From the still wet duckweed you could tell this young Alligator had recently climbed out of the pond.
I hadn’t spotted him until I was right up to him. I backed up to get a view of him threaded through the Cypress Knees.
And back a little more to capture the whole pond-side scene.
Excellent photos, Ellen! Even the young alligators appear primordial.
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Thanks, Belinda. Yes, they sure do. I’m constantly amazed that they have managed to survive, supposedly with very little change for millions of years.
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What a unique perspective here! As many times as I’ve seen both cypress knees and young alligators in Florida, I’ve never seen them together like this☺️🐊
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Thank you, glad that you liked these. I had wondered if it gave the Alligator a feeling of protection, or was it just the easiest route!
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Lol… good question!
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I just can’t stop starring at that eye.
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…staring right back at you!
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When I saw your title, Ellen, I knew what the knees were, or at least hoped! It was what was going to be between them…. 😉 Really like the habitat shot, wonder if he thinks he’s hiding to be safe, or hiding to catch lunch? 🙄 😊 Nice long tail, let’s hope he doesn’t think it’s hiding too! 😂
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Glad I made you smile, Donna! 😉
I wondered that, too. Although I expect they do, I’ve never seen an alligator eat out on land. I’ve seen them catch fish/crabs/turtles/birds in the water or reached up for a bird above them.
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Oh no! I’ve never seen an alligator reach up for a bird! 😲
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Oh yes, I’ve seen it few times, jump right out of the water at a bird on a branch or flying over. Only saw success, for the alligator, once.
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Whew. Okay s/he can have one. I think I’d scream at the alligator, lol.
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It is hard to watch nature take its course sometimes.
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Love that second shot!
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Thanks, William!
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These are amazing shots Ellen! Were you very close or is this a nice big zoom at work? Awesome regardless.
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Thanks, Sandra. I was pretty close, less than five feet. That bit of land is between a paved walking trail and the pond edge. I always scan ahead when I’m walking this path because its a popular spot for Alligators to get out of the water and they are easily camoflaged. I was pleased to get a good profile shot.
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You’re officially my hero Ellen! 👏
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