Christmas Eve....Christmas Day. 2016

 We anchored behind Drigger Island...Saw a big gator on our way in..

 Jim spotted this big one swimming.

 I like these turtles...

An Osprey having lunch

 This is a Great Blue Heron....it stands about 5' tall

 Back through the canal

 Here is another big one....got to be at least 12'-13'

The Elusive Limpkin....Diane's favorite bird.

 How about this guy....look at the size of the mouth.

 Jim got a charge out of the way this big one was sunning.

 

 This one is not as big as the others...but still could do damage.

 another good sized gator

 Now here is one that would make you want to jump right in the water and go swimming...LOL

Same gator...different view...just look at those teeth.  We see so many people on pontoon boats just jump in the water ....I don't think we would....not after seeing so many big ones.

We got to our anchorage around noon...these two were checking each other out....decided not to sit around all afternoon so headed to the ramp and pulled out.....a great 2 days on the water and lots of big gators.  MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

Christmas on the St Johns River.

Once on the water...we headed up river and took a side channel.We were surprised at how many big gators we saw.

 and another....

 Blue Heron

 another very big one.

this one was a bit smaller....maybe 7-8 feet.

 I guess this turtle doesnt realize that gators eat them...but this gator is only about 5-6 feet and the turtle is pretty big.

 This one may be 8 feet.

 

 

Only part of this one is out of the water...cannot see much of it's tail...but it is big.

We anchored at Drigger Island for the night....