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Post by htmb on May 20, 2013 2:09:51 GMT
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Post by htmb on May 20, 2013 2:13:14 GMT
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Post by htmb on May 20, 2013 2:15:22 GMT
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Post by htmb on May 20, 2013 2:22:09 GMT
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Post by mossie on May 20, 2013 7:28:52 GMT
Some more super animals and birds, seems like cruelty to put those kestrels in a pen. The bobcat had a face very similar to my mothers old cat, but of course a much more powerful body and legs.
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Post by bixaorellana on May 20, 2013 16:43:08 GMT
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Post by Deleted on May 20, 2013 19:09:29 GMT
What a wonderful and sunny bright area. Your photos are a true feast for the eyes, htmb.
The bobcats look quite similar to the Canadian bob cats.
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Post by Deleted on May 21, 2013 6:42:04 GMT
That cute little duck looks like dinner for the kitties!
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Post by nycgirl on May 22, 2013 0:02:29 GMT
Those panthers and bobcats have such beautiful faces. You're so lucky to have seen panthers in the wild.
I love the variety of birds you captured, and I have a soft spot in my heart for the manatess.
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Post by htmb on May 22, 2013 1:25:26 GMT
Thank you, nycgirl. The animals were lovely, and I felt really exhilarated to be able to get so close.
I believe bixa is right about several of the animals remaining in the park for breeding purposes. The hope is to continue building up the populations of endangered animals such as the cougar, peregrine falcon, and whooping crane.
I had no idea there was a species of bobcat in Canada, Deyana.
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Post by nycboy on May 22, 2013 2:55:47 GMT
I've forgotten the name for these raptors. Frankie Carbones
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Post by htmb on May 22, 2013 3:09:35 GMT
Oh, perfect!!!!
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Post by htmb on May 23, 2013 3:00:20 GMT
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Post by lugg on May 24, 2013 6:48:02 GMT
Fabulous - and yes you did capture what i hoped for - the otters ;D
Your bird pictures in particular are just wonderful and of course the manates too. Your photos really brought it home to me about how difficult they are to see in the water.
I did look up the fish ID's and I think the bluish fish are Mangrove Snapper and the fish with the long stripe -Snook
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Post by htmb on May 24, 2013 21:47:13 GMT
I'm glad you got to see the otters, Lugg, but sorry they were snoozing.
Thanks for the fish identification.
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Post by htmb on Feb 16, 2015 14:23:39 GMT
Bumping this up for Breeze. If I was headed to the Hernando County area I'd be sure to visit Homosassa Springs.
On a very personal level, this was a very bittersweet trip for me. I made the stop on the way to a memorial service for my cousin, and while I was photographing the bears I received a call from my oldest cousin that our last surviving uncle had just died. I need to return to Homosassa Springs so I can replace those images.
Since this trip, where I noted I hadn't visited a zoo since the 1980's, I've also been to the fabulous zoo in Paris. They've certainly improved many zoos over the past few decades.
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Post by breeze on Feb 16, 2015 19:19:45 GMT
Thanks, htmb. I remember now that I read this thread at the time, but I wouldn't have thought to look it up before our upcoming trip. On the way back from Florida, yes, I'd remember it.
Your pictures show why we go to Florida. One of our best previous experiences in Florida was visiting Wakulla Springs, and Homosassa seems to have even more of interest. I'm emailing our friend, hoping we can put this on the agenda.
That clear sunlight on sparkling water has me glued to my screen to avoid looking at the unrelenting white outside.
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Post by htmb on Feb 16, 2015 19:27:41 GMT
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Post by htmb on Feb 16, 2015 19:47:55 GMT
Breeze, if you do get to Homosassa Springs they supposedly feed the manatees at 11:30, 1:30 and 3:30, so planning around one of those times might make for more interesting viewing.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 16, 2015 19:57:57 GMT
The poor things have to chomp down on heads of lettuce and cabbage.
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Post by htmb on Feb 16, 2015 20:04:05 GMT
A boring diet, to be sure......unless you're a manatee.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 16, 2015 20:49:16 GMT
I wonder if they even have taste buds.
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Post by htmb on Feb 19, 2015 21:45:40 GMT
Yesterday I received an email from someone I used to kayak with and he reported at least 800 manatees in Kings Bay at Crystal River to the north of Homosassa. That breaks the last record by 200.
Another record ten manatees have been spotted in the Ichetucknee River. They are definitely looking for warmer water.
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Post by tod2 on Feb 20, 2015 10:18:34 GMT
That is a huge leap from 200 to 800! Must be absolutely wonderful to see them free in the wild. I think I only got to see a manatee in Singapore Zoo. Didn't Kerouac show us one in the new Paris Zoo??
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Post by htmb on Feb 20, 2015 11:52:39 GMT
Tod, the last record was 600. Sorry if I wasn't too clear. I've been snorkeling with the manatees at Crystal River. We were surrounded by them and at one point, when I had my mask out of the water, I swam right into one of the gentle giants. Yes, I recall seeing Kerouac's photo of a manatee at the Paris Zoo.
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