptian goose is an African member of the duck family Anatidae. Because of their popularity chiefly as an ornamental bird, the species has also been introduced to Europe, United States and elsewhere outside their natural range. We can only assume this pair was imported for someone's personal pond and somehow found their way to CB Smith, just like the rest of the snowbirds here.

Not sure when our next adventure will be, as we prepare for our Christmas vacation to Sweden and Lithuania. We hope you have a fabulous festive season and happy and healthy New Year.