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Your Photos: Wild Animals & Nature April 2008

This American Avocet in it's breeding plumage wonders up and down the beach at Delnor-Wiggins State Park in Naples searching for a mate. Although none of the same species is within miles, this American Avocet seems very content just strolling around on this beautiful day.

Submitted by John M. Wissocki

This American Avocet in it's breeding plumage wonders up and down the beach at Delnor-Wiggins State Park in Naples searching for a mate. Although none of the same species is within miles, this American Avocet seems very content just strolling around on this beautiful day.

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  • Gates Rodenfels writes, 'This is a short-tailed hawk and I took this picture on Saturday, April 5th at the Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary.'
  • This frog was waiting patiently for his nightly feeding in a lighted entryway that attracts an array of flying insects.
  • This American Avocet in it's breeding plumage wonders up and down the beach at Delnor-Wiggins State Park in Naples searching for a mate. Although none of the same species is within miles, this American Avocet seems very content just strolling around on this beautiful day.
  • Dylan Kalvin writes, 'These photos were taken this weekend in the Moorings subdivision with our Kodak EasyShare z612 digital camera. My family has been debating whether the dark birds are Golden Eagles or young Bald Eagles. What do you think? Just thought these photos were more testament to the paradise we live in.'
  • Ray Mackmin writes, 'We found this Spotted Eagle Ray at our seawall last weekend on Marco Island and got some great pictures.'
  • This is a baby woodpecker I happened to catch a picture of.
  • This photo was taken on Tigertail Beach last month. I thought I might share them if you find them interesting.
  • Dylan Kalvin writes, 'These photos were taken this weekend in the Moorings subdivision with our Kodak EasyShare z612 digital camera. My family has been debating whether the dark birds are Golden Eagles or young Bald Eagles. What do you think? Just thought these photos were more testament to the paradise we live in.'
  • The Marco Eagle?? I thought this was the Marco Owl!
  • A burrowing owl nestled in the Tigertail beach area for a sunset that illuminated the palms behind him.
  • Dinner anyone? Tonight's special is 'Osprey Catch', and it's fresh from the talons!
  • This first picture is of two turtle doves.
  • Gates Rodenfels writes, 'I took these pictures on a recent trip to the Octagon Wildlife Sanctuary. They are wonderful organization and they could use a lot more community support and awareness.'
  • Chris Damerow writes, 'This fellow is a frequent visitor to the yard and dock next door...He's sort of cute. We've named him Iggy.'
  • Osprey in flight. I took this picture while kayaking in Lovers Key State Park a couple of weeks ago.
  • This photo was taken on Tigertail Beach last month. I thought I might share them if you find them interesting.
  • This photo was taken on Tigertail Beach last month. I thought I might share them if you find them interesting.
  • This photo was taken on Tigertail Beach last month. I thought I might share them if you find them interesting.
  • Ray Mackmin writes, 'We found this Spotted Eagle Ray at our seawall last weekend on Marco Island and got some great pictures.'
  • Ray Mackmin writes, 'We found this Spotted Eagle Ray at our seawall last weekend on Marco Island and got some great pictures.'
  • Ray Mackmin writes, 'We found this Spotted Eagle Ray at our seawall last weekend on Marco Island and got some great pictures.'
  • Ray Mackmin writes, 'We found this Spotted Eagle Ray at our seawall last weekend on Marco Island and got some great pictures.'
  • Ray Mackmin writes, 'We found this Spotted Eagle Ray at our seawall last weekend on Marco Island and got some great pictures.'
  • Ray Mackmin writes, 'We found this Spotted Eagle Ray at our seawall last weekend on Marco Island and got some great pictures.'
  • Lori Ganich writes, 'One Sunday afternoon on Keewaydin Island, I came across this little fawn in the midst of the preserve. It froze for a moment, where I was able to capture this snapshot before it darted back into the thicket. What a beautiful creature!'
