Paradise in Florida - Day 4 - Wildlife at Seminole Lakes CC, and we golfed too
I'm down in Florida visiting my father during spring break. Saturday was a beautiful sunny day with temperatures reaching the high 80's. I had made plans to travel north 40 minutes to Punta Gorda and join my Uncle Lee as well as my cousin Dennis and his wife Libby for 18 holes of golf.
Libby, Dennis and Lee with Paradise
Seminole Lakes Country Club is a semi-private 18 hole golf course that opened in 1992 and was designed by Ron Garl. Uncle Lee is a ranger on this golf course, and as a ranger he can take a friend for FREE. That made Paradise really happy!
Entrance to Seminole Lakes Country Club
With a name like Seminole Lakes, you can imagine that there would be lots of water hazards. And along with the water hazards came other surprising benefits.
Tilapia on Spawning bed
The Tilapia were on their spawning beds. WOW!! And every lake was loaded with them. Hundreds and hundreds of these beautiful fish, spawning near the shore lines.
Sandhill Cranes
And that was not all. We rounded a corner and came upon some Sandhill Cranes near a tee box. These are tall birds, maybe 3 feet tall, and they stroll around like they own the place.
Turtle
Of course, one of the things you will see in most golf course ponds is a turtle. This one was sunning with another turtle, but the larger one swam away before I could get a good photo.
American White Ibis
We also came across some sensational Ibis. The American white Ibis are long-legged wading birds in the species of the Ibis family.
Florida Alligator
And on this day we actually came across a Florida Alligator. Yup - I had spotted it from across the lake, and sure enough, as we approached Dennis and Libby both excitedly pointed it out. This "Gator" was lazily sunning on the lake shore and by our estimation was about 5 foot long.
Sign at home lake of large alligator
There is a big alligator that makes its home in the lake on the 18th hole. Lee, Dennis and Libby have each viewed this large "Gator" and it is impressive, measuring over 12 feet long, with incredible girth. The course warns golfers with a DANGER sign.
We all had a splendid time, and on this remarkable day, golfing took a back seat to mother nature!
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Those Sandhill Cranes look familiar, as there are so many some times in Wisconsin. That Tilapia looks good too... and delicious!
I think I might accidentally hit my golf ball into a water hazard to try to get a gator.
Hahaha, that would be a good one, go into the lake to get a Gator!!
Thanks again for your support and comment!! Steem on!!
Awesome post, @Paradise-Found! You take some great nature shots!
Thanks @chemtrails! It really was a sensational day in nature, we just happened to hit a little white ball while we enjoyed all the beauty.