Swamp Gators
Yesterday afternoon we decided to go have a look at the swamp to see if anybody was out and about enjoying a warm sunny day. We saw this one guy relaxing on a bank soaking up some rays, although laying down with your face in the water doesn’t seem like the most comfortable way to spend your day…but what do we know? A bit farther down we saw this young alligator keeping a low profile in the duckweed. We thought he had kind of a big nose, but figured there was no point in mentioning it to him. Even though alligator season is mostly winding down for us here along the South Carolina coast, a sunny day can still bring out a few of our pals who are seeking a bit of warmth.
Phil Lanoue Photography 
AWESOME!!!!!!
Thanks a lot Connie!
Great shots, Phil! I’ve been told you can estimate the size of the gator by the number of inches from nose to eyes — in feet–that is one big fellow!
Thanks Jane! He does look like he has a big nose. 😀
Love the detail in pic #2. Too cool for words…and I think you just inspired an image of a creature…my first supernatural being. Gotta write it down. Thanks!
Ok cool ! glad I could help inspire! Thanks for your kind comments about these pics!
Incredible captures Phil. How close are you getting to these guys?
Thanks a bunch Edith! The first guy was out a bit, but the second one was right in front of me at the edge of the swamp area.
Excellent shots, Phil. It must really be intense (and perhaps very scary – for me anyway) to be so close to these gators that you could almost smell their breath!
Thanks for looking Gracie and it is cool for us to get to see these amazing animals up fairly close. They are usually well behaved and don’t bother us much. 😀
Boy aren’t they just amazing creatures! I will miss the gators. That eye is amazing very cool!
They are quite fascinating I should be able to come up with one or two even during the winter when we get a particularly warm and sunny day, so stay tuned for more alligator fun! 😀
I will stay tuned! :+)
Another sunny day today so who knows, it could be sooner rather then later. 🙂
Oh my God!…. You keep watching him 🙂 You are amazing. Thanks and Love, nia
Thank you Nia for your very kind words and I’m happy you like viewing these photos!
That looks like a really snout. The green make-up doesn’t look too bad on an alligator. 🙂 Amazing shots, Phil.
Thanks for checking out these pics Sylvia and I hear that green look is all the rage in Paris these days! 😀
Our local gators tend to be fashion trend setters.
😆
Of course I meant to say “BIG” snout. 🙂
I automatically filled in the word in my head so I had ya all along. 🙂
Very clever, Phil.
Great post! Perfect photowork!
Thanks very much, glad you liked these!
Love it – reminds me of Peter Pan
Thanks for checking these out! 🙂
Great portrait of the young alligator.
Thanks very much Jan.
Best not mention the nose, unless you can run very fast. Super shots!
Yeah I figured there was no point in purposely antagonizing the guy.
I’m hoping not to get into a race with any of them, losing that race would not be fun.
Thanks for looking!
Really great portraits of this alligator.
I’m very happy you like them!
Yes whatever you do, don’t offend them! Just curious if alligator season is winding down, where do they go?
Absolutely! Not a good idea to take crazy chances by making rude remarks about their appearance.
They go back deeper in the swamp where they hunker down in some nice mud for the winter. This area is unaccessable so it’s unknown how many are out there. They also will not eat during this time and any activity is kept to a minimum.
Interesting. Thanks for helping me learn about alligators.
You got it.
Great shots of these guys! I really love the little one surrounded by the duck weed!
Thanks Molly, and yeah he is a real looker (despite the big nose) 😀
Fantastiche!!
Thank you very much Pat!
So where do they go when it’s cool outside?
They head back deeper out in the swamp to areas that are inaccessable to people. It’s only the ones that remain in close areas where they can be seen that I get photos of at this time of year. Even in winter there could be many out on a warm sunny day but we would never know it. It is also unknown how many are really out there. I would guess 50-60 but not sure.
This information of course applies to our local SC alligators. I’m sure those that are found in south Florida for instance are on different seasonal schedules.
I suppose I ought to google this, but what’s the difference ‘tween alligators and crocodiles? Are your guys less aggressive? Hard to believe you can get so close to them without losing something.
The African crocodile is very aggressive and can be considered a ‘maneater’. The American Alligator is much less aggressive and would generally prefer to have little or no interaction with humans. There is such thing as an American Crocodile which can be found along with the alligator in areas of Florida.
Great shots, but hmm…I wouldn’t want to rest my face in that water, but like you say, what do we know.
I don’t even want to put my foot in that mucky swamp water. 😀 Thanks very much for looking and commenting!