Same marsh, same day. But very different.
Above the Alligator was photographed in the open water of a large pond, old rice field.
Below the Snowy Egret was standing in the corner, near the banks of the same pond.
Donnelley Wildlife Area, South Carolina.
Local gator, in a local swamp.
We actually have a lot in common.
People watching is a shared hobby.
Standing at the trunk, water flowing by, there was nothing to see at this corner of the marsh.
Looking down, where the water was moving fast there was just ripples and greens. Well, at first that’s the thought.
A closer look down around the pilings found a big wrinkly head. The bumps made him blend right into the water 😂.
Not a little guy either.
Alligators are more flexible and capable than you would expect. I have seen one, multiple times, jump out of the water. I know, horrible thought but their powerful tails can push them up.
However, they can’t climb, way to bulky. Yet here he is…
I’ve seen them grab hold of a ramp with their claws and pull themselves up when the water is low. Never one this big, or heavy, though.
Too bad I missed that part.
Out here there are some days you know they are around, just not sure where. Others days you almost get run over by a ‘School Bus’ with a scaly tail. Most are somewhere in between.
This was an in between morning. Lots of them to be seen all around the edges.
Above a mid sized local slowly passed us by. No rush, it was his house.
Going out to a dike we hit a small gathering. Only the closest was obviously watching us, you can be sure though the other two were also. Not like they had anything else to do.
This last one was in shallow water, he might have even been standing right there. Even though it was dark I could clearly see the Alligators Scute’s (bony plates on their back). Maybe the layer of duck weed helped LOL.
No magazine covers here but worth viewing large if you have any interest in these critters.
For me this is really what wildlife photography is all about. Well, I do like big white birds too.
Taken just about the moment one of us mumbles…. “getting hot”.
Days out here still end before the afternoon.
ACE Basin, South Carolina.
Out in the open in the hot bright sun. Looking comfortable with not a care in the world.
American Alligator.
I walked a short distance down a dike recently. I had no plans to do far, a bugs and heat were wearing me down. As started an Alligator off to my left quickly ducked under the water. They usually do just that.
Wanting to see where he went, maybe get a shot, I looked down the edge.
The minute I was out of sight he had popped back up. We had one of those eye to eye moments. Of course I took the shot, he posed nicely staring up for the camera.
If you have any curiosity about Alligators click to view large. The first photograph is a pretty clear image of an Alligators eye, you can see the reflections in it.
We both went our way with no issues. Close yes, but not crazy close. He was probably more surprised than me.
