Mister Alligator And Friends
So last night an alligator was feeding in the shallow water of the salt marsh at low tide. As is often the case, Mr. A’s sloshing around had attracted the attention of a few of the wading birds that were in the area. Quickly a wood stork and an egret arrived to join in the feeding frenzy, scooping up fish that in a panic were jumping all over in an attempt to get away from our alligator pal.
The birds know that an actively feeding gator can provide a jackpot of fish and they will purposely stand around near the alligator and even follow it as it moves from side to side herding the fish as it goes. The wood stork was particularly bold but the egret hung right in there as well. The birds may be taking a little bit of a chance, but they can also tell when Mr. A is focused on catching fish and crabs only and is paying no attention to them.
Also in the nearby area was an ibis, a snowy egret, a great blue heron, and another wood stork. But none of them were quite as brave as these two here. They are likely older and more experienced birds and are better at reading alligator body language which is an important skill to have in the marsh if you wish to cash in on the seafood bonanza available when Mr. A is really working the area hard.
Phil Lanoue Photography 
Beautiful blue giant storks in the water, and this in the Wasser.Ein blue.
Vielen Dank ich bin glücklich, Sie genießen die Fotos 🙂
Ich hoffe Sie meine auch….
Good evening
have you subscribed to, if you also subscribe to me you can find me better in the reader and there see my older articles, and if like like.The eye is as you know.Let …auch inspire my images when I have written much on German, you can enter it with your naked eye.
My name is Andrea and come from Oberhausen is located in North Rhine-Westphalia.
And what’s your name?
Your pictures are great, are great, I think all good, very toll…ich am looking forward to more.
These are pictures from their homeland?
Where exactly are you from.
To have beautiful they made in the wide Univerum.
All the best for you and your family
Wish you have a pleasant Tag.Herzlichst Andrea
Hi Andrea
Guten Abend und Grüße aus South Carolina USA.
Ich werde es genießen Blick auf Ihrem Blog.
Phil
Guten morgen Phil?
Sie sprechen gut Deutsch.Ich wünsche Ihnen einen schönen SonnTAG heute scheint es ja nicht so heiß zu werden….HERZlichst ANDREA:))
Bei mir gibt es noch vieles zu entdecken wenn Sie mich abonniert haben können sie mich besser im READER sehen….
Guten Abend Andrea. Ich hoffe, Sie genießen Ihren Sonntag. Vielen Dank für Ihren Besuch auf meinem Blog.
Ich genieße bei der schönen AbKÜHLUNG….ich danke für Ihren Besuch auf meinen SEITE(n)….und hat es bei Ihnen abgekühlt??
Es ist fast immer heiß und feucht hier am Strand.
Cheers, Phil 😀
Sie haben die AbKÜHLUNG immer vor ORT…das ist gut..ANDREA:))
Hab mal TAGesZEITUNGen geschrieben wenn Sie Interesse haben…sind mitunter tolle BILDer und lustiges zum lesen dabei…..und heute ist SonnTAG…demnach meine Sonntag(s)ZEITUNGen viel SPASS damit…ANDREA:))
Ich lese immer die Zeitung am Sonntag. 🙂
Die ZEITUNGen von mir sind besser…vielleicht versteckt sich ja auch ein ALLigator in meiner ZEITUNG hihihi….
These shots are utterly mind boggling. You never cease to amaze. (with a little help from the marsh residents.)
Thanks very much Gunta and I am thrilled you enjoyed these photos!
Well the marsh residents really do all the work, I just hang around and attempt to record some of it. 🙂
The bird’s courage should be appreciated ! 🙂 !
The last picture shows Mr. A in close proximity of the bird !
And then , what happened , Phil ?
Your shots are awesome !
utham
Those birds are quite brave indeed and I’m very happy you liked these photos utham!
In the last photo that alligator was actually looking for and hoping there was a crab somewhere in the mud. It basically just ignored the bird and went about it’s business leaving the egret alone.
Hi Phil, we are at Huntington today. Hoping to see a wide variety of birds. Is there a time of day that is better to catch more varieties? So hoping to see a spoonbill
Debbie it seems that lately early morning and late evening (especially when it’s low tide in the salt marsh) is the best time for bird sightings.
I have not seen a spoonbill in close to a week now.
Crazy birds! Nice catch on them getting so close.
That wood stork just kept shadowing the alligator and wouldn’t leave it alone. But I guess it sorta knew what it was doing, I never saw a wood stork eat so much fish before.
