A slow dark day always gets better when we spot the alligators on this trail. Young ones feel safe here (under 3 feet).
Alligators In Cane
The drainage trenches were cleared this year giving us about 10 feet (3 meters) of open space. Enough that most gators stay around and just watched the silly humans pass by.
Alligators In Cane
Babies are common here, above are 3 small ones. The size difference says they were from different hatchings. You can find them by listening for soft continuous chirping.
Alligators In CaneAlligators In Cane
Early on I switched to a wider lens when I saw how many were crowding around.
Alligators In Cane
Some of the wider shots from the Tamron 18-400 really needed more light than was available. It’s a trade off given the huge focal lengths available.
These photographs were from the start of a trail and just picked in order from the file, which is why I added the (1) to the title. I’m sure there are others to be published as I catch up.
Her location suggests a ‘Mom’ hanging with youngsters. But she was big.
Female Alligators usually are no larger than 8 feet (2.5 meters), she was probably right about that size.
A Big Mom, Alligator
This was taken in the area we call the ‘nursey’. This is a large marsh and wooded area maybe 2 miles (3.2k) from the rice fields and open water marshes.
Smaller Alligators, and their females, are not very safe there. That’s home of the ‘super sized’ guys. Females might travel down here and have nests nearby.
A Big Mom, Alligator
The edges of this marsh have been dredged out, now areas are deeper. Still there are young ones everywhere you look.
This day was dark and cool so we walked here for something different.
It’s a Barred Owl so in the darker shadow is no surprise.
However he was sitting far from the crayfish pond in a totally different location. Walking through the old bamboo they love I noticed the familiar ‘football’ in a tree.
Hiding In The Shadow, Owl
The trails there are a bit of a maze with low branches. But ultimately the spot was very photogenic so I shot a little wide.
When first reaching these large marshes we were immediately met with very low water. Miles of it off to our right. Being the fresh water area the second meeting was with this guy.