PICNIC ISLAND - Tampa, Fla.

16 photos

PICNIC ISLAND
7404 Picnic Island Blvd
Tampa, FL 33616
(813) 274-8615

Picnic Island Park, located in Port Tampa on a southern peninsula in Tampa Bay, was a campsite for the 1st Infantry during the Spanish American War in 1898. The soldiers camped here before they embarked to Cuba in June of that year. My alma mater, Rollins College, has a photo of two soldiers sitting in front of their tents. The photo was donated to the the archives by Mary S. King.
http://archives.rollins.edu/cdm4/item_viewer.php?CISOROOT=/wpandcfl&CISOPTR=1006&CISOBOX=1&REC=1

Picnic Island Park has a breathtaking view of the city. It encompasses 7.8 acres of sandy beach access. There is a separate kayak/canoe launch on the east side of the road running through the island, and a concrete boat ramp and pier on the west side.

Wildlife I encountered on this tour included Osprey, Brown Pelican, Roseate Spoonbill, Little Blue Heron, Great Blue Heron, Tri-color Heron, Great American Egret, Yellow-crown Night Heron, Ibis, Stingray, and the many creatures that inhabit the oyster beds throughout the mangroves.

The kayak/canoe launch leads out to the inlet of Tampa Bay, and directly across is Picnic Island Bayou, a maze of mangroves and scenic beauty. Bring a compass (or a GPS finder), though, as it is very easy to get lost in the maze!

Right out of the gate, the wildlife greeted me...this lovely Little Blue Heron's vibrant color shown brightly through the mangroves.

Fishing is very popular in the waters surrounding Picnic Island...in and out of a boat ;-)

The promise of exploration among the mangroves drew me away from the beach area and into the maze of the bayou.

This Yellow-crown Night Heron didn't stay long enough for me to get any closer than this, but I was pleased to spot it nonetheless.

This Tri-color Heron graciously waited for me to take several shots so I could pick the right lighting in the final elimination.

Despite it being a Sunday, I was entirely alone in the bayou...and the serenity and beauty made this solo trip a real pleasure.

It was a lovely day, albeit a little chilly when the sun slipped behind the clouds, but I was in heaven going through all this lush growth.

It was so very quiet and the surroundings buffered the wind, so the water was like glass.

On the east side of the bayou were rows of mangrove canals, ultimately ending at a very narrow point, but the return trip is as delightful as the way in.

Even without the sun blazing, the environs were alive.

The variety of birds granted frequent observation, but they must not have encountered too many yakkers - they all seemed eager to leave my company. This Great Blue flew off right after I snapped it.

Usually on the shore's edge, I was surprised to see this egret moving through the water...I wondered if the oyster shells bothered its little feet.

Heading back, the water sparkled almost blindingly...the pink was a bonus my little camera created.

Returning the way I came I was dismayed by the tide's decline...especially since it meant I had to unload my boat and portage over this ever so sharp (and seemingly endless) bed of oysters.

Exiting the mangroves, I was greeted with several large sandbars that hadn't been there on my way in...easily lost about six inches of depth from the tide change.