First Manatee Photos of the Season

So Hello All! I know I haven't even posted much about Port Hardy and my 12,000 drive trek across this beautiful country of ours, but wouldn't you know it, I no sooner get home and then manatee season starts early! No time to catch up on stuff!!! -- I know it is a sad story but someone's got to deal with it.

Seriously. it did get real cold unexpectedly but this doesn't mean it will be a cold winter - it might or might not be a longer manatee season? Or it might just warm up again now and the manatee won't come back till later in December? Who knows? But best to be ready.

Here is what I accomplished my first two mornings of this manatee season. Of course I've got opinions about my new d300 on manatee (reason why I upgraded from d200) but I'll post about that next week or so as I want to try out the firmware upgrade too.

Lots of extra stuff on manatee on my site too, but here are a few photos (I've got more on-line in this post here):

I'm still amazed by how curious some manatee are & how this one wouldn't let me out of his sight!

The manatee still watch me while I'm taking splits - wonder what he thinks I'm doing?

Of course it isn't all manatee & sometimes you run into unexpected characters very early am in the muck - Florida Snapping Turtle

Green water meets aqua-blue spring water and mixes, along with rainbow rays, to form endless color-combos (with manatee again not letting me out of his sight!)

Love the split photo and the last one...great shots. Scott

That's an amazing split shot Carol and the other shots aren't half bad either! Wow...you really had some clear water too!

It's really nice to read about your wonderful encounter with these amazing animals. I hope to be able to get over to Crystal River in the late winter or early spring. Thanks for sharing these pics! Robyn

Great stuff. I need to get over there with you this winter.

Doug

Great photos, so you are back in your environment I am looking forward to see more, for this is a great season opener ! Thanks for sharing...

for the half in half out shot.

thanks for sharing.

stew

Thanks All!

Yes Robyn, but the water wasn't that clear all the time I was there that am. These were all taken the same am (including the additional ones in the post on my site too) so you can see how much the water changes from minute to minute!

As Alex said when he came last season, it isn't really hard to photograph manatee, but it is hard to get good conditions to photograph them in. That is the challenge.

But it is fun trying!

Thanks, Carol

Great photos, so you are back in your environment I am looking forward to see more, for this is a great season opener ! Thanks for sharing...

Yes, Jan, I'm "back in my environment" as you say......

But I definitely enjoyed my trek to the Pac NW to dive and all the creatures, help negotiating slippery rocks, camaraderie, etc etc!! A later than anticipated arrival back in Florida and an early manatee season delayed my posting of those photos you will be familiar with, but that will happen all in due time.

Thanks a lot and enjoy the rich life of your lovely area too! Best, Carol

Nice stuff. Glad to see your buddies are back.

Really like the turtle, actually.

Alex

Really like the turtle, actually.

Alex

Thanks Alex, I do too. I'm surprised by the "white nose" though. I've never seen that on this species and it seems odd. You know Rudi from Bird's U/W told me that at the end of last season he saw two Florida snapping turtles locked in combat and drawing blood!!! We assume they were males fighting and I wonder if this one got sliced on the nose or something and it healed white? This one was not back in Three Sister's when I saw him last Wednesday and there was another big one back in Three Sister's on Wednesday, so many questions??? There is definitely a lot going on there, even if manatees don't show! Drama in the springs!

And thanks Alex, I used your advice for taking split-levels, and it has worked, as it seems lots of people like the split. But I still have to work on those, I'd like to get one that is really unique.

Thanks, Alex

Best, Carol