3/9/22 Newfound Harbor to Channel Key and the Birds of Channel Key

March 9, 2022

We started our trip back up the Keys under sunny skies and winds ESE 15 kts. It was a good breeze to motor sail up along the coast before ducking under the 7 mile bridge in Marathon. It sounded great, but as soon as we got out in the Hawk Channel, the seas were a bit rougher than we anticipated. I didn’t have a great time, immediately started feeling a headache and a bit woozy. The seas were 3-5 ft and rough. I sure wish this wouldn’t happen to me as much as it does. But we did have a very nice sail and the water was so pretty. 

We stayed on the main sail alone, to minimize my discomfort. After about 4 hours, we went back under the bridge and made our way to Channel Key. All things considered, it was a good run. Once back on the bay side the waters immediately settled down and likewise did my stomach!

The shade created by the sail

We reached Channel Key at 3:15 pm and were happy to enjoy a peaceful anchorage. 

The following morning was calm enough to go out for a bird-watching dinghy ride.  Our motor is only a 2.3hp, allowing us to go slow and steady so as not to disturb the morning rituals of the Cormorants, Pelicans, Osprey, Blackbirds, Herons, gulls, buzzards and even Magnificent Frigatebirds and many more bird species.  As much as we tried, we still managed to disturb a few. 

From the distance that we anchored, it looked like Mangrove stumps on the beach, but no. Cormorants and Pelicans just hanging out

Peli  Flyover!

Pelicans and Cormorants busy bathing, playing and just hanging out

Great White Egret/ Heron

Cormorant, fishing for his breakfast

Osprey fishing for his

So cute, they were all looking the same direction

Cormorants that preferred the water

We might have spooked them

Buzzard and Cormorant sharing an old tree

The Magnificent Frigatebirds! 

Great White Egret in flight (Pelican's yawning)

The Pelican tree

Great White Egret or Heron

We've never seen a gull that looked like this, very stocky body and larger than most gulls

This Great White looked old and tired

Manatee!