Evening In The Marsh

Yesterday evening we went out to see if there was any activity in the marsh. Not a whole lot going on but we did see some things…

A baby alligator (well, we refer to any gator 3 feet or under as a baby) floating in the water with just his little head exposed.

A Clapper Rail, a small marsh bird, was seen picking around among the oyster beds.

A Great Blue Heron who decided that it would be more comfortable standing on one leg.

A White Ibis did a quick flyby.

A Snowy Egret was seen fishing in the salt marsh.

A Tricolored Heron was also fishing for minnows and seemed to be pretty successful!

And a young alligator who looked particularly attractive with it’s colorful stripes lit by the late evening sun…

48 thoughts on “Evening In The Marsh”

Erga on October 2, 2012 at 11:07 am said:

The alligator surely does look attractive!

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- Phil Lanoue on October 2, 2012 at 11:48 am said:
  
  Yes he does! 🙂 Thanks for looking!
  
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Molly Argo on October 2, 2012 at 11:10 am said:

I love all of them! The young Gator is quite an attractive young man! Our babies are starting to hatch and I just love the markings on them. The Snowy Egret is my favorite photo of this group.

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- Phil Lanoue on October 2, 2012 at 11:50 am said:
  
  Thanks a bunch Molly! Yes the youngster is a cutie. heh heh. They usually have late spring babies here and as it gets further along and colder our gator season will soon end when they retire back to the swamp to relax for the winter.
  I almost didn’t even include that snowy pic. Glad you like it!
  
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Chillbrook on October 2, 2012 at 11:17 am said:

These are all lovely pictures but I particularly like the clapper rail, a sweet little bird, and the heron, looking like a dowager preparing for a night out on the town. Just beautiful. The evening sun catching the ‘gator is pretty special too.

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- Phil Lanoue on October 2, 2012 at 11:52 am said:
  
  Well I really appreciate your kind comments and glad you liked these photos! 🙂
  That blue heron was acting a little wacky last night. There were fish practically bumping into it’s feet (or foot) and it never tried to catch any. Can’t believe it’s not hungry, they are always hungry.
  
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Kitt Crescendo on October 2, 2012 at 11:40 am said:

I don’t know what it is, but your pictures never cease to put a smile in my heart.

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- Phil Lanoue on October 2, 2012 at 11:53 am said:
  
  I’m so happy to hear that! It makes me feel terrific knowing that you are enjoying the photos! 🙂
  
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Dina on October 2, 2012 at 11:43 am said:

Aha, now we know what a baby gator is, my rhinemaiden bookfairies thought you were pulling their legs, hmm… wings. 🙂
Hauntigly beautiful shots.
Your animal pictures always put me in a good mood. The birds, even the gator, they all turn so lovely vain when you present your camera, please show me at my most beautiful…
🙂
Have a lovely week!

Greetings Dina

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- Phil Lanoue on October 2, 2012 at 11:58 am said:
  
  Well now you know Dina I would never tug on a rhinemaiden bookfairies legs or wings. 😉 🙂 😯
  So happy you like the bird and alligator photos! Some of them do seem to pose a bit when given the opportunity.
  Most I feel are delighted in who and what they are! 🙂
  Cheers,
  Phil
  
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  - DIna on October 2, 2012 at 5:37 pm said:
    
    Yes, you’re absolutely right.
    
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thehappyhugger on October 2, 2012 at 11:45 am said:

Beautiful pics even though the gators look scary 🙂

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- Phil Lanoue on October 2, 2012 at 11:59 am said:
  
  Thanks! Oh they are just like big cuddly teddybears. 🙂 😯
  
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  - thehappyhugger on October 2, 2012 at 12:13 pm said:
    
    hahaha…right 😉
    
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mike585 on October 2, 2012 at 12:24 pm said:

You have a lot more going on in your marsh that I have in my marsh, Phil. Nice captures. I particularly like the heron.

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- Phil Lanoue on October 2, 2012 at 2:56 pm said:
  
  Thanks Mike! That heron hung around for a while, I think it liked me. 😉
  
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lylekrahn on October 2, 2012 at 12:41 pm said:

That’s a mighty fine marsh.

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- Phil Lanoue on October 2, 2012 at 2:56 pm said:
  
  We are lucky to find a variety of wildlife in the area.
  
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einfachtilda on October 2, 2012 at 1:31 pm said:

Fantastische Fotos!!

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- Phil Lanoue on October 2, 2012 at 2:57 pm said:
  
  Vielen Dank!
  
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adinparadise on October 2, 2012 at 1:56 pm said:

More great photos. Now I’m so looking forward to getting back to Florida this month, so that I can rival your pics, Phil. 😆

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- Phil Lanoue on October 2, 2012 at 2:58 pm said:
  
  Thanks much! Can’t wait to see what you come up with! Florida is the best for birds and alligators!
  
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pixelspielerei on October 2, 2012 at 2:52 pm said:

Fantastic!

