After a few hours of hiking, I left Suwannee River Sill and finished the short drive to the Stephen C Foster campground to check in. I was planning to walk the few short trails within the campground until dark. But upon checking in, I found the off-water time was 7:00 PM, not 5:00! That would give me two hours! So I quickly unloaded my canoe, braced on the trolling motor, and decided for a quick tour of Billy’s lake.
The lowering evening sun was casting a bright warm on the blackwater of the Okefenokee Swamp and further illuminating the already bright yellow flowers of the Beggars Ticks wildflowers. Dozens of alligators had pulled themselves half out of the water to catch the last evening rays before dark settled over the Okefenokee for the night. As is typical of their behavior upon seeing my canoe, the alligators left their basking perches on the banks of Billy’s Lake and swam towards my canoe. This behavior of the large crocodilians might unnerve paddlers with less experience in the Swamp, thinking that the alligators are coming to attack their boat. But the alligators are actually uncomfortable up on land and shallow water, and therefore head as quickly as possible to the deeper water. I imagine they feel as if their back is against the wall, so the head into deeper water which means heading straight for your canoe.
Other than eastern Phoebe’s and a few Little Blue Herons, there wasn’t much bird activity. Two pairs of wood ducks went frantically flying overhead at different times. As is typical with the Wood Ducks, a good photo is very hard to capture.
With the aid of my trolling motor, I covered the distance eastward to Billy‘s Island fairly quickly. I could now see how truly low the water was as the dock stairs were fully out of the water. The bottom step was about two feet above the water line! Being tempted to get out and explore Billy’s Island, I checked my watch. Unfortunately, being 6:15 PM, there wasn’t sufficient time to hike the island. I turned my canoe around and headed back towards Stephen C Foster campground, my home for the next few days.
The entire westward trip back put the lowering sun was in my eyes. The bright sun and it’s equally bright reflection off the smooth blackwater surface practically blinded me. There was nothing to do but tip down my head under the brim in my hat and let the trolling motor push me forward. There wasn’t much photography, but it was still wonderful to get out on Billy’s lake even if just for a couple of hours. Tomorrow will be a full day beginning slowly across Billy’s Lake and then up the Middle Fork of the Suwanee River, hopefully to Big Water and back.
Okefenokee Photography Project by William Wise 
It was a delight to ride along with you as you traverse Billy’s Lake. Your descriptions of this beautiful swamp and explanations wildlife behavior, make this unique habitat magical. Thanks for the ride !
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