Fresh leaves popping out on the trees around the pond are making some interesting water reflections.
A slowly passing Alligator didn’t make a ripple.
Magnolia Plantation and Gardens, Charleston, SC
March 14, 2023
Reflective Alligator
Category Archives: Reptiles
Alligator In The Knees
…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
Yellow-bellied Slider, Sliding In
Or
Going…
…going…
…gone.
Ravenswood Pond, Magnolia Plantation & Gardens, Charleston, SC
January 9, 2023
Yellow-bellied Sliders, January
I was a bit surprised to see these Yellow-bellied Sliders out of the water. It was warm compared to the near freezing temps we had been having, but they were not in the sun.
Another pair was on a nearby clump of…something. I didn’t see the one in the water until looking at the images on the computer.
Ravenswood Pond, Magnolia Plantation & Gardens, Charleston, SC
January 9, 2023
Pile O’Reptiles: Turtles and Alligators
This spot is a favorite for alligators and turtles, and at certain times of the year the light is perfect for reflections. I see parts of four Alligators and two Turtles, one facing the camera and one away, tucked under the left most Alligator.
I was focusing on the draped Alligator arm and didn’t see the turtle peeking up over the top until I was processing my photos.
The last photo was taken about 90 minutes later, the sun had just gone down so not much light. There hadn’t been much movement in the pile.
Magnolia Plantation and Gardens, Charleston, SC
December 12, 2022
Alligator and Yellow-bellied Sliders
Late on a warm November afternoon Alligators and Yellow-bellied Sliders were hanging out on the alligator ramps.
A touch of fall foliage reflected in the water.
A wider view at a different angle shows the alligator ramp from the first image, with another one a bit further to the left.
Ravenswood Pond
Magnolia Plantation and Gardens, Charleston, SC
November 28, 2022
Gallinule Passing By
A few Common Gallinules were walking around in this shallow water at the edge of a pond, quietly minding their own business.
Gallinules are known for making a vocal fuss, but while I was watching this scene they were quiet.
Hard to say if Alligators pay any attention to when birds vocalize; I’ve seen them respond to movement around them but not just noise.
These Alligators never moved.
Magnolia Plantation and Gardens, Charleston, SC
October 24, 2022
Wordless Wednesday: Turtles and an Alligator
Magnolia Plantation and Gardens, Charleston, SC
October 24, 2022
Alligators Everywhere
The Alligators took advantage of the exposed mud as water drained out of the the big rice field pond.
And they found their way into a number of my wading bird images.
A wider view of the interior of the pond–all of those reeds are due to be burned off as soon as wind conditions are right.
Magnolia Plantation and Gardens, Charleston, SC
October 24, 2022
Alligators, Doing Their Thing
And their thing isn’t much, or wasn’t on this day. This fellow was just hanging out at the edge of the pond.
Not really a photobomber because it’s not so easy to see, but there is a Belted Kingfisher sitting on the stick at the center top of the image as the Alligator glided by.
Magnolia Plantation and Gardens, Charleston, SC
August 27, 2022