  • Rebecca Ann Kelley sends us this photo.
  • Rebecca Ann Kelley sends us this photo.
  • A vibrant butterfly rests during a windy day at Manatee Park.
  • Debbie Delany snapped this photo of baby gators sunning themselves on a log at Big Cypress Boardwalk on April 13, 2008.
  • Debbie Delany snapped this fantastic swamp view off Janes Scenic Drive.
  • Karen St.Clair writes, 'This photo were taken on Marco Island with a telephoto lens from the sixth floor balcony of Apollo Condo. This area where the cat was sighted several times is in front of Apollo, between the building & the beach. It looked like a very large (about 80 lbs) black panther/jaguar. From others I have talked to it has been seen in the garage area of the Marbella. Several people saw it and it is definitely not just a large house cat. It is probably nearly 4' long with a very long fat/thick tail.'
  • The eagles that have resided at the Audubon Country Club for about 15 years have again produced offspring. In the attached photos, the two adult eagles are in one of their favorite perches overlooking a lake and the golf course. The fledgling is at the right of two adults; a second fledgling was in a nearby tree. The fledglings are nearly the same size as the adults; they can be differentiated principally by their dark heads compared with the white heads of the adults. Over the years the eagles have become quite comfortable with their proximity to development and typically are not spooked by the noise of lawnmowers, garbage trucks, screaming grandchildren in the pool nor golfers on the course. The eagles are a treasured part of our community. If previous patterns repeat, the adults will take the two fledglings to another area in May and leave them there. And the cycle goes on.
  • The eagles that have resided at the Audubon Country Club for about 15 years have again produced offspring. In the attached photos, the two adult eagles are in one of their favorite perches overlooking a lake and the golf course. The fledgling is at the right of two adults; a second fledgling was in a nearby tree. The fledglings are nearly the same size as the adults; they can be differentiated principally by their dark heads compared with the white heads of the adults. Over the years the eagles have become quite comfortable with their proximity to development and typically are not spooked by the noise of lawnmowers, garbage trucks, screaming grandchildren in the pool nor golfers on the course. The eagles are a treasured part of our community. If previous patterns repeat, the adults will take the two fledglings to another area in May and leave them there. And the cycle goes on.
  • Gates Rodenfels writes, 'I took these pictures on a recent trip to the Octagon Wildlife Sanctuary. They are wonderful organization and they could use a lot more community support and awareness.'
  • Gates Rodenfels writes, 'I took these pictures on a recent trip to the Octagon Wildlife Sanctuary. They are wonderful organization and they could use a lot more community support and awareness.'
  • Dylan Kalvin writes, 'These photos were taken this weekend in the Moorings subdivision with our Kodak EasyShare z612 digital camera. My family has been debating whether the dark birds are Golden Eagles or young Bald Eagles. What do you think? Just thought these photos were more testament to the paradise we live in.'
  • Dylan Kalvin writes, 'These photos were taken this weekend in the Moorings subdivision with our Kodak EasyShare z612 digital camera. My family has been debating whether the dark birds are Golden Eagles or young Bald Eagles. What do you think? Just thought these photos were more testament to the paradise we live in.'
  • Dylan Kalvin writes, 'These photos were taken this weekend in the Moorings subdivision with our Kodak EasyShare z612 digital camera. My family has been debating whether the dark birds are Golden Eagles or young Bald Eagles. What do you think? Just thought these photos were more testament to the paradise we live in.'
  • The iguana is a member of our neighborhood here in Golden Gate city. Probably an escaped pet. He will frequently sun himself on my dock. He's a beautiful creature just a little prehistoric looking. It's amazing how fast they move and how well they swim.
