Tag Archives: Alligator

Alligator In The Knees

…and showing off his teeth.

Alligator
Young Alligator, about 4 feet long ( 1.25 Meters)

Alligators will crawl out of the water and just plop down about anywhere, seemingly without a plan, even wound around some cypress knees.

Alligator
Alligator – working on temperature regulation with his mouth open

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.

Yellow-bellied Sliders
Yellow-bellied Sliders

Magnolia Plantation and Gardens, Charleston, SC
February 1, 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.

Alligators and Yellow-bellied Sliders
Alligators and Yellow-bellied Sliders

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.

Alligators and Yellow-bellied Sliders
Alligators and Yellow-bellied Sliders

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.

Alligators and Yellow-bellied Sliders
Alligators and Yellow-bellied Sliders

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.

Alligator and Yellow-bellied Slider
Alligator and Yellow-bellied Slider

A touch of fall foliage reflected in the water.

Alligator and Yellow-bellied Slider
Alligator and Yellow-bellied Slider

A wider view at a different angle shows the alligator ramp from the first image, with another one a bit further to the left.

Alligator and Yellow-bellied Slider
Alligator and Yellow-bellied Slider

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.

Common Gallinule and Alligator
Common Gallinule and Alligator

Gallinules are known for making a vocal fuss, but while I was watching this scene they were quiet.

Common Gallinule and Alligators
Common Gallinule and Alligators

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.

Common Gallinule and Alligators
Common Gallinule and Alligators

These Alligators never moved.

Alligators
Alligators

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.

Wading Birds and Alligators
Wading Birds and Alligators
Wading Birds and Alligators
Wading Birds and Alligators
Snowy Egret Flying By Alligator
Snowy Egret Flying By Alligator

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.

Wading Birds and Alligator
Wading Birds and Alligator, The Alligator’s crawl path zigzagging across the mud

Magnolia Plantation and Gardens, Charleston, SC
October 24, 2022

Everyone Has A Spot

The Snowy Egret and the Spoonbill took a break from harassing each other while the Great Egret was doing his own thing.

The Spoonie Tree:
The Spoonie Tree: Snowy Egret Roseate Spoonbill and Great Egret, Alligators at the base

A closer look at the Alligators: it was warming up and they were looking for sunny spots out of the water.

Alligators Below the Spoonie Tree
Alligators Below the Spoonie Tree

Donnelley Wildlife Management Area, SC
October 16, 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.

Alligator In The Weeds
Alligator In The Weeds

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.

Alligator Crossing The Pond
Alligator Crossing The Pond, Belted Kingfisher on the stick

Magnolia Plantation and Gardens, Charleston, SC
August 27, 2022

 

Lone Roseate Spoonbill in the Spoonie Tree

The Spoonie Tree is still standing, and a single Roseate Spoonbill was perched there on my last visit.

Roseate Spoonbill In the Spoonie Tree
Roseate Spoonbill In the Spoonie Tree, Alligator on the hummock to right of Pokeberry

I took a walk down the dike and an hour later he was still there, and still alone.

Roseate Spoonbill In the Spoonie Tree
Roseate Spoonbill In the Spoonie Tree

Just checking things out.

Roseate Spoonbill In the Spoonie Tree
Roseate Spoonbill In the Spoonie Tree

Donnelley Wildlife Management Area, SC
September 14, 2022

Snowy Egret Fishing on the Fly

This canal runs along side an old rice field impoundment and on this morning it was hopping with little fish.

Snowy Egret Fishing on the Fly
Snowy Egret Fishing on the Fly

A Snowy Egret was showing off how to catch breakfast while keeping your wings dry.

Snowy Egret Fishing on the Fly
Snowy Egret Fishing on the Fly

They swallow as they go so it’s hard to say if he was successful.

Snowy Egret Fishing on the Fly
Snowy Egret Fishing on the Fly

Let’s try this again…

Snowy Egret Fishing on the Fly
Snowy Egret Fishing on the Fly

Drag your toes in the water… then a face plant…

Snowy Egret Fishing on the Fly
Snowy Egret Fishing on the Fly

Then liftoff!

Snowy Egret Fishing on the Fly
Snowy Egret Fishing on the Fly

The Alligator was just a bonus.

Snowy Egret Fishing on the Fly
Snowy Egret Fishing on the Fly

Bear Island Wildlife Management Area, SC
September 14, 2022