A Photographer's Journey to Florida's Forgotten Coast: The Magic of Scipio Creek & Mill Pond
The Scipio Creek Boat Basin is a marina and park located along the marshy fingers of the Apalachicola River. Locals know this area as Mill Pond, a nod to its history as the site of a busy riverside saw mill. Today, the hum of saws has been replaced by the quiet call of shorebirds, making it a peaceful and truly special spot.
Mill Pond at the Scipio Creek Boat Basin, Apalachicola
For photographers and nature lovers, this area is a treasure chest of beauty just waiting to be discovered. We spent a quiet afternoon exploring the marina with our cameras in hand, seeing what caught our eyes. We found beauty in the most unexpected details: the textured, peeling paint on a shrimping boat, the rusty chains and pulleys that have seen countless seasons at sea, and the nostalgic history of vessels weathered by sun and salt.
Weathered fishing boat at the Scipio Creek Boat Basin
The area is also a fantastic birding site, and we were delighted to be welcomed by the local residents. We spent a long time watching a stunning Black-crowned Night Heron, a bird with a quiet intensity in its yellow eyes. One beauty posed for us, perched high on a boat's mast, while another stayed tucked under cover in the trees. We also spotted its juvenile counterpart—a younger bird with beautiful spotted plumage—sitting proudly on a rusty mast.
Black-Crowned Night Heron perched on a boat mast
Black-Crowned Night Heron at Mill Pond
Juvenile Black-Crowned Night Heron perched on a rusting boat
Black-Crowned Night Heron at Scipio Creek Boat Basin
The afternoon light softened the colors of the landscape, creating a beautiful backdrop for the boats and the birds. It was an afternoon of quiet exploration, filled with curiosity rather than expectations, and a perfect way to capture the soul of this corner of the Forgotten Coast.
Buoys line the building at Up the Creek Raw Bar and a vine grows from inside a boat at the Scipio Creek Boat Basin
Abandoned Sailboat at Scipio Creek
Scipio Creek, Apalachicola, FL
The journey doesn't end here. This post is part of a series chronicling my photography trip to Florida's Forgotten Coast. Join me for the full story and discover more beautiful moments!
Where the Panhandle Meets the Past: A Forgotten Coast Photography Story
Finding Beauty in the Storm and the Quiet that Follows: A St. George Island Photo Story
Be Present When the Light Appears: A Day of Photographing Sunshine on Florida’s Forgotten Coast
Photographing Florida's St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge
Moving at Nature’s Pace: Bird Photography on St. George Island
Photographing the Wakulla Riverboat Tour: A Ride Through Nature
