You Wouldn’t Think Something That Big Would Be Able To Hide

So yesterday evening I thought I spotted some movement in the weeds along side the marsh pond and when I stepped over to investigate, I quickly noticed this huge eye already checking me out. I have to give the big guy credit, he did manage to hunker himself down and, despite his size, be quite well hidden. I also knew what was coming next…he wanted to walk out from there and take a nice slow leisurely stroll over to the salt marsh to feed at low tide.

I watched him for a while swimming and sloshing around for fish in the salt marsh and those photos are a post for another day…

61 thoughts on “You Wouldn’t Think Something That Big Would Be Able To Hide”

Kitt Crescendo on July 24, 2013 at 4:45 pm said:

He’s like a sniper camouflaging himself until it’s too late to run…you’re already dead.

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- Phil Lanoue on July 24, 2013 at 4:55 pm said:
  
  That’s exactly what it’s like!
  At least though this time I did spot him, a while back I came close to stepping on the nose of one hidden similarly. 😯
  
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  - Kitt Crescendo on July 24, 2013 at 4:55 pm said:
    
    Eek!
    
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    - Phil Lanoue on July 24, 2013 at 4:59 pm said:
      
      Eek is right!
      
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Patrizia M. on July 24, 2013 at 4:47 pm said:

Fantastiche!!!

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- Phil Lanoue on July 24, 2013 at 4:54 pm said:
  
  Grazie mille Pat! 🙂
  
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Inspired and pretty on July 24, 2013 at 4:51 pm said:

I’ve never seen this animal yet, but I think I’d be scared if I’d come across one ! Superb photos Phil !

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- Phil Lanoue on July 24, 2013 at 4:56 pm said:
  
  Well they are an impressive animal and being that close to one gets the old heart pumping pretty good!
  For me it’s more excitement then fear but they are quite a sight!
  
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Cowboys and Crossbones on July 24, 2013 at 4:52 pm said:

Holy camo! Good thing you were watching where you were walking!

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- Phil Lanoue on July 24, 2013 at 4:57 pm said:
  
  You said it! Especially since not too long ago I came very close to stepping on one’s nose that was hiding in the weeds like that. Yikes!
  
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Gunta on July 24, 2013 at 4:57 pm said:

That second shot makes him look even more prehistoric than usual.

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- Phil Lanoue on July 24, 2013 at 4:58 pm said:
  
  Ha ha I like that…more then usual! 😆 Thanks Gunta!
  
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  - Gunta on July 24, 2013 at 4:59 pm said:
    
    😀
    
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- adinparadise on July 25, 2013 at 2:20 pm said:
  
  My thoughts exactly, Gunta. 🙂
  
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  - Gunta on July 25, 2013 at 2:25 pm said:
    
    😀
    
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pixelspielerei on July 24, 2013 at 5:02 pm said:

What a surprise: a post for another day! 😛

It seems that he has eaten a little bit. His neck is so big! Or is he angry?

By the way stunning photos again. ▲

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- Phil Lanoue on July 24, 2013 at 5:11 pm said:
  
  He has more double chins then me! 🙂
  Thanks very much and glad you like these gator pics!
  
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HansHB on July 24, 2013 at 5:27 pm said:

Great!
I love your alligator photos!
I saw crocodiles when I was in Australia.
Saltwater crocodiles were very large!

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- Phil Lanoue on July 25, 2013 at 12:41 pm said:
  
  Thanks Hans I’m happy you like these alligator shots!
  Yes indeed saltwater crocs are very large and they can also be quite dangerous.
  
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mariayarri on July 24, 2013 at 6:30 pm said:

I must say that Mr Gator has a dental status is in a class by itself … Your photos of him a stunning ! // Maria 🙂

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- Phil Lanoue on July 25, 2013 at 12:42 pm said:
  
  Thanks very much Maria! So far I have not been able to find a dentist to provide services to our gator friends. 😉 😀
  
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Steve Gingold on July 24, 2013 at 6:58 pm said:

It’s like he appeared out of nowhere. 🙂
I like the sneer in number 3 and the profile in the last image is great…..what a delightful overbite. Dental references abound for the crocs it seems. So you must be on the other side of the water, Phil?

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- Phil Lanoue on July 25, 2013 at 12:44 pm said:
  
  At least this time I saw the boy in advance. A while back I came close to stepping on one in a similar location that I almost didn’t see.
  I was on the salt marsh side of the causeway which separates the pond from the salt marsh where our friend was headed.
  
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photographybyjoylene on July 24, 2013 at 8:27 pm said:

I sure hope you wear bullet proof boots while out and about shooting these guys!

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- Phil Lanoue on July 25, 2013 at 12:45 pm said:
  
  So far I have not had one try to take a chunk out of my leg, they mostly just ignore me which is how I like it!
  
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edithlevyphotography on July 24, 2013 at 9:05 pm said:

He is a big boy. Nicely captured Phil.

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- Phil Lanoue on July 25, 2013 at 12:46 pm said:
  
  He was a pretty good size bot indeed. Maybe 7 feet long but he had some width to him. 🙂
  Glad you liked these photos.
  
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WinstonePhotography on July 24, 2013 at 9:39 pm said:

I am back after a few months break! So glad I get to catch up on your beautiful blog posts again :)))

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- Phil Lanoue on July 25, 2013 at 12:47 pm said:
  
  Well I am very happy to see you and pleased you have checked in to see what has been going on around the old marsh! Thanks for the kind comments!
  
