Two Alligators were visible in the canal that runs around an old rice field at Donnelley Wildlife Management Area. Taken September 13th, we are starting to see some changes to fall colors.
Rice Field Canal, Almost Fall
Category Archives: Reptiles
Backyard Carolina Anole on Caladium
With more time spent at home this summer Carolina Anoles have continued to entertain me on our patio.
This is the first year I’ve tried Caladium. It’s holding up to the heat and makes a great perch for the Anoles as they search for bugs.
The colors of the lizard and the leaves were incredibly vivid; here’s a B&W version.
Leaving a Trail
I heard this young Alligator chirping at the edge of a duckweed covered pond. I’ve seen juveniles in this area off and on over the summer and suspect they are now around six months old and about 2 feet (60 cm) long.
From there he headed out into the pond, using his full body and tail to propel forward. I didn’t hear any more chirping and didn’t see any siblings. Or mama.
Then he made a 90 degree turn.
Finally he straightened out and headed for the other side of the pond, leaving a squiggly trail in the thick duckweed behind him.
Alligator In The Green
The greens seem more intense in some places as we head into fall. This Alligator slid from the walking path into the water as I approached, then bobbed up in the duckweed as I passed by.
I Spy In The Green
… a Tree Frog and a Grasshopper, and a lot of green.
The Tree Frog appeared to spy me, too, but he didn’t much care about me or the grasshopper.
The grasshopper ignored us both, too.
Juvenile Five-lined Skink Acrobat
I saw this little ( 2 or 3 inch / 5-8 cm) Skink land, and am not sure if he jumped or fell. Whichever it was I think the result stunned him. He stayed in this awkward position for 15 or 20 seconds before leaping off into the interior of the plant.
Backyard Carolina Anole
Young Carolina Anoles have been a steady source of entertainment on our patio and porch this summer as they figure out how to get around and find lunch.
Potted plants seem like a jungle around these little fellows, which are not as big around as a pencil when they first hatch.
The adults are either hiding from the heat or have become lunch for a passing bird.
Between the Knees
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.
A Small Drama, Alligator
I had been watching this Alligator as he floated in the water with his full back sticking up. Usually just see the head is out of the water unless they are actively using their tail to swim. He was staying in place.
I suspected he might be profiling, basically showing off, to either impress a female or warn off other males. And wham, he smacked the water with his head.
Expecting more, I waited, but that was it. There are dozens of large Alligators in this immediate area and evidently they were not impressed.
Anole on Trumpet Vine Pod
I seem to be seeing Green Anoles everywhere lately, and climbing on all sorts of things.
This dried pod is from last year’s Trumpet Vine which surprisingly hasn’t popped open.
The Anole was showing off his Dewlap, also known as a throat fan. They do this to attract mates and to establish their territory, alerting an intruding male that he’s gone to far.
