Well I didn't go to Africa, but....

[Maestro]

I did visit my favorite wildlife nature area, Fossil Rim (http://www.fossilrim.com/), again. The following images are from the same time I showed these (http://www.digitalgrin.com/showthread.php?t=66949) recently (http://www.digitalgrin.com/showthread.php?t=66838). The turkeys and jackrabbits were from Fossil Rim as well. It was nice time as usual and since it had rained the animals were quite active.

The blackbucks, male and female, were running and jousting with each other.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v116/maestros/Nature/Fossil%20Rim/Blackbuck2.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v116/maestros/Nature/Fossil%20Rim/Blackbuck.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v116/maestros/Nature/Fossil%20Rim/Juvenile_blackbuck_males3.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v116/maestros/Nature/Fossil%20Rim/Juvenile_blackbuck_males2.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v116/maestros/Nature/Fossil%20Rim/Juvenile_blackbuck_males.jpg

The roans were out as well. This one stopped and looked right at me.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v116/maestros/Nature/Fossil%20Rim/Roan.jpg

Here is one of the few antelopes that can actually defend itself from lion attack. I can see why. These guys are huge and that spear on the top of its head could really do some damage.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v116/maestros/Nature/Fossil%20Rim/Gemsbok.jpg

Speaking of lion prey, here is a wildebeest.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v116/maestros/Nature/Fossil%20Rim/Wildebeest2.jpg

Here is a scimitar horned oryx

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v116/maestros/Nature/Fossil%20Rim/scimitar_horned_oryx.jpg

The giraffes were feeding on the grasses that are quite lush since we have had such a wet summer.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v116/maestros/Nature/Fossil%20Rim/Giraffe.jpg

Look at my tongue!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v116/maestros/Nature/Fossil%20Rim/Giraffe_tongue.jpg

The southern black rhinos didn't seem to care too much about anything.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v116/maestros/Nature/Fossil%20Rim/rhino.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v116/maestros/Nature/Fossil%20Rim/Southern_black_rhino.jpg

A white tailed deer family showed up. They are native to the area and are not officially part of the animals in the area.

Dad
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v116/maestros/Nature/Fossil%20Rim/White_tailed_buck.jpg

Mom and fawn
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v116/maestros/Nature/Fossil%20Rim/mom_and_calf.jpg

An Axis deer family were nearby too.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v116/maestros/Nature/Fossil%20Rim/Axis_Deer.jpg

And finally the Fallow Deer showed up with impressive antlers!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v116/maestros/Nature/Fossil%20Rim/fallow_buck.jpg

Enjoy!

[kdog]

Tell you what, if I lived in your area, I'd be visiting this place often as well. :nod

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v116/maestros/Nature/Fossil%20Rim/Juvenile_blackbuck_males3.jpg

Great shots!

Cheers,
-joel

[kgarrett11]

Nice shots. I like the black buck. Where is this place?

[Maestro]

Nice shots. I like the black buck. Where is this place?

Glen Rose, Texas. It's about 1 hour south of Ft. Worth, Texas right at the tip of the Texas Hill Country. It is absolutely gorgeous land and land that I never want to see defiled by developers! Also, click on my linky (http://www.fossilrim.com/) in the original post for more info. :D

[Maestro]

Tell you what, if I lived in your area, I'd be visiting this place often as well. :nod

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v116/maestros/Nature/Fossil%20Rim/Juvenile_blackbuck_males3.jpg

Great shots!

Cheers,
-joel

Thanks Joel. We are family members. It pays for itself in two trips. I am also planning on paying around $200.00 to be able to visit and photograph some of the very endangered animals like the Attwater Prairie Chicken, the Mexican Grey Wolf, Coati, and they have a beautiful cheetah exhibit, but I can never get good pics of them since they are behind very high fences.

[Harryb]

Great shots from a great place :clap

[Ric Grupe]

So you have been holding out on us...huh?! :cool

Nice group, Stephen.:D

[slflash]

Stephen,
Great shots! I love Fossil Rim! It brings back great memories. I love that the animals are able to come right up to your vehicle if they want. We have been snorted by a baby zebra there before and had the attack of the giraffe tongue! Got some great shots. Looks like it was a great day! I think that Fossil Rim beats out any other drive through park.

Thanks for the picts and memories!:lust

[BBiggs]

Nice series!

[BigAl]

Nice series - strange to see Gemsbok, Blue Wildebees and Roan in the open in the US! :wink

BTW, those rhino look like white rhino rather than black rhino. The black rhino has a very sharply pointed top lip, whereas the white rhino has a broad flattish top lip. Black rhino are also browsers (bush feeders) whereas white rhinos are grazers (grass feeders), so they probably wouldn't do too well in that grassland.

[Maestro]

Nice series - strange to see Gemsbok, Blue Wildebees and Roan in the open in the US! :wink

BTW, those rhino look like white rhino rather than black rhino. The black rhino has a very sharply pointed top lip, whereas the white rhino has a broad flattish top lip. Black rhino are also browsers (bush feeders) whereas white rhinos are grazers (grass feeders), so they probably wouldn't do too well in that grassland.

BigAl,

I think you are correct since the Black Rhino are probably kept in a more secluded area since they are so endangered. I will make sure I make that correction at my site. Thanks. Those Gemsbok are neat animals. They are very muscular antelope. Impressive.

[Maestro]

Nice series!

Thanks BBiggs and I appreciate the comment in my gallery.

[dbaker1221]

cool shots from a cool place....good going:clap

[DigitalAirman]

Great work. I wish I lived nearby. I would definitely be frequenting that place often. Awesome shots.

[Maestro]

Stephen,
Great shots! I love Fossil Rim! It brings back great memories. I love that the animals are able to come right up to your vehicle if they want. We have been snorted by a baby zebra there before and had the attack of the giraffe tongue! Got some great shots. Looks like it was a great day! I think that Fossil Rim beats out any other drive through park.

Thanks for the picts and memories!:lust

I just recently rediscovered the place after years of not going, but with kids now and a passion (obsession) for wildlife photography, I couldn't stay away. Some of the animals certainly do come running right up to the car. I think though my poor son will have nightmares forever now when he thinks of ostriches. The last time an ostrich stuck its head right through the car window and nipped his little finger. It didn't hurt him, but it felt the pressure of the "bite" and that scared him.

Fossil Rim is great drive through park. There used to be one in Grand Prairie, Texas in the 70s. We'd go there too when I was young but Fossil Rim is much, much better. I think that place closed shop in the 80s.

[Maestro]

Great shots from a great place :clap

Thanks Harry.

[Maestro]

So you have been holding out on us...huh?! :cool

Nice group, Stephen.:D

Not really, just to dern busy to post the set. :huh This time of year is always hectic for me.