  • This Muscovy duck is a little more attractive than some of the others.
  • Nancy Gallo of Pelican Bay snapped this photo of a pair of roseate spoonbills with a Panasonic Lumix digital camera in November of 2007.
  • Javier Lescano writes, 'I took this photo of an alligator during an airboat ride in Everglades City. I used a Sony Cyber-shot DSC H-5.'
  • Beth Metzger writes, 'I took a variety of photos while at Corkscrew Sanctuary just after Christmas in late December. The couple are my sister and brother-in-law, Sharon and David Wolff, who were down visiting. We took them to the Sanctuary to show off the abundant natural wildlife Florida has to offer.'
  • Beth Metzger writes, 'I took a variety of photos while at Corkscrew Sanctuary just after Christmas in late December. The couple are my sister and brother-in-law, Sharon and David Wolff, who were down visiting. We took them to the Sanctuary to show off the abundant natural wildlife Florida has to offer.'
  • Beth Metzger writes, 'I took a variety of photos while at Corkscrew Sanctuary just after Christmas in late December. The couple are my sister and brother-in-law, Sharon and David Wolff, who were down visiting. We took them to the Sanctuary to show off the abundant natural wildlife Florida has to offer.'
  • Beth Metzger writes, 'I took a variety of photos while at Corkscrew Sanctuary just after Christmas in late December. The couple are my sister and brother-in-law, Sharon and David Wolff, who were down visiting. We took them to the Sanctuary to show off the abundant natural wildlife Florida has to offer.'
  • Beth Metzger writes, 'I took a variety of photos while at Corkscrew Sanctuary just after Christmas in late December. The couple are my sister and brother-in-law, Sharon and David Wolff, who were down visiting. We took them to the Sanctuary to show off the abundant natural wildlife Florida has to offer.'
  • B. David Bettman sends us this photo, taken in October of 1984 'when I moved to Naples.' The location was 'Captain White's front yard in the Moorings.'
  • Jim Loonam snapped these photos of an osprey near the mouth of Rookery Bay.
  • Jim Loonam snapped these photos of an osprey near the mouth of Rookery Bay.
  • Jim Loonam snapped these photos of an osprey near the mouth of Rookery Bay.
  • Jim Loonam snapped these photos of an osprey near the mouth of Rookery Bay.
  • Jim Loonam snapped these photos of an osprey near the mouth of Rookery Bay.
  • Jim Loonam snapped these photos of an osprey near the mouth of Rookery Bay.
  • Nancy Wolter writes, 'This fella is ready for an airboat ride! He and several of his buds and budettes hitched a ride on a recent Everglades airboat trip I took.'
  • This is a photo of an owl taken behind our North Naples home that backs up to a preserve. It was approximately 2 - 2 1/2 feet tall and was taken with a Canon PowerShot A560. What a magnificent creature!
  • This pensive seagull was captured in a photo taken at Lowdermilk Beach in December of 2007.
  • Seagull in flight at Delnor Wiggins State Park - March 2008.
  • Enthusiastic dolphin, jumping while following the wake of our boat, just outside Doctors Pass. Taken October 2006 by Nancy Iacoli Pointer with Olympus digital camera.
  • Susan DeAngelis writes 'I took this picture on Earth Day 2008 in my canal. We counted a family of seven manatees.'
  • Dean Fejes captured this Bald Eagle on watch in Cocohatchee Estates on February 16, 2008 in Cocohatchee Estates. He was shooting with a Nikon d2x w/ 400 mm lens.
  • Dean Fejes captured this Bald Eagle taking flight in Cocohatchee Estates on February 16, 2008 in Cocohatchee Estates. He was shooting with a Nikon d2x w/ 400 mm lens.
  • I found this flower in the Florida Everglades. I have been taken pictures off of US 41 in the Turner River area for a few years now and have never come across a flower like this.
  • Petra Gustkey writes, 'This picture is of our flag and I assume assorted shoes hunters have lost out there in the swamp [Florida Everglades], I thought it an very unusual site.'

Photos submitted by our readers showing the unique wild animals and natural beauty in and around Southwest Florida. Submit your own photos at naplesnews.com/participate or send photos via email to webninjas@naplesnews.com.

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