
Ashley River Park, Summerville, SC
August 1, 2023
It had been a slow morning for photographing wildlife so I stopped for this young Alligator. I didn’t see the dragonfly until I was looking at the images on my computer.
After the first image I moved along for a different angle of the Alligator, still not seeing the dragonfly. He was following a tight flight path, with just two seconds between the next and final images.
The Alligator is probably 2 to 3 years old, based on his size and camouflage coloration.
Magnolia Plantation & Garden, Charleston, SC
June 16, 2023
The rising sun hadn’t cleared the trees at the far end of Ravenswood Pond, making some long shadows. The closer Black-crowned Night-heron had no interest in turning towards the sun.
An Alligator didn’t seem to mind facing the sun.
Magnolia Plantation and Gardens, Charleston, SC
April 20, 2023
A trio of Roseate Spoonbills was feeding in shallow water, weaving around a few Alligators.
Donnelley Wildlife Management Area, SC
April 2, 2023
If any of you follow my husband, Ted Jennings/TPJ Photo, you might have seen his post He Couldn’t Wait, Alligator, a series of an Alligator walking across a walkway.
I had passed by before the Alligator came out of the pond on the right, and turned just to see him disappearing into the pond on the left. This was what I saw:
These wading birds were feeding in a newly lowered pond. This results in the fish becoming concentrated in a smaller and smaller amount of water and easy feeding for a wading bird. It’s fascinating to watch the feeding but can be difficult to get images of individual birds.
Eventually some of the birds got sated and flew off. A few more moved to the outer edge of the feeding, allowing for some isolated images.
There was a little breeze so the reflections weren’t perfect.
The Alligators didn’t appear to be hungry as at least a dozen of them were just floating around in between the birds.
If I couldn’t have dead calm for reflections I’d have been happier with a stiff breeze as the gnats were out in force that morning.
Donnelley Wildlife Management Area, SC
April 2, 2023
I first spotted this Alligator laying on the lawn between the Mill Pond and Butterfly Lakes at Middleton Place. I didn’t take his picture; it was a scene I’ve photographed many times.
Then he decided to take a walk–now that’s a bit different.
He crossed the lawn, dropped into the small pond closest to the rice field. I had taken a longer route, not really expecting to see him again, and arrived here just as he climbed out on the other side.
He ducked back into the water when he spotted me; I passed by and waited.
The Alligator continued his trek at a slow, steady pace…across the pedestrian path…
…across another small lawn…
…then into the rice field pond he went.
Middleton Place, Charleston, SC
April 6, 2023
…and showing off his teeth.
Alligators will crawl out of the water and just plop down about anywhere, seemingly without a plan, even wound around some cypress knees.
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.
Magnolia Plantation and Gardens, Charleston, SC
February 1, 2023