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  - Michaela Winstone Photography on July 25, 2013 at 1:18 pm said:
    
    You’re so welcome! can’t wait to catch up with your beautiful posts again, I should be on here much more regularly now 🙂
    
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Gareth Rasberry on July 24, 2013 at 9:50 pm said:

Great alligator shots, Phil!

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- Phil Lanoue on July 25, 2013 at 12:47 pm said:
  
  Thanks Gareth I appreciate you checking them out!
  
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Deb W. Trotter on July 24, 2013 at 10:35 pm said:

He looks so out of place in the bushes. 🙂 And “big” is kind of an understatement! Nice shots!!

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- Phil Lanoue on July 25, 2013 at 12:48 pm said:
  
  He does look out of place in the bushes but then continues to look a bit out of place walking around like a tourist on vacation. 🙂 Thanks for checking these out!
  
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Garden Walk Garden Talk on July 24, 2013 at 10:54 pm said:

Lucky you saw him, he looks big. Nice photos and he was so nice to let you snap his photo.

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- Phil Lanoue on July 25, 2013 at 12:50 pm said:
  
  It was lucky I saw him, a while back I almost didn’t see one in a similar location and almost stepped on him. 😯
  He was very accommodating indeed!
  
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Rexlin Victor on July 25, 2013 at 2:35 am said:

Stunning shots!!!! Big and giant alligator !!!!

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- Phil Lanoue on July 25, 2013 at 12:50 pm said:
  
  Glad you enjoyed these shots! Yes he was a good size boy indeed!
  
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janmasyn on July 25, 2013 at 4:41 am said:

Fantastic close-ups, excellent shots!!!!

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- Phil Lanoue on July 25, 2013 at 12:50 pm said:
  
  Thanks very much for looking and commenting Jan!
  
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Andrew on July 25, 2013 at 7:37 am said:

He is a magnificent creature. Perhaps he was a SEAL in his last career?

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- Phil Lanoue on July 25, 2013 at 12:51 pm said:
  
  He is an impressive creature for sure! Check out the next part of this series as he continues his SEAL training in the salt water. 🙂
  
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The Dancing Rider on July 25, 2013 at 9:18 am said:

He lives there for a reason. He blends in with the meadow/field as well as he does the water. All the shots are so close up, they’re great. That first photo is my favorite. It’s beautiful.

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- Phil Lanoue on July 25, 2013 at 12:52 pm said:
  
  He does blend in well, almost too well. I came very close to stepping on one in a similar location not too long ago.
  I’m so happy you enjoyed these photos and stay tuned for part two! 🙂
  
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  - The Dancing Rider on July 25, 2013 at 3:42 pm said:
    
    You guys are still here, so I won’t be worried about Part Two. Looking forward to it!
    
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thehappyhugger on July 25, 2013 at 10:43 am said:

He looks super scary!

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- Phil Lanoue on July 25, 2013 at 12:53 pm said:
  
  No, he’s not scary, he’s just hungry. Oh. Wait. 🙂
  
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  - thehappyhugger on July 25, 2013 at 12:54 pm said:
    
    🙂
    
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Patricia Warren on July 25, 2013 at 12:21 pm said:

I love your photos of the Gators crossing the road. I never seem to be at HBSP when they do that.

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- Phil Lanoue on July 25, 2013 at 3:17 pm said:
  
  Thank you Patricia, I’m so glad you like the alligator photos.
  
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dinajohnston on July 25, 2013 at 1:12 pm said:

Wow! You seem so close. What’s the length on your lens? I would hate to think you were almost petting him.

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- Phil Lanoue on July 25, 2013 at 3:18 pm said:
  
  Yes I was close and I had the 300 with a 1.4 on so it was a 420. But I have often made these types of shots using the 70-200, I just have to wait for him to get closer. 😀
  
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adinparadise on July 25, 2013 at 2:22 pm said:

Great close-ups of this fearsome creature. I think this side of my screen is as close as I’d want to be to him. 🙂

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- Phil Lanoue on July 25, 2013 at 3:20 pm said:
  
  Thank you Sylvia I’m happy you enjoyed these alligator pics!
  I’m sure you would be thrilled to be able to reach out and give him a scratch on the top of his head kitty style. 😀
  
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Molly Argo on July 25, 2013 at 5:33 pm said:

My goodness, that is a big boy!! Great capture (as long as it was only you capturing him!)

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- Phil Lanoue on July 25, 2013 at 8:38 pm said:
  
  Thanks Molly and yes he was good size boy, but he ignored me completely as he walked by and that’s just the way I like it.
  
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crazytraintotinkytown on July 28, 2013 at 9:06 am said:

I would have had a cow if he’d appeared out of nowhere

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- Phil Lanoue on July 28, 2013 at 11:48 am said:
  
  Well at least I didn’t step on this one, I saw him just in time to avoid that fun.
  
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Paula Harrington on July 29, 2013 at 10:51 am said:

That is alot of gator hidden in those weeds! Love the first shot

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- Phil Lanoue on July 29, 2013 at 12:34 pm said:
  
  Yeah he was a good size boy. Thanks for checking this out!
  
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TheForagingPhotographer on August 1, 2013 at 4:51 pm said:

Oh he’s so pretty in his floral camouflage! 😀

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