Backyard Wildlife Adventures

The dolphins in Lemon Bay were everywhere

The Lemon Bay dolphins were out in force

NOT our backyard but with it so close to Lemon Bay, I like to think it's an extension of our backyard. It's beautiful and a place where the dolphins thrive.

Three ducks swimming up the canal - one in the lead and two following.

Captured on the bank of a canal in North Port, Florida

Found this beauty enjoying time in the sun before scurrying back into the brush

A close up of the heron hunting for fish in the canal

Captured another heron from the backyard. Good closeup of it drinking the water.

Three manatees swimming around in one of the canals of North Port, Florida. I counted two adult manatees and one younger, smaller one.

I finally got video of the heron snagging a fish. Any idea what kind of fish that is? It look to be all black and was speared swimming in a southwest Florida freshwater canal.

Sometimes the puppies want to get in on the fun too!

Psalm 19:1: The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge. There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard.

The largest of the three gators known to swim in the canal. It was returning to its prey after leaving it for a while.

Hanging out in the sun

After carrying its meal out of the water and up the bank, my favorite heron proceeded to spear the fish before swallowing it whole. Watch how it elongates its neck to swallow.

This one or one like it visits nearly every day.

It needed a drink after swallowing a fish whole.

This heron is a regular visitor to the waters of the canal. I could watch it hunt all day long.

I observed this large alligator protecting and devouring its prey. It captured the crane several hours before. Over the course of those hours, it swam away once leaving the carcass behind, but returned to finish it off.

The sounds of the birds chirping and waters flowing are just what is needed sometimes.