I was hoping to see this Carolina Anole catch a bug, but nothing came his way while I was watching.
I was able to get images from a couple of angles and he just hung there, even his tail stayed still.
Lastly, a broader view of where the anole was perched, about 5 feet ( 1 1/2 Meters) off the ground. He was still there when I moved on down the trail.
Click on any image for a larger view.
This is one of the short white bridges at Magnolia Plantation and Gardens, as opposed to the “Long White Bridge” where tourists and brides pose for photographs. Around the corner on the same pond and much less visited. Except by the wildlife.
While I was watching the Bard Owl of yesterday’s post an Alligator thrashed around at the edge of the pond then swam very deliberately out to the middle of the pond.
He negotiated around a few Cypress knees, made a U-turn and stopped directly underneath the owl, that was on a branch about 20 feet (6 meters) above the water.
If he was hoping the Barred Owl would swoop down he was disappointed. The Owl was very aware of the Alligator’s presence. After ten or fifteen minutes the Alligator swam back where he came from, climbed out of the water and disappeared.
Twisted twigs from an old vine and a small drape of Spanish Moss made a fanciful scene for a passing Carolina Anole. He showed off his red dewlap as he marched up the branch.
I know, it is still a snake. I’ve never been a fan, but am becoming more accustomed to them. I spotted this one at Beidler Forest working his way along a rotting log.
I don’t study the educational signs with the ID info about snakes, but do know that the round eyes and round head are signs this one is harmless.
The snake slowly checked out the crevices in the log and showed no interest in me watching him
Plus, I was on a boardwalk at least ten feet away.
This is probably a Carolina Anole, due to the bright green color. They have the ability to change to a duller green or brown, depending on the temperature and their environment.
This one is shedding his skin, which is brought on by growth: like other reptiles their skin doesn’t grow with them.
Anoles become less active when going through the shedding process and this one picked a dangerous spot at the edge of the swamp to just hang out. He would easily be seen by a passing bird who could snatch him up for lunch. I left before that happened.
After the bigger fellow from my post Alligator Coming Up got settled I turned my head to watch an Egret and the little gator bailed off into the water. I watched him swim around the ramp and then he took at turn at climbing up.
He made a huge effort, flailing his front and back legs around.
I can do it!
Almost there, just need to get that back leg a little higher!
And then he lost his grip.
Notice that the bigger Alligator never moved during all this action.
Down, down, down into the water he went.
Many nature areas provide ramps for the Alligators to get get out of the water and sun themselves. The result is safe, fascinating viewing for visitors and keeps some of the Alligators out of the areas where said visitors might be walking. Usually the low end of the ramp is in the water but the pond has been lowered for maintenance so access to this ramp required some work.
A younger Alligator was laying there minding his own business and didn’t seem aware he was about to have company.
He stayed in that spot for longer than I expected.
But then he thought better of it as the larger Alligator heaved up over the side with a gargantuan effort.
For a moment I thought the big one was going to flip back into the water. Alligators are proportionally tail so even with his front legs on the platform he had a ways to go.
Made it!
The big guy made it and the little one moved a few more inches away.
The larger Alligator is probably 4 to 5 years old. He is loosing the yellowish stripes that younger ones have to help with camouflage. When they get to be this age and size they are no longer prey to other animals.
Or… Is This My Best Side?
The dike bank curves a bit so I was able to get views from a couple of angles.
And the head shot, with just a bit of tooth showing.
When I saw the big Alligator moving I was ready for the Spoonbills to fly or the Alligator on the right to react. Anything.
No, this time the Alligator slid into the water without any fanfare; none of the other creatures cared at all.
Evidently the big guy didn’t have any cares either, and just floated in place once he cleared the bank.
