Tag Archives: Alligator

Reptiles

Fifteen Minutes of Fame: Alligator

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A young Alligator has taken to draping himself on a rock quite near the shore of the pond in the rookery. Many local photographers have captured beautiful images with reflections, eye closeups and detail of his stripes over the last several weeks.

I couldn’t resist adding to his fame when the opportunity with these reflections presented itself.

Alligator on a Rock
Alligator on a Rock

I’m pretty sure the rock has been right there but this is the first time I’ve seen anything but a turtle on it. Some branches hanging over it have shifted, perhaps making it a more appealing perch. Plus, there is no worry about sharing.

Alligator on a Rock
Alligator on a Rock

Here is another view from a few feet away through the downed branches.

Alligator on a Rock
Alligator on a Rock

Taken 12/23/2017.

Click on any photo for larger view. 

Reptiles

Movement in the Water

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The movement was subtle, especially for a 15 foot Alligator.  I’m guessing on the length–I could just say very long. This fellow was swimming quietly, but covering some distance.

Alligator Swimming Across Pond
Alligator Swimming Across Pond

He had places to go and wasn’t wasting any time getting there, swimming in a straight line from where I first spotted the movement towards an island where the Alligators often lounge at the edge of the water. And watch for wading birds to land or chicks to fall.

Alligator Swimming Across Pond
Alligator Swimming Across Pond

With the length of his back out of the water and a tree for reference you can see just how big

Alligator Swimming Across Pond
Alligator Swimming Across Pond

I didn’t see the second one until I was looking at the photos later. Tucked under the branches on the left, he didn’t move as the older and much larger beast went by.

Alligator Swimming Across Pond
Alligator Swimming Across Pond

Click on any photo for larger view.

Birds, Nature, Reptiles

Sharing Space

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The turtles are the most likely to be seen sharing space with other creatures around the swamp and ponds. They crave the sun just like the alligators on this reptile ramp and don’t show any fear in the presence of an alligator that could easily eat them.

Alligator and Turtles
Alligator and Turtles

Wading birds like this Great Egret like a sunny spot, too, and easily find a spot in between the turtles on a nearby ramp.

Great Egret and Turtles
Great Egret and Turtles

I don’t know what this “foot in the air” display from the turtle just to the right of the egret is all about, but a little further along in another small pond I saw it again, with both hind feet straight out.

Two Turtles Sharing a Log
Two Turtles Sharing a Log
Reptiles

Reptile Day at the Swamp

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There aren’t many wading birds around my favorite swamp right now but I still like to walk around it at least once a week and I always see something. Sunday it was reptiles. We have had some cold weather but Sunday was in the low 70s (about 21 degrees C) and turtles, lizards and alligators were out soaking up the sun.

Turtles were crawling out of the water. They often just move onto the bank of the swamp making it easy to retreat. This one was more ambitious and got a completely dry spot.

Turtle
Turtle

The Brown Anole did a nice job selecting his wooden perch for camouflage and full sun. When I passed he disappeared down a crack in the middle of this dead stump.

Brown Anole
Brown Anole

The Alligators care little about being seen. Usually they can sink and swim many feet away in seconds if they feel the need to escape. The dead tree limbs this one was in between might have slowed him down if a real predator was after him. He was content with this spot; he hadn’t moved when I returned by him twenty minutes later.

Alligator
Alligator

Click on any photo for larger view.

Landscape

Pond in Fall Colors

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We recently toured the Tom Yawkey Wildlife Center, a 20,000 acre property on the coast of South Carolina that is managed by the state Department of Natural Resources. The Center is only accessible by crossing the Intracoastal Waterway by boat and only on pre-arranged tours.

Fall Pond
Fall Pond

The property is magnificent and includes some fresh water ponds that were glowing with reflected color and rippled by passing Alligators.

Fall Pond with Alligator
Fall Pond with Alligator

 

Nature, Reptiles, Wading Birds

Gathered Around

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The Cormorants were content drying their wings on the Alligator ramp as a murky sun warmed the afternoon. A Great Blue Heron came along and disrupted their peace.

Gathering Spot
Great Blue Heron coming in, Cormorants holding their territory

The Cormorants did not surrender their ground despite some posturing from the Great Blue.

Gathering Spot
Great Blue Heron puffed up

An Alligator popped up to see what was happening as I continued along my walk.

Gathering Spot
Great Blue Heron, Cormorants, and Alligator
Reptiles

Alligator Parade

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One by one and without a sound or a ripple of the water these three Alligators swam out from a side canal into the main one that circles the old rice field.

Alligators
Alligators

And then there were four.

Alligators
Alligators

A sepia treatment makes the scene a little more creepy. Not sure of their intended direction we moved back down the dike towards the road so we wouldn’t get cut off if they came ashore.

Alligators
Alligators

Click any photo for larger view.

Birds

Common Gallinule Chicks

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The Common Gallinules have reproduced much later in the summer than the other water birds in this area.  Through the end of August we spotted a few families around the rice ponds and marsh areas.

Common Gallinule
Common Gallinule Chick – click image for larger view

Awkward, like most young, these chicks are covered with fuzz which picked up the duck weed, making them look even sillier. Members of the Rallidae family, they do swim even though their feet are not webbed and I usually see them just floating or wading.

Common Gallinule Chicks
Common Gallinule Chicks – click image for larger view

One of the adults came closer when the chicks ventured into the deeper water to supervise.

Common Gallinule Chick with Adult
Common Gallinule Chick with Adult – click image for larger view

At least one juvenile Alligator was nearby and while I don’t think they can catch or eat even the small Gallinule chicks, I’m sure mom wasn’t far away.

Juvenile Alligator
Juvenile Alligator – click image for larger view