“Hey! Look What I Can Do!!”
Yesterday afternoon I saw this great egret hanging around with a napping alligator. Now of course the egret does not wish to be harassed in any way by the gator, but evidently the egret did not want to be ignored either. So the egret started doing these show off gymnastics routines right next to the alligator in an apparent move to impress our sleeping friend. The plan failed miserably. I don’t think the alligator even so much as opened his eyes and the egret walked away looking both a bit dejected and possibly even a bit miffed. On the other hand… had the alligator paid too much attention to the egret and tried to snap at it, the egret would have thrown a huge fit and made a giant fuss about it. Maybe the egret should reconsider his plans…it is far likely better to be ignored by the gator then to get too much of the wrong attention!
Phil Lanoue Photography 
That’s hilarious! Is either really courageous or really silly haha! 😀
LikeLike
The egrets are kind of silly at times and I guess this one knew the alligator was just sleeping.
LikeLike
Lovely und funny story. 🙂
LikeLike
Thanks for checking it out.
LikeLike
LOL! Poor egret sure looks defeated. Excellent post, Phil.
LikeLike
I’m glad you enjoyed this post Gracie, thanks!
LikeLike
“… it is far likely better to be ignored by the gator then to get too much of the wrong attention!”
He will however be understood only when it is too late! Until then, even the feathers are flying but without the bird in it. What a pitty! 😉
LikeLike
The egret is hoping to keep all his feathers exactly where they are, and lucky for him the alligator is very tired. 🙂
LikeLike
This is a great story and again, excellent photography Phil.
LikeLike
Thanks very much Jan always appreciate it.
LikeLike
That silly egret must be the blonde in the flock of birds. Why else would the dang thing parade around a sleeping gator?! Fun photos!
LikeLike
Well it is kind of a goofy bird so draw your own conclusions, heh heh.
Glad you had fun with these, that’s why I enjoy posting stuff like this!
LikeLike
What a ‘Bird Brain’! LOL. Fun set of photos!
LikeLike
I’m happy to hear folks are having a fun time looking at these, that’s what I hope for.
Thanks Molly.
LikeLike
Haha!! Thanks for another great nature story with “illustrations”!
LikeLike
Well I’m really happy you enjoyed these photos and story Deb!
LikeLike
Enjoyed the sequence. At first I thought the egret was standing on the croc’s head.
LikeLike
It would not have surprised me if the goofy bird did walk across the gator, sometimes they can get a bit carried away.
Glad you liked these.
LikeLike
What a wonderful series of photos.
LikeLike
Thanks so much Charlie, I appreciate it!
LikeLike
Another series that brought a smile to my face Phil. Smashing shots!
LikeLike
Well I’m very happy you got a laugh out of these Adrian, that’s why I post stuff like this hoping it will make folks smile. 😀
LikeLike
As the saying goes, let sleeping ‘gators lie.
LikeLike
Yes, that is generally for the best, and this egret knew when it was time to leave and not waken a sleeping giant.
LikeLike
Thank you for beginning my day laughing, Phil! These egrets are the comedians of the bird world, aren’t they?
LikeLike
The egrets can indeed be goofy birds Maggie and this one was a character! Thanks for checking out these photos!
LikeLike
Ha ha love it, perhaps this was the egrets version of playing “chicken” 🙂
LikeLike
You never know with these egrets they can be a bit nervous and wacky birds so anything is possible. 🙂
LikeLike
Fabulous pics, Phil. That egret was really playing with fire here, but luckily, Mr Alligator was just too lazy to rise to the bait. 🙂
LikeLike
I’m glad you enjoyed these photos Sylvia and yes indeed, our big friend here was more interested in his nap then in paying any attention to egret antics. 🙂
LikeLike
What a dangerous distance between them… this is amazing as always dear Phil. I am glad our Mr. Alligator was sleeping 🙂 Thanks and Love, nia
LikeLike
The egret was glad that Mr. Gator was sleeping too!
Thanks Nia!
LikeLike
🙂 🙂
LikeLike
Thanks for looking. 🙂
LikeLike
Are you awake? Hum..let’s see if this will wake you up. Darn didn’t work, let’s see if I find another gator to harass.
LikeLike
That egret did have some attitude and would not surprise me if he went off the create more trouble with other gators and birds!
LikeLike
Funny. You should have shown the egret how to get the gator’s attention.
LikeLike
The egret is on his own if he wants to wake up the big dog sleeping in the sun.
LikeLike
What an amazing pairing of two species just hanging out side by side! A very cool behavior sighting to witness. Much enjoyed, although if I were that egret, I’d not had his courage, lol.
LikeLike
Thanks very much for checking this out and commenting I appreciate it and am glad you enjoyed it!
If you wish to see more different species just hanging out take a look at this post from back in Oct. 🙂
https://phillanoue.com/2012/10/05/morning-meeting/
LikeLike
Oh what fun! Such a crazy, wacky bird. Pity ours don’t have alligators to play with. They’re pretty boring standing around staring into the water…
LikeLike
Well alligators make almost everything more fun! 😀
LikeLike
Hahahahahahaha these pics were so funny! I was almost sure that the gator would eat him! :p
LikeLike
What was most funny was how the gator never even opened his eyes! 😀
LikeLike
Maybe he ate already and wasn’t hungry at all! Just needed a nice after-meal nap :p
LikeLike
I think that could be it, well that and they almost always default to a nap in the sun. Nice life. 🙂
LikeLike
Livin’ dangerously!
LikeLike
Oh they have a lot of fun out there. 😉
LikeLike
Awesome shots!
So is the egret brave or stupid? You can probably guess which one is in my mind. I’d rather not disturb a creature that can easily snap me up for lunch.
LikeLike
Thanks I’m glad you like the pics!
Those egrets can be more then a little goofy at times. But somehow they (think) know when an alligator is only sleeping. 🙂
LikeLike