This one was well hidden, and not a really big one.
Walk along and you always look to the waters edge. The other side of this trail is dense, and not really deep. So everyone walked by, looking the wrong way.
He was not on the pond side at all.
The title is a good description of what was happening here. This swamp now has 2 types of floating vegetation. The green Duck Weed and a new plant named Mosquitoe Fern. Combined it makes for a thick cover.
Alligators looked to be avoiding the area, but that didn’t last long. Young Wood Ducks are here also.
I watched this Alligator slowly circle the small islands and Cypress Trees working towards the duck area.
The ducks are still here, but the Alligator floats around like a log. That’s how it works here.
This is a series of photographs that were taken with no real thought or even a reason. At best I was a little surprised the water was so shallow, I could see him trying to touch bottom.
I was hoping for something to happen other than a 5 foot (1.5m) gator in some muck. It’s digital and my camera shoots fast so leaned over and grab these images.
They are in a gallery for easier large viewing, because of the small mystery. The last 2 photographs seem to show the scales of an Alligator back, under water. The position could not have been the one I was shooting. Another Alligator under the water?
It’s hard to see, and maybe it is part of his tail, or even just green muck. I wish I had kept shooting for just a few more images.
This teenager was in the exact wrong spot. He took over the entire trail and was facing into the wetlands, not the water.
The only reason it mattered was a couple from out of town were hiking and really had to get down this trail. If you are from away, a 3 foot (1m) Alligator in your path, with open jaws, can cause some concern.
To help I walked up to the gator, did the foot stomp and shuffle, finally a clap, and got his attention. A low hiss, but he turned around and headed towards the water, a peaceful resolution.
I was a little too close for a full shot here.
Above you can see he did turn and move the other direction. However, he took about 3 stubby little steps, lay down, fell right back asleep.
The good news, he pulled his tail up so no one stepped on it walking by.
Another ‘you can’t make this stuff up’ moment.
In an instant this Little Blue went from sitting quiet to being aware of danger.
There was nothing to hear, probably just enough movement to get his attention.
An Alligator had been slowly circling around the Cypress for some time. Very young Wood Ducks with no adults are here.
Even being out of the water this Little Blue Heron knows enough to keep aware of Alligators. He feeds here too.
I don’t want to give the wrong impression of our ‘safaris in the swamps’. This is not the 1920’s and we are not old time explorers.
Cars, dirt roads, public access, and a little walking the boonies.
Dirt roads and wildlife management areas will make up most of the hot summer months.
There are thousands of acres of marsh lands and swamps that can be reached by ‘roads’. The car takes a beating, and at the end there is still walking, but it takes miles off the trip. This is tropical heat so any help is great.
Above is a wooden trunk, or water gate, separating marshes. This allows for controlling water levels between tidal, fresh water, and even old rice fields. This is the same design used here in the 1800’s. BTW: if you enlarge the image above there is a Little Blue Heron sitting in the trunk.
This is also where the ‘real’ Alligators live. Not the smaller city cousins. Recently an albino Alligator was spotted near here. The other larger ones took him as a threat and it wasn’t pretty. A reminder to shoot just a little further out here.
As the breeding season ends many of the birds will make their way back to these marshes for food. Above are Snowy Egret’s flying low and grabbing small fish.
There are days we go out and find very little. I’m not thrilled that day, but there is still an amazing number of things to see out there.
The colors here make this a decent Alligator shot. I especially like how the gators eye is so clear. Also it’s hide is still in that shaded and colorful stage.
And yes, he was down close right in front of me. And no, it was not a big Alligator. Juveniles like to lay along the banks hidden. Small fish and other prey wander by.
They are usually around, only disappear if you get too close (which you try not to), and are always interesting.
The one above was taken at mid day, in the heat. Everything is hunkered at that time. This one was hiding from the heat along the marsh bank. I knelt down and caught him watching.
The first one above did his best to ignore me. The last one, end of day, moved past giving me absolutely no thought. I was not worth his time LOL.
