The ‘trunk’, or flood gates, were opened to allow this section of a marsh to drain and clean out grasses. Of course it was also an opportunity to go fishing while the water rushed out.

It was very simple to stand on top of the dike and have the water drain underneath our feet. Directly below us was a congregation of Alligators like never before.  No long lens here, only portrait or wide angle since it was so close.

The photograph above was taken at 50 mm, the same as with the naked eye. About 25 adults are in this image, the ones straight down were out of view.

The local wading birds were not about to be left out either.

Amazing but not a single Alligator went after another, a few scuffles, nothing else. More so was the birds. They poked around just barely out of reach. A few Alligators snapped, but not even trying really.

Anything in the streams on water was fair game though.

I did go to another vantage point with a long lens later on. All these images were shot between 35 – 70 mm. Basically at portrait length.