Again? Well, yes. Succumbing to my family's demands, we ended up in Orlando again this summer for yet another "once in a lifetime" experience. Apparently, there were some theme parks we hadn't done before. On that basis, I expect we'll be here next year too, and the next one... unless I put my foot down.
White Ibis, 20/08/18, Busch Gardens, Tampa, Florida. Not an ideal roosting spot.
Clutching at straws for winners, I snapped away at any unusual wildlife...
After a few beers, I couldn't believe my luck. Not one, but TWO giant lobsters, perched on top of cars, 50 miles inland. Unbelievable scenes.
The giant lobsters were obviously guarding their babies, but my predatory daughter had other ideas.
The next day, my son convinced me that the giant lobsters weren't actually real. The cooked ones were real, but quite dead, so didn't really count as wildlife. Unperturbed, we headed to Universal Studios, which didn't disappoint...
Two giant penguins, very much alive and kicking. 22/08/18, Universal Studios, Orlando, Florida.
My sanity was finally saved by a visit to a local hot-spot: Wekiwa Springs. Just half an hour from Orlando, this little-known gem is an oasis for wildlife (real wildlife) away from all the plastic and nonsense...
From the moment we arrived, I just knew I was going to like it here...
Holly finds a butterfly and picks it up, like she often does.
Palamedes Swallowtail (Papilio Palamedes). A winner! It was moving about with no people inside it!
Red-bellied Turtle. Not moving around, but real I reckon, despite the ridiculous pose.
We hired 2 kayaks and headed off downstream only to encounter this beast weaving its way accross the water...
There are times when you wish some wildlife weren't real at all. Like house spiders in your bath, or lice in your hair, or a fly in your soup. However, this snake went as far as boarding our Kayak and nestling next to my leg. Whether it was a harmless Green Water Snake, or a venomous Water Moccasin, I didn't ask questions. I simply flicked it back into the water with a cool, nonchalant flick of the wrist, thus saving everyone's lives, like Spider-man would, or the Incredible Hulk.
So there you are folks: Florida in a nutshell. Like it or loathe it, you'd be a fool to like it. But it does throw up some interesting wildlife from time to time.
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