Adventure Starts Here: 3 Sugarloaf Key Wildlife Encounters That Happen Before You Board!
When most people think of joining a guided kayak tour, they imagine paddling far out into unspoiled nature, where magnificent wildlife is waiting to be discovered. Here at Get Up And Go Kayaking – Florida Keys, we can vouch for this type of adventure- and more! The fun begins on arrival at our launch point at Sugarloaf Marina, where Wild Florida has a chance of greeting you before you even step into your clear kayak. In this post, we’ll introduce you to some of our favorite wild marina managers and give you insider knowledge as to where you might find them patrolling as you get ready for your tour!
Frankie, The Marina Rooster
Frankie (or Freddie, as he’s sometimes called), is the rooster in charge around the marina! You can often hear him before you see him- Frankie loves to crow loudly during the morning tours to let everyone know that we’re open for business and that he’s on patrol. He’s not too afraid of guests; in fact, Frankie has been known to hop up on picnic tables near where guests are having a snack or some lunch before getting ready for their tours! You’ll know it’s Frankie if you see a rooster walking around the premise of the marina, as he’s the only rooster in the area. He’s a big fan of checking out what everyone is doing, so it’s possible he’ll stop by for a surprise inspection right before we launch, then wander off to see what’s happening with the other captains and marina employees.
Frankie can be a little nosy, so if you’re uncomfortable with him investigating nearby, you can move over closer to our launch spot and trailer or just walk a little distance away from him. He’s pretty peaceful, and can take a hint if he’s being a little too nosy and usually loses interest and wanders off. We recommend letting him go about his business- don’t try to feed or pet him (as he’s still a rooster, and they’re capable of pecking and scratching with their feet), but also feel free to take videos of him doing his strut across the marina!
Snowflake, The Great Egret
Snowflake is a favorite visitor among our guides! They’re a large white bird, with a long neck and a yellow beak. Great Egrets normally hang around the shallows and near sandbars, as they prefer wading into the water to hunt by striking out with their long beaks. You’ll know you’re encountering Snowflake if you see a Great Egret walking around our launch spot or the marina docks, as Snowflake usually likes to check out the water for fish right where we set up our kayaks. You can also find them walking along seawalls near the marina, waiting to see if any of the fishing boats catch anything!
Snowflake is a little shy, so don’t expect them to walk up super close to the launch spot if there’s a lot of activity. The best way to encounter Snowflake is to observe from a seated or stationary spot, and take photos or videos from where you are. Snowflake usually flies off if there’s sudden movement near them, or if there’s an especially loud noise nearby.
The Napping Nurse Sharks
While we don’t have names for all of the nurse sharks that we see napping near the marina, we do see a group of them almost every day! They love to bask in the warm, shallow water right near the seawall, especially during the midday sun. If you arrive early for your tour, we definitely recommend checking to see if you can spy any of them before we launch! Nurse sharks are not commonly aggressive species, so as long as you observe them from a safe distance and take only photos or videos, you should be able to enjoy their sleepy nature without disturbing them.
You may also see several other species of fish swimming or shoaling around the nurse sharks; some fish like the sun-warmed shallows too, and nurse sharks will peacefully exist with these fish. Pelicans will also hang around the docks where the nurse sharks sleep, so it’s possible to spy several species of wildlife while you’re looking for the sharks!
Other Wild Guests We Might See
Frankie, Snowflake, and the nurse sharks may be our only frequent visitors, but that doesn’t mean the launch area isn’t still teeming with life! Be on the lookout for harmless Florida banded watersnakes that like to hide in the rocky slope near our launch point, as well as a plethora of iguanas and pelicans that love to investigate our kayaks as we set up. The Florida Keys are a hot spot for biodiversity, especially when it comes to marine and shoreline species! If you ever see something and are curious about what species it is, check in with your guide. Our team members are locals, meaning that they not only are familiar with many of the species that we commonly see, but also may be able to tell you if you’ve met one of our regular visitors! Join us on a clear kayak tour of Sugarloaf Key to have a chance at seeing more wild visitors, like sea turtles, starfish, while also learning about the ecosystem from our 5-star guides!