There was lots of Alligator activity this week, despite the cooler temperatures. I counted seven Alligators floating in the pond behind the long white bridge at Magnolia.
This one treated me to a slow paddle across a colorful reflection.
Magnolia Plantation and Gardens, Charleston, SC
November 27, 2024
When this object first caught my eye I thought it was a piece of trash tossed into the bushes.
On closer look, but not too close thanks to a zoom lens, it was indeed a snake.
I’ve become much more tolerant of being in the presence of a snake since we moved to South Carolina, but I’d still be happy to never see one again.
There are two black snakes in SC. The Racer usually races away, leaving me to think this leisurely specimen was a Rat Snake.
Cypress Wetlands, Port Royal, SC
October 30, 2024
The “Spoonie Tree” continues to decline, and in July the water was lowered in the pond exposing its roots. For several years I have thought that this will be the year that this tree finally topples, but there it stands. The first picture I can find that I took of the tree, from October 2017, the tree was far from healthy, but still living.
On this hot July day the alligators were out in force, mostly just floating around mid-day when we stopped by.
There was a Belted Kingfisher perched atop the tree, while all the wading birds stayed to the back of the pond as seen above.
Donnelley Wildlife Management Area, SC
July 21, 2024
and just a little mud! This pond had recently been drained but retained enough water to be a mud bath.
Alligators don’t usually lay in such mud, preferring drier land or to be submerged. He walked / plodded deliberatly to this spot…
..where he found a crab and which he worked out of the mud.
Then he immediately made his way back the way he came.
A nearby Tri-colored Heron decided to move a bit further away.
The Alligator slid into a pool of water and stayed submerged for the several minutes I stayed there watching.
Magnolia Plantation and Gardens, Charleston, SC
July 17, 2024
I watched this Alligator slowly swim along the edge of the pond hoping he would somehow line up with the reflection of the Star Hibiscus.
And he did!
He hardly made a ripple and the reflection stayed intact.
Magnolia Plantation and Gardens, Charleston, SC
June 19, 2024
I saw the Alligator come out of the pond to the left and plomp down.
I was rethinking my destination when he got up, sauntered over the walkway,
…slid into the water and swam away.
Magnolia Plantation and Gardens, Charleston, SC
May 12, 2024
Another Alligator not far from the one in yesterday’s post was doing a similar maneuver…
…heaving out of the water.
And a more dramatic splash!
Perry Pond, Magnolia Plantation and Gardens, Charleston, SC
April 19, 2024
I don’t know what the prey was but I repeatedly saw this Alligator heaving himself up out of the water.
Then splashing down.
Then there was chewing.
Magnolia Plantation and Gardens, Charleston, SC
April 19, 2024
Donnelley Wildlife Management Area, SC
October 28, 2023
Ashley River Park, Summerville, SC
August 1, 2023
