May 30, 2013 1:04 pm
Yesterday evening I was watching this alligator that had gone over into the salt marsh in search of a meal. The alligators don’t live in salt water but they will visit on occasion if they get bored with the usual menu items available in the pond and swamp. The only thing I have never figured out was how do they know when it’s low tide in the salt marsh?
In any case, this guy must have had a craving for some fresh blue crab because he spent a good amount of time stalking around in there and did successfully find himself a few. He sure looks very satisfied and pleased with himself in that last photo, so clearly he was very happy with his evening dining choice!
He must have still been rather hungry though, because by the time I left it was dark and he was still sloshing around trying to stir up desert!
Posted by Phil Lanoue
Categories: Alligators, Wildlife Photography
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Excellent ;0)
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By Jean-Paul on May 30, 2013 at 1:07 pm
Thank you Jean-Paul
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By Phil Lanoue on May 30, 2013 at 1:25 pm
Guess it is possible to be crabby & happy simultaneously. Well, if you’re a gator.
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By Kitt Crescendo on May 30, 2013 at 1:22 pm
He seemed to be mostly happy last and that’s a good thing. An alligator in a bad mood is no good for anybody.
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By Phil Lanoue on May 30, 2013 at 1:25 pm
Ain’t that the truth.
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By Kitt Crescendo on May 30, 2013 at 1:26 pm
Absolutely
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By Phil Lanoue on May 30, 2013 at 1:57 pm
He looks quite pleased with himself in the last picture. Great stuff Phil.
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By edithlevyphotography on May 30, 2013 at 1:24 pm
Thanks a bunch Edith, glad you liked these pics.
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By Phil Lanoue on May 30, 2013 at 1:26 pm
Crab opener!
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By mike585 on May 30, 2013 at 1:34 pm
Crab crusher I think 🙂
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By Phil Lanoue on May 30, 2013 at 1:58 pm
The last one is the first of your gator photos that’s actually made me smile! And thanks for the excellent shot of the blue crab in the gator’s mouth – I’ve never actually seen a blue crab before!!
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By Deb W. Trotter on May 30, 2013 at 1:34 pm
Thanks much Deb I appreciate you checking these out!
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By Phil Lanoue on May 30, 2013 at 1:58 pm
Great photos — and you’re right about that last one — he sure does look pretty happy with himself for choosing the salt marsh for dinner.
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By davidharris518 on May 30, 2013 at 1:39 pm
Thanks a lot David and yes he seems to have a big smile at the end there!
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By Phil Lanoue on May 30, 2013 at 1:59 pm
That is a lot of pink inside that gator’s mouth. Great timing to catch all that.
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By lylekrahn on May 30, 2013 at 2:48 pm
That soft pink mouth and throat was likely the last living view of many a creature.
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By Phil Lanoue on May 31, 2013 at 4:08 pm
Ohh, the looks but really dangerous and nasty, I would not meet.
Greetings from Mathilda 😉
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By einfachtilda on May 30, 2013 at 3:12 pm
Oh he is a very nice boy. 😉 😀
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By Phil Lanoue on May 31, 2013 at 4:09 pm
It’s a wonder his tongue doesn’t get pinched. Happiness is a blue crab…
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By Gunta on May 30, 2013 at 4:04 pm
Once those crabs get crunched they don’t have much pinch left in them.
I’m sure this boy is happy with his crab.
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By Phil Lanoue on May 31, 2013 at 4:09 pm
Excellent series of action shots, Phil!
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By Gareth Rasberry on May 30, 2013 at 4:04 pm
Thanks for checking them out Gareth and glad you like them!
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By Phil Lanoue on May 31, 2013 at 4:10 pm
That gator looks mean! Looks like him and I have the same taste in food. Say seafood and I’m there!
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By Gracie on May 30, 2013 at 4:26 pm
He is just being a good old boy. 🙂 And he sure enjoys his seafood too!
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By Phil Lanoue on May 31, 2013 at 4:10 pm
Wonderful detail on the inside of an alligators mouth as well as his dinner!! Wanted to send a quick word of thanks for helping me to entertain my parents with some of your pictures when I visited them last weekend. They really enjoyed the view and seeing the birds and alligators food getting. Of course we all felt sorry for those little fish faces captured by the herons!! 🙂
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By Judy on May 30, 2013 at 4:44 pm
Well thanks much for the kind words Judy and I’m happy everyone enjoyed the photos!
Yes we sometimes do feel bad for all the poor little fish and crabs, but so it goes in nature.
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By Phil Lanoue on May 31, 2013 at 4:11 pm
Poor little crab – no match for the proud gator (who looks like he’s beaming in your last photo)! Great series!
