Manatees at Crystal River

MONDAY 4th January
This was the day to swim with the Manatees at Crystal River. We left at 5.30am to travel towards Florida's Gulf coast and arrived just after the sun came up. It was cold. The temperature had dropped over night from a high of 82 degrees the previous day, but the best was to come for we were to learn that the water temperature in the river is a constant 72 degrees.

The Manatees had moved on and we had to search for them. We had an early sighting but had to work hard to see a nursing mother and her calf. The river is their warm winter home and although some people do take a lot of care I am of the opinion that there are some people who will not respect them as being a wild animal.
Let them come to you was a clear instruction, but at least one broke the rule and stroked one. They will not be getting a photo or video of that.

Once out on the water and scanning the service for these wonderful, but very elusive creatures I was also looking for birds.
This is the list.
Wood ducks were plentiful
Osprey x 2
Bald Eagle
American Coots
Northern Cardinals - one male and one female flew and perched
Black & White Warbler
Belted Kingfisher
Great Blue (Gray) Herons were in several locations
Little Blue Herons were also common.
Yellow-crowned Night Heron
Snowy (Little) Egret
Large (White) Egret
White Ibis
Brown Pelicans
Cormorants (but to pay more attention next time for Great or Double-crested - but the latter is the only one that should be in Florida with the former on the east coast only)
Boat-tailed Grackles
Black Vultures flew constantly
Turkey Vultures X 2 were spotted on the roadside with three Black ones.
American Robins flew over in flocks.
Blue Jay
Ringed-neck Duck (alias 'ring-billed)

A reasonable tally considering we were on a boat and the main objective was for 'The Manatee',
but no new ones for us - yet.