The Grizzled Veteran
With mostly sunny skies and temps this morning approaching 70F, we suspected the Spring like conditions could possibly bring out one of the larger alligators and we were correct. As soon as we arrived we spotted this old timer sunning himself along the edge of the water in the swamp. He had the face of a seasoned veteran that had been around for quite a while and had done and seen it all.
At one point a moorhen who was picking it’s way through the water floated into the scene. As is typical at this time of year the alligator’s metabolism is slowed way down and they are not at all interested in feeding. They mostly just wish to warm up a bit in the sun and will ignore birds such as this moorhen who continued along his merry way!
Phil Lanoue Photography 
Il tutto per fortuna della gallinella!! Fantastica serie di scatti caro Phil
Ciao, Pat
Si tratta di un pollo fortunato 😀
Grazie per guardare queste foto!
Great photos!! of this tough old guy~ !
Thanks Sally! He does look kinda tough doesn’t he? 🙂
I luv the reflections of the old guy. With temperatures that high already, I imagine it will get very hot in summer.
Nice fang reflection huh? 😀
Temps are unseasonably warm for Jan. We can have cold nights, but yes it gets hot in the summer. Sometimes too hot to go to the beach or ride my motorcycle.
No reflection like a fang! I should have guessed you would have a bike. I have one too. We likely don’t have as many days when it’s too hot to ride. Hard to find a climate that’s perfect.
Oddly, I probably ride my bike less here now then when I lived in the northeast U.S. where the riding weather was much less cooperative. Lately I’ve been thinking of selling it though. Could be a new 500 4 or a new rifle (or both) 🙂
What do you have? I have a 2003 HD Wide Glide.
I have a 2008 Yamaha Stratoliner. There seemed to be less nice days last year but that may have been me.
Interestingly I bought a smaller bike instead of a 500 4 about 10 years ago. My priorities have changed since then.
Might be hard working the rifle and lens at the same time!
Beautiful, reflecting waters… and what a photogenic subject!! Nice shots Phil!
I’ll pass along your “photogenic” comment to him. I’m sure he will be very pleased, and that’s what we all want. 😀
Thanks for checking these out.
Great shot. I don’t want to meet him when he’s hungry… 😉
I have had them walk up behind me and I didn’t even know it. Never had a very hungry one do it though. At least not yet. 😯
he does look a tad raddled, Phil. I wonder if he’s as old as my MiL, who turns 100 this year, She’s in much better shape, and has hardly any wrinkles. 😀 Fabulous photos as usual, Phil. 🙂
He is nowhere near the age of your very sweet MiL. This boy looks like he has plenty of wrinkles. I will avoid pointing out any potential beauty flaws to him however, I have a feeling it just wouldn’t do me a bit of good. 🙂
Uh Oh…where did the duck go in the last picture 🙂 Great captures Phil.
Heh heh, I had a feeling that last pic could give the impression the poor moorhen didn’t make it, but that’s why I put in the write up that he was fine. 🙂
Glad you liked these photos!
I’m surprised you haven’t figured out a way to number these guys. This way you know who is who. Crazy moorhen, but something tells me they’re not the smartest birds around.
I wanted to get them all different colored hats, or maybe T shirts, but I need a volunteer to talk the gators into wearing these items. Maybe they would like Hello Kitty watches? Each gets a different color watch band. 😀
Those moorhens and coots are both more then a little wacky.
I do believe I’d have a stroke if one snuck up behind me… I don’t care how lovable they’re starting to look….. 🙂
The funny (or maybe not so funny) thing about the one that snuck up behind my wife and I was that you would think they would make a heck of a racket busting up through some weeds and bushes at the edge of the marsh, but it didn’t made a sound. I just happened to get a feeling I should turn around. I never heard anything.
But…he probably only wanted to say hello anyway. 🙂
…and your wife was fine with this? I have a hard enough time with a little lizard that seems to like sunning itself by my back door and scares me out of my wits when it tries to come in. 😉
We often have to toss those little guys out of our screen porch before the cat gets them.
You probably remember the video in this post from back in Oct.
https://phillanoue.com/2012/10/26/morning-alligators/
This was approx. where we were when an alligator just like in the video walked out from the marsh pond side and we were standing peering toward the swamp and *almost* never realized it was walking up behind us. 😯
I watched the video again and I still think they’re kind of creepy in a prehistoric sort of way. At least they don’t dart as fast as the little guys… or at least I hope not!
Oh my what details you have captured…sigh.
Well I’m very happy you liked the alligator pics! 🙂
I’m sure you kept a safe distance…
Oh yes, we were safe. But besides not being naturally aggressive toward people, the gators especially at this time of year are mostly only interested in napping in the sun. 🙂
What a brave duck! Even your photos had me scared.
The bird likely knows the alligators are not in hunting and feeding mode at this time of year.
Thanks very much for checking out these photos!
Beautiful shots!!! Lovely reflection!!!
Thank you very much! Did you like the reflection of his fang?! 😀
¡Increíbles tomas Phil!
Muchas gracias me alegro de que le gusta las fotos!
Beautiful shots Phil.
Thanks Jan I appreciate you looking and glad you enjoyed the photos!
you come more closer…. 🙂
Yes I do get close sometimes. 😀 Thank you for looking Nia!
A very handsome fellow at least, that’s what I’d be inclined to tell him if confronted. Smashing pictures Phil. 🙂
Oh absolutely! A compliment is certainly the way to go, especially with knowing how sensitive they can be. One never wishes to hurt the fellow’s feelings. 😀
Thanks very much Adrian, I’m very glad you enjoyed the morning’s swamp activity!
Hello Phil,
great series for a wonderful start in the new week!
Wish you nice days,
moni
Thank you moni I’m very happy you like the alligator photos!
Great photos of this big boy!
Thanks Molly, he is quite the handsome fellow!
Great gator pictures and tough hide textures for sure! Even though you say he was not interested in the little feathered feast strolling by…picture 6 looks like the gator is suddenly alert and thinking ‘where’d he go!”
Fun shots!!
Thanks Judy! He does look like he has some devious plan in mind in the last photo. I think he just ended up moving into a new nap spot though. 🙂