Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park

[Lava Lamp]

I visited the Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park in Florida recently. http://www.floridastateparks.org/hom...gs/default.cfm

It's a little know treasure with some native Floridian species I haven't seen before. Here are a few of my favorite pics.

[scott-devon]

All beautiful shots, the first and third are my favourites.

[WsW-WYATT-EARP]

yes agreed - very nice shots - 3rd is my favorite - the swan would be great if the reflection of the head wasn't cut off .....

[Loupey]

That first one is wonderful. Curious - are they fed those lizards or did it find it on its own? Either way it's a great shot.

[Lava Lamp]

That first one is wonderful. Curious - are they fed those lizards or did it find it on its own? Either way it's a great shot.

Oh, he caught it. It was a native lizard (brown anole) and I saw him/her catch it. He was more interested in catching it, I think, than eating it...

[mn shutterbug]

Great shot, all. Number 1 is also my favorite due to it being more than just a portrait. The tonal range on the swan is awesome.

[barb_48]

Very impressive, I love the blue-billed duck and of course my favorites is the cat. Thanks for the info on the park, going to check it out in case I ever get to Florida again.

[paulnj]

Obviously the crested caracara and fulvous whistling duck are cool birds, but the best is the CRITICALLY ENDANGERED florida panther image!

[AmberC]

That first one is beautiful!! :thumbsup: Great job on all the shots!

[WesternGuy]

How did you get the Florida panther? :thumbsup: I have been roaming around the Canadian Rockies for decades and have seen just about every bit of large wildlife there is to see -- moose, deer, elk, bears (black and grizzly), bighorn sheep, mountain goats, etc., but I have never seen a cat in the wild. I know they are there, because in the winter time you can see their tracks in the snow. If this was in the wild, then IMHO you are one lucky person. Cats are usually shy and if you do get to see one out here, it is probably stalking you (yikes) :blush2: Great images all of them!!

Cheers,

WesternGuy

[payn817]

Another vote for the cat. Wonderful creature. :thumbsup:

[Lava Lamp]

How did you get the Florida panther? :thumbsup: I have been roaming around the Canadian Rockies for decades and have seen just about every bit of large wildlife there is to see -- moose, deer, elk, bears (black and grizzly), bighorn sheep, mountain goats, etc., but I have never seen a cat in the wild. I know they are there, because in the winter time you can see their tracks in the snow. If this was in the wild, then IMHO you are one lucky person. Cats are usually shy and if you do get to see one out here, it is probably stalking you (yikes) :blush2: Great images all of them!!

Cheers,

WesternGuy

I've never seen one in the wild, either. The closest I've seen is a bobcat. I have seen mountain goats and elk in the Rockies, but no bighorn sheet yet.

The Homosassa park is much like a zoo. Some of it is pretty much free range and you'll see various birds, fish, and reptiles. This particular shot was of a panther in a naturalized habitat.

[paulnj]

I seen one near the ft myers airport and one just outside corkscrew. Both were long gone by the time I stopped

[WesternGuy]

Lava lamp, when you say it is much like a zoo, do you walk through it or is it a place where you can drive through and the animals are in some form simulated natural habitat? Years ago, I'm talking many years ago, there was a place in Ontario called something like African Safari Park (not sure of the exact name - it was privately owned) but you could drive through in your car (for a fee) and various types of African animals were roaming free in various natural areas. Of course it wasn't exactly like a safari, because you were protected from the larger and more dangerous ones (elephants, hippos, etc.) by heavy fences. You had to stay in your car at all times - the cats and monkeys, etc. roamed free (in separate areas).

Just curious, thanks.

WesternGuy

[Knight]

Congrats on the Featured Photo LL , every one of these could have been a FP

[paulnj]

The caracara was better quality, but an endangered jungle cat was saweet!

[Lava Lamp]

Lava lamp, when you say it is much like a zoo, do you walk through it or is it a place where you can drive through and the animals are in some form simulated natural habitat? Years ago, I'm talking many years ago, there was a place in Ontario called something like African Safari Park (not sure of the exact name - it was privately owned) but you could drive through in your car (for a fee) and various types of African animals were roaming free in various natural areas. Of course it wasn't exactly like a safari, because you were protected from the larger and more dangerous ones (elephants, hippos, etc.) by heavy fences. You had to stay in your car at all times - the cats and monkeys, etc. roamed free (in separate areas).

Just curious, thanks.

WesternGuy

The park used to be a private zoo, I think, until the state bought it. You get to the park via a 20 minute pontoon boat ride along an unmanaged creek, where you probably see some turtles, herons, anhingas, an osprey, and maybe some wood ducks. Once you get there, the animals are in a fairly natural environment, but closed off by fences or cages in some instances. There is an underwater viewing area that shows views of the Crystal River and its native (untamed) wildlife and you can see manatees, etc. in the same river.