Thanks for checking these out.
Stunning photos as usual! It’s amazing how the birds have the ability to ‘read’ the Gators and take advantage of this. The last photo is especially great!
Hey thanks a million Molly! It’s also funny how some of the birds pay absolutely zero attention to a feeding alligator while others are nervous wrecks. This wood stork did not care one bit.
Amazing shots Phil, the last one is super.
Thank you Jan, so glad you liked that last one especially.
Uhh che strana compagnia. Le foto sono fantastiche, bravissimo!!
Ciao, Pat
Erano un gruppo molto strano. Grazie Pat 🙂
I enjoyed seeing the water spraying up from the gator’s mouth. I suppose the birds with the higher risk tolerance get eaten first.
That alligator had to be swallowing a good portion of muddy water along with his fish.
This wood stork especially did not care one bit about the alligator at all as best as I could tell. When the gators are sloshing around like that it’s usually safe for the birds. It’s when they go under water in stealth mode that birds need to be careful
It really makes sense that the gator would stir up fish for others. Good he is not baiting the birds. I am glad gators don’t like feathers. Your photos always tell a story.
Thank you very much for checking out these photos and I’m glad you enjoyed them.
The wood stork especially was often trailing right behind the alligator and grabbing fish that it’s big tail would stir up.
Amazing photo series, Phil! Experience counts 😀
Thank you Amy, I appreciate your kind comments!
Fabulous pics once again, Phil. Do alligators ever attack and eat birds, because the birds never seem to be overly concerned about getting up close and personal? 🙂
Thanks very much Sylvia, I’m happy you liked these pics!
When the birds have to be careful is when the alligator is under the water in stealth mode. When it is openly sloshing around grabbing fish and crabs they know the birds know they are (mostly) safe. 🙂
I’d rather them than me. I’d keep a better distance if it were me.
That wood stork was practically stepping over the alligator’s tail to get at fish, it was quite the scene!
I’m learning so much from your posts. These are unusual and highly interesting photos!
Well thanks very much Deb, I really appreciate your kind words!
Amazing shots, Phil. Funny how these birds are not scared of Mr A 🙂
Thanks and no they were cautious but not scared. In fact the birds seemed to be happy to let Mr. A do most of the work getting the fish all in a frenzy so the birds could grab them. 🙂
Don’t know if I’d want to get that close to him particularly at mealtime
Even I was a bit surprised how the wood stork particularly did not seem to care one bit about walking all over the alligator.
My God!!!! What a serie of pics!!!! It is incredible to see how wise animals are…All instinct….
I have discovered your place through Paula (Lost in Translation)…and I am happy… (I am also happy I do not have alligators near by, and just storks and cranes…:) )
Well I am very pleased you found the blog and I greatly appreciate your visit and your very kind comments, thanks!
Wow! Stunning, stunning shots!
Thank you so much I am happy to know you like the photos!
Incredible photographs, each one telling a story. Great post!
Well I greatly appreciate you stopping by and your kind comments and I’m really happy you enjoy the photos! Thanks 🙂
This cohabitation amazes me …. a lovely light on these spectacular creatures in action 😀
It is rather surprising I will admit, but I have seen it many times now so I know it’s not an isolated behavior.
Thanks very much for checking these out Paula and I’m happy you like the photos!
Choke on a feather once and you learn. I’m sure centuries of evolutionary gagging has taught the alligator to concentrate on fish. And we all know that the waders are a bunch of big teases. 🙂
I believe in general these guys would rather eat fish and they absolutely LOVE fresh caught crabs!
The wading birds can often have a bit of an attitude. 🙂
I have been lurking and seeing some of your photos and commentary on Ugly Hedgehog, then a friend whom you are probably meeting soon if not already, on a trip to SC, told me about this blog and sent a link. I cant tell you how much I look forward to your blog posts and photos. Wow. Nice job. I hope to be half as good some day. Nice that you are close enough to this park to hang with the locals too!
Thanks a million for your very kind comments Ellie and I’m very happy you enjoy the photos here!
To the inexperienced eye, Phil, the birds look in great peril! Thanks to your explanation, though, I can see that they are old hands!
This species interaction is one of my favorite things to photograph Lucy. Glad you like the shots!
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Those egrets certainly live life on the edge, don’t they?!
it’s certainly like a picnic at the marsh.