Bradenton Beach FL – amazing wildlife and luxury rentals

Florida and wildlife. These two words together might just conjure up images of rowdy college students causing havoc on Spring Break, but when you book your vacation rental at Bradenton Beach rest assured that the wildlife is purely of the zoological kind.

Bradenton Beach FL

Bird Watching

If you’re an amateur ornithologist then Bradenton Beach will be a perfect spot for you to indulge your bird watching hobby. I always associate the early morning call of the island’s gulls with the luxuriant taste of a freshly brewed coffee and a barefoot walk on the crisp white sand beaches, but there’s more than the usual culprits to be seen, and heard, here. As well as different varieties of herons, egrets and spoonbills, Bradenton Beach’s most famous bird is the impressive brown pelican. Sporting a wingspan of up to seven and a half feet, the brown pelican is noted for its unusual habit of diving into the water to catch fish. If you keep an eye out you’re bound to see one circling above a shoal of fish before plunging at high speed into the crystal waters for its catch.

Dolphin sightings

One of my fondest memories of my first stay at Bradenton Beach is making my first dolphin sighting. When I saw that familiar grey fin cutting through the waters from the balcony of the beach front condo I’d rented I experienced a thrill unlike any other. Seeing these astonishing animals in their natural habitat, even from afar, is enough to give you goose bumps. If you want to get up close then a variety of companies offer dolphin spotting tours in the area. Dolphins are natural entertainers, so expect to see them playing up to the crowd as you cruise through the waters of the Gulf.

Loggerhead Sea Turtles

Anna Maria Island is also home to the highly endangered loggerhead sea turtle. During the months of May through October, these rare animals migrate to the island for nesting. Because loss of suitable beach nesting sites is a major reason for the decline in the loggerhead population great care must be taken around the beaches they visit. Although it is against the law to disturb the turtles or their nests you can still go on a specially guided tour organized by the Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch to get a special glimpse of these oceanic wanderers.

Manatees

If dolphins and sea turtles aren’t enough for you, then a manatee watching tour should be the icing on the cake. These placid animals, sometimes called a sea cow, are one of the most unusual of marine mammals. The local manatees are a sub-species of the West Indian manatee, and are the largest of their kind. Sadly, like the loggerhead turtle, these creatures are endangered so if you want to see them make sure you keep your distance so as not to disturb them.

Whether you’re looking for an eco-tourism holiday or not, Bradenton Beach offers many opportunities for you to take a walk on the wild side, and I promise you they are encounters that you’ll treasure for a lifetime.

Bradenton Beach Rentals, FL

On your vacation to Anna Maria Island you are assured of fabulous rental accommodation. Although hotel chains are mostly absent, your best bet would be to utilise a luxury vacation rental property. There are an abundance of luxury vacation rental properties on Bradenton Beach. From 1 bed to 7 bed properties, including some spectacular beachfront rentals, all in close proximity of local shops and restaurants, allowing you and your family to feel special, with the relaxed ‘at home’ feel, creating the perfect ambience to sit back and watch the wildlife splendours Bradenton Beach has to offer.

Anna Maria Vacations specialises in Bradenton Beach rentals. Please visit www.annamaria.com/bradenton-beach.html for more information and to make your online booking.

Photo :Dream_Angel