“Mind If I Join You?” | Phil Lanoue Photography

“Mind If I Join You?”

Yesterday afternoon this great blue heron was doing a little casual fishing in the marsh pond when his alligator pal (with the really white teeth!) decided to drop by for a visit. After exchanging pleasantries, the gator settled in for a nice nap in the sun and the heron went back to fishing.

40 thoughts on ““Mind If I Join You?””

Chillbrook on October 12, 2012 at 11:29 am said:

I know these beast can move incredibly fast so presumably if the heron got too close the ‘gator could just lurch its head sideways and it’d be heron for lunch.

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- Phil Lanoue on October 12, 2012 at 11:37 am said:
  
  Yes they can move very fast, I’ve seen them run.
  But the birds seem to instictively know when the gators might be in feeding mode as opposed to just kinda laying around mode. Plus the birds are fast too, even large ones like this heron. One wing flap and there are off quick.
  An alligator would be more likey to attempt to snatch a bird using stealth mode and aproaching from underwater. 😯
  
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justalittlebrit on October 12, 2012 at 11:40 am said:

I love this, I love that they are friends haha

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- Phil Lanoue on October 12, 2012 at 12:06 pm said:
  
  Thanks Brit! I guess they are *sorta* friends. 😯 heh heh
  
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adinparadise on October 12, 2012 at 11:51 am said:

That heron is playing chicken. 😆 Great photos, Phil, yet again.

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- Phil Lanoue on October 12, 2012 at 12:10 pm said:
  
  As long as he doesn’t end up tasting like chicken he will be OK. 😛
  Thanks so much for looking!
  
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Angelia Sims on October 12, 2012 at 12:03 pm said:

Brave bird. Or maybe the gator thought he was a little fowl. 🙂

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- Phil Lanoue on October 12, 2012 at 12:12 pm said:
  
  That alligator could probably really go for a little fowl, but lucky for the heron the gator did not seem to be in the mood to eat. 🙂
  
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lylekrahn on October 12, 2012 at 12:25 pm said:

That makes sense. I’m guessing people around me can tell when I’m in hungry mode too.

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- Phil Lanoue on October 12, 2012 at 5:40 pm said:
  
  I know what you mean…same goes for me. 😛
  
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Kitt Crescendo on October 12, 2012 at 12:27 pm said:

Wow, that heron is gutsy! I guess it hasn’t heard the Police song “Don’t Stand So Close To Me”. LOL! If I take my glasses off and back away from my monitor it even looks like it’s standing on the back of the gator…

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- Phil Lanoue on October 12, 2012 at 5:41 pm said:
  
  I tried that…I took my glasses off and backed away from the monitor and tripped over the cat. Crap. 😉 😀
  Thanks for looking!
  
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  - Kitt Crescendo on October 12, 2012 at 6:39 pm said:
    
    Ha! You never cease to put a smile on my face…
    
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hellboy2503 on October 12, 2012 at 12:29 pm said:

Great double 🙂

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- Phil Lanoue on October 12, 2012 at 5:41 pm said:
  
  Thanks for checking out the pics!
  
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Clanmother on October 12, 2012 at 12:49 pm said:

Love it!! That heron says “I’m in charge here.” Courage personified!

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- Phil Lanoue on October 12, 2012 at 5:42 pm said:
  
  Thanks! That heron has an attitude for sure!
  
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einfachtilda on October 12, 2012 at 1:08 pm said:

Es sieht aus, als ob er auf dem Krokodil stehen würde 😀

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- Phil Lanoue on October 12, 2012 at 5:49 pm said:
  
  Es sieht, wie er auf dem Krokodil steht und er ist sehr nah. Vielen Dank für das Betrachten dieser Fotos!
  
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Lisaman on October 12, 2012 at 1:37 pm said:

The heron knows the Aligator has already eaten…

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- Phil Lanoue on October 12, 2012 at 5:43 pm said:
  
  The birds are pretty smart, but…the alligators are a lot smarter then many give them credit. 😯
  
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mike585 on October 12, 2012 at 1:48 pm said:

Not a bedfellow I would encourage, Phil.

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- Phil Lanoue on October 12, 2012 at 5:44 pm said:
  
  Yeah Mike I leave them out in the yard at night. 😀
  
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Karine on October 12, 2012 at 3:08 pm said:

These photos are impressive… And also a little frightening for the heron !

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- Phil Lanoue on October 12, 2012 at 5:44 pm said:
  
  Thanks, I’m glad you like these pics! The heron *seemed* to know what it was doing.
  
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meyer23 on October 12, 2012 at 3:17 pm said:

Best friends lying together in the sun. Impressive pics.

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- Phil Lanoue on October 12, 2012 at 5:46 pm said:
  
  Thank you for looking and glad you liked these photos! At least these two know that a relaxing day laying around in the sun can be quite pleasant. 🙂
  
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Country's Mama on October 12, 2012 at 4:35 pm said:

I enjoyed these photos and story. It is interesting to me that the bird knows when to be leery of the gator.

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- Phil Lanoue on October 12, 2012 at 5:47 pm said:
  
  Thanks! I’m happy you enjoyed these pics!
  I have seen this type of thing on several occassions (including again today) and the birds seem to know when to really watch out for an alligator.
  
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Bella Remy Photography on October 12, 2012 at 10:20 pm said:

Quite the fang face there. 🙂

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- Phil Lanoue on October 13, 2012 at 9:58 am said:
  
  Looks like he just came back from a teeth cleaning. The dental hygienist did an excellent job! Well…especially considering the circumstances.
  
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Fergiemoto on October 13, 2012 at 12:46 am said:

Love the photos! I’m amazed they get along so well.

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- Phil Lanoue on October 13, 2012 at 9:59 am said:
  
  Thanks! Yeah they get along just fine. For now… 😯
  
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Vibeke Henriette on October 13, 2012 at 3:33 am said:

Best friends in no time those two…. Look, mr Ally is even smiling :)!!!

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- Phil Lanoue on October 13, 2012 at 10:00 am said:
  
  He is smiling! And quite a toothy grin at that! 😀
  
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janmasyn on October 13, 2012 at 3:47 am said:

Great shots.

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- Phil Lanoue on October 13, 2012 at 10:00 am said:
  
  Thanks much for checking these out!
  
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ioanna aggelidaki on October 15, 2012 at 6:22 am said:

Wow! I love crocodiles! 🙂

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- Phil Lanoue on October 15, 2012 at 10:33 am said:
  
  They are fun aren’t they?! 😀
  Thanks so much for looking!
  
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Angela on June 27, 2015 at 7:40 am said:

By the look of his belly the heron doesn’t have anything to worry about.

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