Tag Archives: Juvenile

Reptiles

Juvenile Alligator Blending In

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The stripes on a young Alligator provide camouflage in a variety of environments, and this youngster in the dark water littered with dried pine needles blended right in.

Juvenile Alligator Swimming
Juvenile Alligator Swimming, About 18 inches, 45 centimeters, long

Working against him, and how I knew he was there before I saw movement, is that the little ones tend to chirp. I didn’t see mama, but I’m sure she wasn’t far off.

Juvenile Alligator Swimming
Juvenile Alligator Swimming

I had startled a Great Blue Heron on this bank as I approached. I’m sure the bird was keenly tuned into this being a possible lunch.

Juvenile Alligator Swimming
Juvenile Alligator Swimming

Donnelley Wildlife Management Area, SC
November 14, 2021

Reptiles

Juvenile Alligator Passing By Another

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It is common for female Alligators to have multiple age youngsters in her care, which may include some hatched from other nests as well as her own. These two from a pod that included three ages/sizes are a good example.

Alligator on the Move
Alligator on the Move

I stayed focused on the moving Alligator, wondering if there was going to be some action.

Alligator on the Move
Alligator on the Move

There was not; the moving Alligator just plopped down. In addition to seeing the size difference in their heads, you can see the smaller Alligator’s tail just under the larger one’s chin.

Juvenile Alligators Sunning
Juvenile Alligators Sunning
Reptiles

Sunning Juvenile Alligators

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Most of the water was let out of this pond earlier this summer leaving a narrow depression of water and a nice edge for young Alligators to enjoy the morning sun.

Juvenile Alligator Sunning
Juvenile Alligator Sunning, 3 to 4 feet long ( 0.9 to 1.2 meters)

A few more were milling around in the water.

Juvenile Alligators Sunning
Juvenile Alligators Sunning

And a few more were in the reeds on a little raised island. I didn’t see the mother but know she wasn’t far off.

Juvenile Alligators Sunning
Juvenile Alligators Sunning

Based on the location and territorial habits of Alligators these are likely some of the youngsters I photographed last fall, seen here stacked up around their mother.

Alligator Mother and Young
Alligator Mother and Young, October 2020
Reptiles

Juvenile Anole And a New Lens

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With my interest in dragonflies and following Mike Powell’s blog (MichaelQPowell.com/) Ted was sure I needed the Tamron 180mm macro lens.

Who was I to argue? He found a used one for sale and it arrived today.

Juvenile Anole
Juvenile Anole

One of my first subjects was a very young Anole on our patio.

Juvenile Anole
Juvenile Anole

This is my first non-image stabilized lens and it will require some practice.

Juvenile Anole
Juvenile Anole
Animals

Lambs On The Run

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I arrived at Middleton Place this morning just as the flock of Gulf Coast Sheep was to be let out of their pen.

Flock of Sheep Coming Out of Pen
Flock of Sheep Coming Out of Pen

Yesterday was the first time the lambs had been allowed to roam so this was their second trip out into the big world.

Lambs, Second Time Out of Their Pen
Lambs, Second Time Out of Their Pen

The lambs were all in on the adventure, following along, zooming ahead and just having fun.

Lambs and Ewe, Second Time Out of Their Pen
Lambs and Ewe, Second Time Out of Their Pen

There are seven lambs belonging to four mothers, one single, three sets of doubles.

Animals

Three Little Lambs, 3

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I’ve now taken hundreds of pictures of the three little lambs investigating their world; here’s a selection from April 21st.

Three Lambs
Three Lambs

The moms know it is almost feeding time; the lambs — well two of them — have their interest piqued, too.

Three Lambs
Three Lambs

The lambs are now getting a share of their moms’ grain.

Three Lambs, Moms Eating Grain
Three Lambs, Moms Eating Grain

The lambs aren’t yet as diligent about getting their grain.

Lamb, Peaking Over Two Moms
Lamb, Peaking Over Two Moms

Just cute!

Lamb
Lamb

 

Single lamb was born on April 7th, and the set of twins was born April 9th.

 

Animals

Lambing Around

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I visited the lambs at Middleton Place on April 17th and gave a chuckle when I saw this scene of the 9 day old cutie using snuggling up with mom.

Lamb Laying on Mother Ewe
Lamb Laying on Mother Ewe

A chuckle, not an outright laugh, because I could not spot the twin lamb.

Lamb Climbing on Mother Ewe
Lamb Climbing off Mother Ewe

After junior 1 settled on the ground for another nap I could just see another white tuft behind mom. Phew!

Lamb Using Mother Ewe As Pillow
Lamb Using Mother Ewe As Pillow

Junior 2 had been nestled in on mom’s other side.

Twin Lambs
Twin Lambs

She took a little stroll and it wasn’t long before they both hopped up to join her.

Twin Lambs and Ewe
Twin Lambs and Ewe