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- Phil Lanoue on October 2, 2012 at 2:58 pm said:
  
  Thanks, glad you like it! 🙂
  
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Marta Hicks on October 2, 2012 at 5:28 pm said:

I so look forward to your daily posts. You do a great job with your photography and your sharing it with others is appreciated. Keep on shooting! Keep on sharing!

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- Phil Lanoue on October 2, 2012 at 7:26 pm said:
  
  Thanks so much for your kind comments! I’ll try to keep going out there for new bird and alligator pics! (except when the bugs are attacking me) 🙂
  
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under the skies of arkansas on October 2, 2012 at 6:19 pm said:

oh those are some gripping photos great stuff

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- Phil Lanoue on October 2, 2012 at 7:27 pm said:
  
  Thank you for looking and I’m glad you like the photos!
  
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  - under the skies of arkansas on October 3, 2012 at 7:06 am said:
    
    photo blogging is my favorite type of blogging
    
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Bella Remy Photography on October 2, 2012 at 7:32 pm said:

So cool ! I’ve never seen a Clapper Rail before, such a cute bird. And the baby gator – what a show off ! Your photos are always so outstanding and are such a pleasure to browse through.

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- Phil Lanoue on October 2, 2012 at 8:17 pm said:
  
  Well I’m really glad you like the little clapper rail! I know it doesn’t look tremendously exciting but it’s kind of a big deal for us. The rails are very skittish and secretive birds. They are often heard, but not often seen in the open. Even this one came out for a few seconds, picked up a small crab (yes we have pics of that) then quickly scurried back into the marsh reeds where they hide. So we try to grab quick pics if one ever pops out.
  That baby gator was cute, he was fishing too! He better learn to hunt if he ever wants to grow up to be a big boy. 🙂
  
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  - Bella Remy Photography on October 2, 2012 at 8:23 pm said:
    
    I’ve been hanging around birders trying to learn from them, and recognized that little clapper was probably special. Too cool!
    
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Sarah Elle Emm on October 2, 2012 at 9:23 pm said:

Nice shot of the ‘baby’ gator! Great photos! 🙂

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- Phil Lanoue on October 2, 2012 at 9:33 pm said:
  
  Hey thanks Sarah! I’m glad you liked the baby and all the other photos!
  
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jford6@comcast.net on October 2, 2012 at 9:56 pm said:

The Clapper Rail pic is really nice! That is such a hard bird to see. Pam ,Charleston sc

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- Phil Lanoue on October 2, 2012 at 10:16 pm said:
  
  Thanks very much Pam! Glad you liked the little clapper and yes it is a tough bird to see in the open.
  Cheers from Murrells Inlet.
  
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Fergiemoto on October 3, 2012 at 1:27 am said:

Fantastic photos!

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- Phil Lanoue on October 3, 2012 at 10:51 am said:
  
  I appreciate you looking, thanks!
  
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amberafrica on October 3, 2012 at 2:34 am said:

Beautiful work!!!!

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- Phil Lanoue on October 3, 2012 at 10:51 am said:
  
  Thanks for the kind comment!
  
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FeyGirl on October 3, 2012 at 7:11 am said:

All our critters!! Such lovely shots… I love hearing them all during the dusk hours, as they prepare for bed-time. 🙂

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- Phil Lanoue on October 3, 2012 at 10:55 am said:
  
  Thanks a bunch FeyGirl! Glad you liked seeing a ‘day in the life’ of our marsh inhabitants.
  These photos were all taken in a time period of less then two hours. We have been losing light quicker every day.
  Like the old saying goes…”It gets late early out there”. 🙂
  
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Jennifer on October 5, 2012 at 7:57 am said:

Dang Phil, I didn’t think you could get any better. You just blow me away!

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- Phil Lanoue on October 6, 2012 at 3:55 pm said:
  
  Hey thanks a million Jen! So glad you liked these pics! 😀
  
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josydhoest on October 9, 2012 at 11:08 am said:

Un régal d’admirer ce que vous faites comme photos (j’envie votre appareil et son zoom loll alors que j’essaye, tant bien que mal, de “tirer” de mon nikon D90 une “pâle photographie reloll) !j’ai une légère préférence pour ce grand héron équilibriste ! … il me ressemble un rien Bien à vous !

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- Phil Lanoue on October 9, 2012 at 12:10 pm said:
  
  Je suis tellement heureux que vous aimez voir mes photos. Je suis sûr que votre Nikon fonctionne bien pour vous.
  C’est héron avait une soirée de détente à coup sûr! Merci de regarder et je vous remercie de vos aimables commentaires!
  
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Deanna Spitzer on October 24, 2012 at 6:33 pm said:

Your pictures are outstanding and I really enjoy looking at them. Thanks for sharing

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- Phil Lanoue on October 24, 2012 at 7:20 pm said:
  
  Thanks so much! I really appreciate you looking and commenting Deanna!
  
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