Florida Bass Man

Go Noles!

[XANDER GEOGRAPHIC 🏕️ @actionxander]

The running gag in Florida is that the alligators are the "swamp puppies" but I think our river otters should hold sole possession of that title.

[XANDER GEOGRAPHIC 🏕️ @actionxander]

Here are the photos I captured that day of my first bobcat! We managed to track down this lonesome cat as it made it's way to the other side of the marsh and hole up in a den to escape the morning light. Sergio and I must have sat in the grass for a good half hour before the cat decided to retreat further deeper into the brush. I will never forget those piercing eyes.

[Florida Bass Man @dbass223]

@SpicyNoodles2 @ProfMJCleveland Escalators don’t play.

[XANDER GEOGRAPHIC 🏕️ @actionxander]

Last light on the marsh. The wind was blowing and I caught something in my peripheral some distance away over the slough hidden in the hammocks. A fuzzy barred owlet, awaiting for either parent to return with a snack. The owlet was some distance away and light was fading fast so I did the best I could to snap something!

[XANDER GEOGRAPHIC 🏕️ @actionxander]

The red-winged blackbird is one of the most recognizable birds in North America, but you'd never guess the juvenile female and the adult male were the same species!

Females and young birds are streaky brown all over, built for camouflage while nesting and raising young on the ground. The bold black plumage and iconic red-and-yellow shoulder patches belong exclusively to the males, and those patches aren't just for show. A male can conceal or flash his red epaulettes depending on the situation, displaying them to rivals and potential mates or tucking them away to avoid a fight he's not looking for.

[Florida Bass Man @dbass223]

@harveyspistols @ShadowSysUSA Let’s try this again.

[Harvey's Pistol & Pawn @harveyspistols]

Rascal is still out there and radios in when he can, or when he decides to, rather 😉. This week he thought a handy @ShadowSysUSA in tiger stripe my do the trick. Sometimes you have to wander back into town to resupply camp and you don't always need a big bore. Thanks, as always, to @SummRidge for helping foot the bill for this week's piece!

As always FOLLOW US & @SummRidge , REPOST or QUOTE POST, and REPLY to this post to enter.

I wish each and everyone of you the best of luck and thank you all for helping us spread the word of our small family business!

[Florida Bass Man @dbass223]

@actionxander Didn’t see it but heard some cries from the rabbit. So my assumption is yes.

[XANDER GEOGRAPHIC 🏕️ @actionxander]

Although my burrowing owl vlog has well over 35K views, this bobcat short has performed exceedingly well! It's been pulling a lot more likes and comments! I guess I need to track down more bobcats for you guys.

[XANDER GEOGRAPHIC 🏕️ @actionxander]

@nikitabier And where does river otter maxxing fit into all this?

[XANDER GEOGRAPHIC 🏕️ @actionxander]

For a long time, I've been after a ghost in the wetlands. After many attempts hiking the northern region of the Florida Everglades, I finally scored my first bobcat.

[XANDER GEOGRAPHIC 🏕️ @actionxander]

The "Happy-I-Am-Not-a-Fish" photo set. Florida Everglades edition.

[XANDER GEOGRAPHIC 🏕️ @actionxander]

Not the sharpest photo but it's too funny not to share. Check out this river otter giving me the most bombastic side-eye.

[XANDER GEOGRAPHIC 🏕️ @actionxander]

Mike got a fantastic capture here! I've only photographed this younger Great Blue Heron feasting on an invasive Mayan cichlid in the Everglades. Great Blue Herons are voracious in their appetites and will eat anything from fish to juvenile alligators and even other birds and small mammals. Again, thankful I am not a fish!

[Florida Bass Man @dbass223]

@manhattanmaker @AvrahamAdler @alexthechick That is BONK worthy

[XANDER GEOGRAPHIC 🏕️ @actionxander]

Try to capture entire river otter family of three in sharp focus together challenge (impossible)

[Enguerrand VII de Coucy @ingelramdecoucy]

@StarTribune

[Enguerrand VII de Coucy @ingelramdecoucy]

@USATODAY

[XANDER GEOGRAPHIC 🏕️ @actionxander]

Alright, I had everything working against me here from the harsh backlight to the glaring highlights of the wet fur to photographing exceptionally darker subjects that are the otters. Underexposure saved me here and I was able to tastefully bump up our shadows. Personally, I don't think they're great photos but you guys tell me! A pair of sandy river otters!