A Walk On The Wild Side!

I had the chance to visit Brahma Island this weekend. It's in the middle of Lake Kissimmee and accessible only by boat. It is some of Florida's true habitat and it's protected by the state. There is a ranching operation run by the Lightsey's as well as a game preserve. The island is also home to 28 protected species including the snail kite. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to spot one while there. Let me mention before we get started that all photos are clickable and will enlarge a bit if you want a better view!

I shot this Osprey nest on a side road leading back to the dock for the island. We were waiting for our guide to arrive as we before the meet time. The one in front is Momma with baby in the background. Momma flew off in search of another tasty tidbit for junior while I was standing there. Boy, did that upset the baby! S/he didn't appreciate being left with that "clicking thing" down there on the ground 50 feet or more away from him!

Can't be too careful these days and I seriously doubt that he'd seen or a clicking thing (camera) before either!

Same bird, opposite side of the nest. This was the better side to shoot from as long as you didn't mind the telephone lines getting in the way. Look at the size of that nest! It was huge! Then again, when you consider these birds get to be about two feet tall with a wing span of more than 6 feet, it's not so surprising.

Once we arrived on the island I had the chance to see quite a bit of wildlife.....

One of the buffaloes roaming the island. There were several, but I didn't think to ask how many. The photos are deceiving in showing the size of this guy...he was huge!!

Two water buffalos (momma and calf) here and rumor had it they are mean as the dickens! In other words, keep clear and don't mess with them!

We rode around in an open-air jeep all day. They had one water buffalo that would charge and/or ram the jeep whenever it was near enough!

I didn't expect to fall in love with a Watusi, but this big guy was just the coolest! Check out that spotted hide where the white and black sections meet—isn't that cool?!

Again, the photos are no doing justice to the size of any of these creatures!

There were several species of deer on the island and unfortunately, Chris nor I could tell a Fallow from a Sika or an Axis deer. The fact that they moved faster than Superman might have had something to do with it too! These were quite small in size, but they're youngin's!

Last (for today) but not least, a 400 year old oak tree.....

So how do you know how old a tree is, I asked. You can't ask it...or can you? The tree was bored to take a sample of the rings that indicate growth. That's how you ask a tree its age. 

More in the next post!