Moonlight Canoeing

I've brought it up before, but if you're seeking an abundance of wildlife around your canoe or kayak, the Hillsborough River in Tampa is tough to beat. In mid-March, we signed up for a moonlight canoe with a guide. We were greeted immediately by a gator, naturally. Soon after, at dusk, we saw a couple of roseate spoonbills. In addition, we saw ospreys, herons, egrets, ibis, limpkins, bats and a river otter -- all on the move. Because of the drought and the river being lower than usual, we even saw two sandhill cranes. They are common in Tampa, but according to our guide, they are not usually found on our section of the Hillsborough River. After dark, the barred owls created quite a chorus. Our guide said we must have heard at least 6 owls that night, more than he'd ever heard before. In one section called the narrows, it was like listening to a 4 part conversation - in surround sound. Thanks to flashlights, we did catch a glimpse of a few of them. It was a 3-hour paddle, so the sights and sounds were a thrill - especially the occasional glowing gator eyes. Here are the shots from dusk. I know, I know, I'm no photographer, but I keep tryin!
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Then it got really dark!