Imagine the Anhinga piloting a flying ship full of Yellow-bellied Sliders….
Ready for Liftoff
Category Archives: Reptiles
Belly Up the Bar, Boys
In the old westerns when you heard that you knew there was trouble lurking.
These Yellow-bellied sliders have little to fear, at least from this Alligator.
Two Alligators on Ramp
The middle board that runs the length of this Alligator ramp is drooping, giving an odd peak at the right Ali gator’s chin.
Alligator Swimming
Most of the time when I see an Alligator in the water it is just the head, but sometimes when one is swimming to get somewhere the length of its body sticks out of the water.
This one was swimming like he had somewhere to go and even though there wasn’t great light on him there was a lovely reflection of a cloudy sky in the pond.
He did duck down under the duck weed and popped back up in a fully shaded spot with even more vegetation on his head.
Alligator with Crab Lunch
I heard the crunching and knew from the Alligator’s raised head and tail position he was eating something.
Anole On the Move
- Actually pretty slow moving, for an Anole.
They often disappear before you can even get them in the viewfinder.
This fellow was taking a more measured approach, at least for a few steps.
Green Heron, Alligator, Swamp Greens
They were close enough to be in the same frame, but I did not get both the Alligator and Green Heron in focus.
The Green Heron was going about his business, picking small snacks from between the water plants and the Alligator paid no attention.
Anole on Cattail
A fluffed out cattail flower head made a nice perch for a Green Anole at the edge of the swamp.
He took advantage of the view, checking out his surroundings.
Basking In His Reflection: Alligator
An Alligator frequently occupies this spot in one of Magnolia Plantation’s garden ponds. I had stayed out on the dike longer than I had intended on this afternoon and it was nearly sundown when I headed for my car.
I did have to stop for this nearly perfect reflection opportunity even though there wasn’t much light.
Alligator Climb
I watched this Alligator swimming deliberately towards the ramp. He circled underneath and then headed for the low end.
I’ve seen, and documented, Alligators climbing onto a ramp before so I was pretty sure what was coming next.
With a heave his head and neck were out of the water.
And in one motion he smoothly propelled onto the ramp.
He started to flail a bit and I thought he might not make it.
He persisted and one of his back legs caught the edge.
Success!
