The first morning i was awoken by a piercing bird call, I angrily peered out the window to see which wild resident was upsetting my sleep to see a gorgeous osprey perched on a palm tree with a fish in its talons. While these birds of prey are a precious conservation issue in the UK, they are absolutely everywhere on Captiva. Sitting on the beach you can watch them fishing, walk around the golf course to see the young in their nest, lay on your sunbed and watch them cirlcing above. They really are a magnificent bird.On the first day my boyfriend took me on a tour of the island, and on stopping by the harbour a curious nose appeared just under the water. The Florida Manatee. I cannot explain how much I have fallen in love with these sea cows. They are such a curious unusual animal and you cannot help but stand around waiting for that small glimpse of those nostrils. Every time we walked near the harbour I would dash across to see if I could catch another glimpse of these amazing mammals. On one occasion a group of 6 and a baby were floating just below the surface, occasionally popping up for a breath. On the last day I had to have a final goodbye, and dashed down to have a peek, the night before there had been a small storm, leaving debris on the surface. It was a manatee feast. They were all gathered, rolling around and feeding on the surface, it was an incredible moment, and I managed to catch a video of them feeding.
Ospreys and manatees wern't the only animals on Captiva, I got my first experience of wild dolphins jumping in the wake of a boat, alligators, snakes, lizards, raccons, rabbits, and so many species of birds, Captiva is a haven for wildlife, and I thoroughly recommend visiting if you want to relax by the pool or beach while sampling some of the most incredible wildlife there is.
