Okefenokee Billys Lake Canoe Trek

Okefenokee Photography by William Wise. A nature photo journal exploration of Georgia's Okefenokee Swamp, the Land of Trembling Earth, one of the largest blackwater swamps in North America. The alligators, birds, snakes and wildlife of Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge and Stephen C Foster State Park. -- "What a wildly wonderful world, God! You made it all, with Wisdom at Your side, made earth overflow with your wonderful creations." Psalms 104 The Message

Day 1 - the Brown Trail

Leg 1 - paddling west on Billy's Lake to the entrance of The Narrows; 1:30 to 2:15 PM

An American Alligator laying on a log in a dark swamp showing teeth. West end of Billy`s Lake in the Okefenokee Swamp National Wildlife Refuge in Georgia, USA.

I was accompanied on my fall 2020 Okefenokee adventure by a friend from church. When questioned by others whether or not David could “hang with the Okefenokee”, I reminded them that he had been a missionary in South Africa for five years. If he could hang with rhinoceros and marauding baboons, he could certainly paddle the peaceful Okefenokee.

We got an earlier start that I typically have with my daughter and were therefore already in the refuge with our Stephen C Foster campsite erected and on the water by 1:30 PM. Our first evening would be along the brown trail toward The Sill and back.

American Alligator diving into dark swamp water with reflection in tanin stained blackwater. West end of Billy`s Lake in the Okefenokee Swamp National Wildlife Refuge in Georgia, USA.

My goal this trip was to document individual alligators and to photograph species I had not yet documented during my last trips. Although not a first, a softshell turtle was a promising start to our trek. David quickly proved a keen eye as he spotted it laying upon the peat at the entrance to Billy’s Lake. It dove a bit too quickly under the dark water to capture a good photograph. A Little Blue Heron stood not far to the right.

Turkey Vultures roost in dead cypress tree and Spanish Moss in swamp. West end of Billy`s Lake in the Okefenokee Swamp National Wildlife Refuge in Georgia, USA.

As we trolled westward toward the Narrows, I was perplexed by the lack of birds. None of the typical Cormorants and Anhingas sat in the cypress. I was hoping fall held higher numbers of waterfowl than our spring and summer visits. Of course, there were plenty of Turkey Vultures, but just a few Great Egrets and Little Blue Herons.
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The alligators weren’t in great abundance, but not atypical for a hot afternoon on Billy’s Lake. A few lay basking on logs in the more secluded western end of Billy’s Lake. The green Cypress leaves were turning to a rich brown, and decorated with Spanish Moss curtains, Billy’s Lake was a beautiful autumn scene.

Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, Georgia
​Thursday, October 22, 2020
​​Partly cloudy, high 84F, low 71F.
Sunrise 7:37 AM; sunset 6:50 PM
Day length: 11 hours, 12 minutes (-1 min 43 sec)

Spanish Moss curtains hanging on Cypress tree buttress in the Okefenokee Swamp Georgia. West end of Billy`s Lake in the Okefenokee Swamp National Wildlife Refuge in Georgia, USA. Tillandsia usneoides is an epiphyte that grows on oak and cypress trees.

American Alligator laying on a cypress log in the Okefenokee Swamp, tight dermal scales visible. West end of Billy`s Lake in the Okefenokee Swamp National Wildlife Refuge in Georgia, USA. Alligator mississippiensis is native to the Southeastern United States.

An American Alligator laying on a log in a dark swamp showing teeth. West end of Billy`s Lake in the Okefenokee Swamp National Wildlife Refuge in Georgia, USA.

Close up portrait of American Alligator head, jaws, teeth, scales and vertically elliptical pupil. West end of Billy`s Lake in the Okefenokee Swamp National Wildlife Refuge in Georgia, USA.

A close up portrait of an American Alligator laying on a log in a dark swamp showing teeth. West end of Billy`s Lake in the Okefenokee Swamp National Wildlife Refuge in Georgia, USA.

On the return "home", there were many Turkey Vultures and several Little Blue Herons on Billy's Lake. A few alligators we still out soaking up the last sun of the day.