One of my favourite places in the whole world, and I have visited well over 100 countries, is Florida..... we all know where that is so I won't ramble on. The wildlife opportunities are endless with wonderful birding opportunities, mammals, reptiles and amphibians, not to mention gorgeous butterflies and other insects. It's incredible that very close to densely populated urbanisations, there are vast wilderness areas such as the Everglades, still under pressure because of drainage and damage to the water table, but teaming with life.
The Snook - Centropomus undecimalis is an aggressive predatory marine fish that has been recorded at 4 feet long and more than 50lb. All large Snook are female, they change sex when they they reach a certain weight and size. The photo above was sent to me by my Nephew Geoff a Floridian by birth who is a chip off the old block, a lover of wildlife and the outdoors with as much passion for it as myself. You can see the fish iis in shallow water amomgst the roots of a mangrove proving how importan this habitat is as an environent and nursery. Its quite unusual to get close enough to a Snook for a photograph like this. A close loo at the phot will reveal a small Sergeant-major fish proving what a good habitat this is. It was an interesting day for Geoff who also picked up this Turtle sp. from the side of the road, not sure of the species but seems like a Re Eared Terrapin. These freshwater Turtles leave the water to lay their eggs in sand close by and is probably the reason that Geoff saw it. The eggs hatch in the early months of the following year and I have been fortunate enough on several ocassions to have seen tiny, wild Red-eared Terrapins making their way towrds the water from their nest site.
..........and while I mention turtles, on the edge of the dunes and smack in the middle of a very popular holidy beach, close to my sisters house, is a Loggerhead Turtle's nest, roped off and protected. The eggs are due to hatch any day now. Incubation is around 45 days and that time has already elapsed. I hope to be able to let you know if the nest is successful in the next day or so.
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