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By Cowboys and Crossbones on May 30, 2013 at 5:39 pm
Yeah poor crabby had a very bad night. Our boy sure does look happy in that last pic doesn’t he?! 🙂
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By Phil Lanoue on May 31, 2013 at 4:12 pm
He is a very happy alligator: he smiles and smiles and smiles … 😉 Great pictures, Phil! ▲
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By pixelspielerei on May 30, 2013 at 5:51 pm
He is happy because he is full of fresh crab! Nice big smile too!
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By Phil Lanoue on May 31, 2013 at 4:13 pm
He looks positively joyous! 😀 Great photos, Phil.
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By adinparadise on May 31, 2013 at 3:48 am
He looks quite pleased with himself at the end there doesn’t he?!?
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By Phil Lanoue on May 31, 2013 at 4:13 pm
Great shots with wonderful details.
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By janmasyn on May 31, 2013 at 4:00 am
Thanks Jan glad you like them!
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By Phil Lanoue on May 31, 2013 at 4:13 pm
He really is smiling, isn’t he?! What great pictures, Phil!
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By Maggie Davey on May 31, 2013 at 5:47 am
He is a big happy boy with a lot to smile about!
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By Phil Lanoue on May 31, 2013 at 4:14 pm
Love the look on his face in that last shot Phil. Great series!
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By Chillbrook on May 31, 2013 at 6:21 am
He does look quite pleased with himself in that last photo doesn’t he?! 🙂
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By Phil Lanoue on May 31, 2013 at 4:14 pm
I didnt read the headline first and when I looked at the first picture I thought he ate a miniature helicopter 😀
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By lost in sweden on May 31, 2013 at 7:55 am
It’s funny you should mention that…at one time I had thoughts of getting one of those RC helicopters with a downward facing camera and send it out over an alligator for pics. But it would probably crash and he would probably eat it so I gave up the idea. 🙂
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By Phil Lanoue on May 31, 2013 at 4:16 pm
Mr. Alligator, you can’t believe but I love you, again you have been captured so nicely… so nicely. This is great. Thank you for dear Phil, have a nice weekend, love, nia
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By niasunset on May 31, 2013 at 9:26 am
I am so happy you like these Nia, thank you!
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By Phil Lanoue on May 31, 2013 at 4:16 pm
wonderful photography… great detail, awesome colors…
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By Guy on June 1, 2013 at 2:26 pm
Thanks very much Guy, I appreciate it.
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By Phil Lanoue on June 3, 2013 at 11:31 am
Getting quite an appreciation for these creatures. They definitely have their own beauty — and you capture it so well. Can’t believe you are around them so much. He looks so happy in the last photo. What a smile!
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By thecasualrider on June 1, 2013 at 3:14 pm
I’m happy to hear you are gaining an appreciation for these amazing creatures. They do a lot more then most people think and they are not simply savage predators that will attack anything that moves. They are often quite docile and prefer not to interact with people which for them is a smart choice.
He does look quite pleased in that last photo doesn’t he?!
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By Phil Lanoue on June 3, 2013 at 11:33 am
He does, and rightly so. They are only doing what is natural for them.
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By The Dancing Rider on June 3, 2013 at 4:17 pm
These series that you show always amaze me. You get right into their gullet.
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By Bella Remy Photography on June 2, 2013 at 7:45 pm
Thank you Emily I’m glad you enjoy the various alligator series!
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By Phil Lanoue on June 3, 2013 at 11:34 am
Now that’s a snack. Great pix. Good question: how do they know?
Roughseas linked me over – recent floods have washed river gators downstream into the gulf – so a few have been swimming up to the beach.
Enjoyed touring your blog
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By philosophermouseofthehedge on June 3, 2013 at 11:25 am
Thanks much for checking out these photos and commenting I greatly appreciate it!
We recently had one take a casual stroll onto a nearby beach here. It was likely a smaller alligator that was sent off by a larger one due to mating season.
Glad you enjoy the photos and stories here! 🙂
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By Phil Lanoue on June 3, 2013 at 11:36 am
Oh, we have the yearly gator dating in session for sure – usually the smaller ones prefer subdivisions lakes and front porches to that part of the beach/Gulf of Mexico…those tar ball are icky. But he got a free ride to Brazos Bend State Park ( THE spot for pampered gators around here).
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By philosophermouseofthehedge on June 3, 2013 at 11:58 am
I’m going to keep that tip about Brazos Bend State Park under my hat and not let it get around to our locals that there is a posh vacation spot available to them. They already have an entitled attitude. 😀
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By Phil Lanoue on June 3, 2013 at 12:04 pm
(giggles) Good plan
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By philosophermouseofthehedge on June 3, 2013 at 1:46 pm
Now you see it, now you don’t!
Cool shots, Phil!
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By Fergiemoto on June 5, 2013 at 5:58 pm
Thanks so much I’m happy you like these photos!
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By Phil Lanoue on June 6, 2013 at 3:06 pm
unlike the fish which are still alive when they go down I wonder if the crabs are or do they die once their shell is crunched?
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By Angela on May 26, 2015 at 5:18 am