When they want to an Alligator can be loud.
They make a deep growling, almost chain saw, kind of sound. When loud you can see the vibrations in the water.
So, no water movement above. He was growling, but didn’t have his heart in it.
There are two schools of thought on photographing wildlife. Sit and wait in a good spot, or move around between locations.
Most times I’m a mover.
This particular morning I changed my methods and pretty much parked myself in the same place. The sun and birds were moving around so I kept near a few holes in the tall grass.
It worked out OK. In this series a few White Pelican moved in a large circle, passing by me several times. By not moving I didn’t make them uncomfortable with me being there.
Of course I did give in later and moved around the area. The move worked out since Storks were dropping in near another open marsh.
ACE Basin, South Carolina.
I don’t think I have ever surprised an Owl.
In fact I have been ‘sneaking up’ to photograph one only to find the Owls mate is almost on my shoulder watching me from behind. There was no sneaking going on.
This Barred Owl sat and watched us moving below to get a clear shot. A few minutes later I discovered there was a second, maybe a meter to this ones right side.
Once again watching silly human tricks.
Three photographs taken along the bottom of a dike.
Above a Great Egret hunts on the grass line. The upper area of the image displays the top of the dike, about 12 feet high (3.5m), with a trail. As you can see most anything below the trail is hidden from view.
And here is a typical item hidden from view above. Usually you can walk along completely unaware the Alligator is that close. If you scare the Alligator, they propel themselves out into the water. Which in turn scares you. Nothing quite like hearing a huge ‘belly-flop’ coming out of nowhere.
Alligator do climb up and over the dikes moving between marshes, there are regular dirt trails. They tend to peek over the top before making their move. I have periodically seen a big head, but they slide right back down and wait until the trails are clear.
Last is a Great Blue Heron. Even with the grass thin here they blend in so well as to be easily missed.
All the photographs above were shot from a parallel dike trail. Which means as I was taking these I had no clue what was down below me on my side.
All the locals were gathered.
Included here are Roseate Spoonbills, Wood Storks, White Pelican, Snowy Egret, and Tricolored Herons.
Best viewed large.
The marshes have a trick they play on you. Just out of your view, hidden by the tall grass, the best shot of the day is heading full speed right for you.
And you never know until the last second.
With luck you get a chance for a quick burst of shots.
Roseate Spoonbill, ACE Basin, South Carolina.
These were taken not far from the marsh that had all the young Night Herons around the Alligators.
I guess they have kept out of reach.
Ellen spotted him and we both took a few minutes getting some photographs.
This one is just getting old enough that you can see the start of the ruby red eyes he will get as an adult.
After all these photographs I still stop and stare.
And there have been times it was a log, just not very often.
