…and showing off his teeth.
Alligators will crawl out of the water and just plop down about anywhere, seemingly without a plan, even wound around some cypress knees.
Don’t believe anyone who tells you that Alligators aren’t active in the winter. It was a warm day, feeling like spring but still the middle of winter.
He just laid there as I was watching this pile of Yellow-bellied Sliders.
Magnolia Plantation and Gardens, Charleston, SC
February 1, 2023
Magnolia Plantation and Gardens, Charleston, SC
January 31, 2023
A giant fungus, perhaps Chicken of the Woods, surprised me as I stepped around the back of a very large tree.
Close up…
The tree does not look healthy, perhaps the result of or contributor to, the fungus that often thrive on rotting vegetation.
Or maybe both.
Magnolia Plantation and Gardens, Charleston, SC
January 31, 2023
It seems that the Great Blue Heron couple have abandoned nesting at the Skinny Tree sometime in the last week.
Another enterprising GBH spent a couple hours on Tuesday removing material from what had appeared to be a robust nest.
This heron’s nest is just at the other end of the pond, in the big island.
He made lots of trips mostly with small branches while I was watching.
Of course it is not theft to them, it is taking advantage of easy pickings.
Magnolia Plantation and Gardens, Charleston, SC
January 31, 2023
Just a short distance from the Black-bellied Whistling Duck Kerfuffle that I posted last week a few small groups were calmly hanging out.
This floating mat of vegetation was solid enough to hold up the ducks but there was water around their feet.
This fellow was doing his own thing, sort of hiding in some taller grass.
In this group, one duck was on high alert, one was sort of alert and the rest were snoozing.
Orlando Wetlands, Christmas, FL
January 18, 2023
Orlando Wetlands Park is 1650 acres of man-made wetland designed to provide advanced treatment for reclaimed water from the City of Orlando and other local cities.
A selection of Tulip Magnolia blossoms after Tuesday’s rain.
Magnolia Plantation and Gardens, Charleston, SC
January 31, 2023
A Great Blue Heron minding the nest on the Skinny Tree.
The heron flew to the end of the pond and I waited 15 -20 minutes for it to return, with hopes of a flight image. Finally I moved on.
Magnolia Plantation and Gardens, Charleston, SC
January 24, 2023
I knew he was there, given away by the rustling of the branches, but wasn’t sure what it actually was. Finally a White-eyed Vireo popped out of the underbrush.
And just before he popped back in.
Magnolia Plantation and Gardens, Charleston, SC
January 31, 2023
There was a drop-off in the sand from where this Ring-billed Gull was perched to the ocean.
He and a few pals were getting some end of day sun.
Typical of gulls, they were flapping around a bit while the waves were roiling around behind them.
I don’t remember if this is the same bird as the first picture, but it was nice he supplied me with another head profile shot.
St. Augustine Beach, FL
January 20, 2023
After sunrise didn’t make much of a show I walked the beach and this group of gulls was gathered at the tide line ahead of me.
Gulls At the BeachI suspected they would all fly as I wasn’t the only person on the beach, and some were jogging and others had dogs.
Skimmer With Gulls At the BeachThe gulls actually didn’t fly and the Black Skimmer made him self comfy in the crowd.
Skimmer With Gulls At the BeachI got one pretty good look at the Skimmer as he stepped away from the group working on their morning grooming. I glanced away for a second and when I turned back he was gone.
Skimmer At the BeachSt. Augustine Beach, FL
January 21, 2023
