Tag Archives: Nature

Gator Antics (3)

This is a rather long article, a large number of images, but the scene was worth it. If you have not see Gator Antics (1) click here; Gator Antics (1) since this started the circus.

Gator Antics (3)
Gator Antics (3)

The water in this swamp lowered drastically, and quickly. Local drainage issues were being fixed.

Above is a small Alligator that had been on this ramp a few moments earlier, but pushed off by a bigger gator. But he wanted a spot up high and dry too. So… he swam around and started to climb back up, it was way up now.

Gator Antics (3)
Gator Antics (3)

Having no clue how his world changed he started kicking and splashing, pushing up with his tail.

Gator Antics (3)
Gator Antics (3)

He kept losing his gripe, and above he is in mid air treading water with his back legs. He also was really confused.

Gator Antics (3)
Gator Antics (3)

Reaching out, he was going for the ‘gator death grip’, long claws ready.

Gator Antics (3)
Gator Antics (3)

And… he’s got it !

Gator Antics (3)
Gator Antics (3)

But he slipped…

Gator Antics (3)
Gator Antics (3)

Now the water is starting to fly. This is an Alligator, though small, he can really swim, and he was.

Gator Antics (3)
Gator Antics (3)

Throw that leg up !

Gator Antics (3)
Gator Antics (3)

And go even higher, he’s like a gymnast !

Gator Antics (3)
Gator Antics (3)

Oh no… he missed the leg throw !

Gator Antics (3)
Gator Antics (3)

And with a might heave the leg goes high !

Gator Antics (3)
Gator Antics (3)

Noooo !

Gator Antics (3)
Gator Antics (3)

He slipped.

Gator Antics (3)
Gator Antics (3)

And sank under.

Gator Antics (3)
Gator Antics (3)

He gave it his best try, pulled out all the tricks.

But after all, life is tough for a little gator.

Invisible In Plain Sight, Alligator

A contradiction. When you spot him it is so obvious. But you look right through them most all the time.

Invisible In Plain Sight, Alligator
Invisible In Plain Sight, Alligator

Above, the water had ripples, a slight glare, and then so did the Alligator.

Consider also this was fairly close, and he was approximately 8 feet (2.5 meters) in length.

Great Egret With Nesting Material

These photographs are from two separate nesting pairs. The first here is from the far end of a swamp rookery.

Great Egret With Nesting Material
Great Egret With Nesting Material
Great Egret With Nesting Material
Great Egret With Nesting Material

The Cypress Tree here stands away from all the others. It allows the birds to fly in straight and slow over the water.

Great Egret With Nesting Material
Great Egret With Nesting Material

The images below are from the main nesting area. When the Egrets return to the nests here they need to take different paths, depending on the other birds.

Great Egret With Nesting Material
Great Egret With Nesting Material
Great Egret With Nesting Material
Great Egret With Nesting Material

This approach was a quick flight just above the surface, they climb up at the last moment to reach tree level.

Great Egret With Nesting Material
Great Egret With Nesting Material

These are the small things I would never have noticed not that long ago. If I pay attention to ‘how’ they fly my success rate is much better.

 

Juvenile Great Blue Heron

My thought had been to stay in for the day (5/5/2019). Clouds came and went, there was a slight drizzle, even a chance of thunder storms.

Juvenile Great Blue Heron
Juvenile Great Blue Heron

Well, late afternoon is the best light in this swamp area and the sun was out again. So here is one of the babies almost all grown up.

‘If you don’t go out, you won’t get the shot’.