Morning In The Swamp

Although cold, it was bright and sunny this morning at the swamp so I was hoping a few of my alligator friends might be out looking to warm up a bit.

It didn’t take long for this one young gator to come gliding in, and eventually climb up and claim his sun spot on a small bog.

Another alligator at the water’s edge was barely able to keep his eyes open and I knew he would be in full nap mode shortly. I went back to check in on him a bit later, and I saw that a little song sparrow (see the last photo) was standing on the end of the sleeping gator’s tail!

28 thoughts on “Morning In The Swamp”

janmasyn on February 9, 2013 at 5:19 pm said:

Excellent photo’s Phil.

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- Phil Lanoue on February 11, 2013 at 1:01 pm said:
  
  Thanks a lot Jan.
  
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sallywoodphotography on February 9, 2013 at 5:28 pm said:

Cute!!!

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- Phil Lanoue on February 11, 2013 at 1:02 pm said:
  
  Well of course they are cute! 😀
  
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Chillbrook on February 9, 2013 at 5:46 pm said:

Ahh great to see the gators putting in an appearance down at the swamp. I just love the expression on that gator’s face in the second to last picture. Looks like a smug, self-satisfied lounge lizzard type of guy. If he was human, you wouldn’t buy a second hand car from him that’s for sure. Another great episode Phil. 🙂

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- Phil Lanoue on February 11, 2013 at 1:03 pm said:
  
  Thanks so much Adrian! You are right about that guy, with that look, he is not someone I would buy a used car from! 🙂
  
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shoreacres on February 9, 2013 at 5:49 pm said:

I’m beginning to develop a bit of affection for these critters. My favorite is the photo with the beautiful reflection in the still water – although that bird on the tail is a close second! If those two can coexist, why do you suppose…. Oh, never mind. 😉

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- Phil Lanoue on February 11, 2013 at 1:04 pm said:
  
  Heh heh, glad you are enjoying the photos of my big nose friends!
  
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Molly Argo on February 9, 2013 at 7:04 pm said:

Great photos of you ‘friends’ ! And just what is it about your Gators that Birds find so interesting?? I will never forget your Spoonbill/Gator photos!

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- Phil Lanoue on February 11, 2013 at 1:05 pm said:
  
  Thanks glad you like these Molly! I don’t know either, I have a lot of pics from the past few weeks where the coots and moorhens somehow feel compelled to hang around the alligators. Oh, and turtles too! Got pics of that upcoming.
  
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lylekrahn on February 9, 2013 at 7:10 pm said:

Great reflection on the second last one.

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- Phil Lanoue on February 11, 2013 at 1:05 pm said:
  
  Thanks for checking these out.
  
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jimbey on February 9, 2013 at 7:59 pm said:

…. Another great sequence, Phil. And a great, safe spot for the sparrow. If the weather is cold, a gator will not actively feed – but no predator with half a brain will get within reach anyway. The sparrow can relax, and it’s no -er- skin off the tail of the gator.
…. Our temperature topped out around 80 again today, and the gators were out in force. We have a big cold front coming that threatens to drop the high temperatures all the way down to the low 70s or so … BRRRR! I might have to hibernate.

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- Phil Lanoue on February 11, 2013 at 1:06 pm said:
  
  Thanks much I ‘m glad you like these gator pics! Yes that sparrow did not seem at all concerned about what it was walking around on.
  
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Amy on February 9, 2013 at 9:20 pm said:

Great shots. Fun to look at gators in pics.

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- Phil Lanoue on February 11, 2013 at 1:07 pm said:
  
  Thanks Amy! They are tons more fun in person! 😀
  
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munchow on February 10, 2013 at 8:25 am said:

Great images of your alligator friends. My favourite is the third from the top, with the alligator caught just while it’s about to move.

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- Phil Lanoue on February 11, 2013 at 1:08 pm said:
  
  Thaks very much! It actually was climbing up onto that bog when I took that photo. A real action shot! 😉 🙂
  
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Patrizia M. on February 10, 2013 at 6:16 pm said:

Fantastiche foto, meraviglioso perdersi nella bellezza dei tuoi scatti!!
Ciao, Patrizia

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- Phil Lanoue on February 11, 2013 at 1:09 pm said:
  
  Grazie Pat! 🙂
  
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Bella Remy Photography on February 10, 2013 at 11:08 pm said:

This one looks like a fashion model ! Love the golden colors in the first image Phil.

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- Phil Lanoue on February 11, 2013 at 1:08 pm said:
  
  Oh they are real lookers all right! Very fashionable! Thanks Emily!
  
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roughseasinthemed on February 11, 2013 at 3:14 pm said:

Agree with shoreacres about the fave pix, although natch – I add quickly – they are all good. S/he looks quite prehistoric. I am loving those feeties. 😀

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- Phil Lanoue on February 11, 2013 at 5:26 pm said:
  
  Oh they do have cute little feetsies don’t they?! That’s the whole reaosn I included that pic. 😆
  Thanks for checking these out!
  
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adinparadise on February 11, 2013 at 10:22 pm said:

These are such wonderful photos, Phil. Maybe that bird thought the alligator was a log. 🙂

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- Phil Lanoue on February 12, 2013 at 12:28 pm said:
  
  Thanks Sylvia, glad you liked the photos of my swamp buddies!
  I’m sure the little sparrow was convinced it was just another log available to stand around on. 🙂
  
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theforagingphotographer on February 14, 2013 at 6:08 pm said:

Gorgeous!

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- Phil Lanoue on February 15, 2013 at 4:01 pm said:
  
  Glad you liked these pics Lucy!
  
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