Warm Winter Morning

If we get an unseasonably warm day, even in January, you might find an alligator floating around in the swamp.

The alligators don’t hibernate in the strict sense, one can potentially come out on a winter morning to grab a little sun.

They are slow and won’t move around all that much, and certainly won’t hunt for a meal, but a nap in the sun is always on the menu.

15 thoughts on “Warm Winter Morning”

Patrizia M. on January 4, 2015 at 7:08 pm said:

Un pisolino sotto al sole è ideale per riposare e riscaldarsi nello stesso tempo.
Ottime foto, come sempre 🙂
Un grande saluto, Pat

Reply ↓
- Phil Lanoue on January 4, 2015 at 7:11 pm said:
  
  Vorrei poter trascorrere più tempo a dormire sotto il sole. 🙂
  Grazie per guardare queste foto Pat!
  
  Reply ↓
Birder's Journey on January 4, 2015 at 7:15 pm said:

This guy looks very laid-back, I must say! Really wonderful lighting and clarity on that first one.

Reply ↓
- Phil Lanoue on January 4, 2015 at 7:35 pm said:
  
  Yeah they are all pretty much laid back this time of year. It will be March or April when they start getting more active again.
  Thanks for checking these out.
  
  Reply ↓
Nicci on January 4, 2015 at 8:27 pm said:

I was going to say it might grab something else besides sun! But I see by your post that the alligators don’t feed at this time of year. Whew!

Absolutely stunning photography. I love the first one of course, but the last one made me see alligators in a new light. It looks like a big (huge) lizard.

Thank you for the education and beautiful shots!

Reply ↓
- Phil Lanoue on January 8, 2015 at 1:27 pm said:
  
  I’m really happy you enjoyed seeing this guy. Their metabolism slows way down in winter so they can’t really digest food if they did eat it. They will be quite hungry by March/April. 🙂
  
  Reply ↓
  - Nicci on January 8, 2015 at 1:37 pm said:
    
    That is fascinating! 🙂
    
    Reply ↓
Lyle Krahn on January 5, 2015 at 12:24 am said:

It looks like it needs a lot more napping … and it’s making me tired. They are amazing creatures for enduring unfavourable conditions which makes me wonder why they aren’t here.

Reply ↓
- Phil Lanoue on January 8, 2015 at 1:29 pm said:
  
  Oh they excel at napping. I have photos of one in the snow from a rare snowfall we had here. You folks should get some of these guys. They are tons of fun.
  
  Reply ↓
Linda on January 5, 2015 at 10:49 am said:

The alligators are back,!! or waking up, they are amazing creatures….great photos of them once again.

Reply ↓
- Phil Lanoue on January 8, 2015 at 1:30 pm said:
  
  Not really waking up, they will still be laying around and doing mostly nothing until Spring. But it is possible to see one out on a sunny day at any time of year. Glad you like seeing these guys!
  
  Reply ↓
anotherday2paradise on January 6, 2015 at 6:36 pm said:

Nice to see Mr A is back. I saw a few baby alligators here last week. 🙂

Reply ↓
- Phil Lanoue on January 8, 2015 at 1:31 pm said:
  
  Awww… gotta love the little babies. 🙂
  
  Reply ↓
The Lite Rider on January 7, 2015 at 4:51 pm said:

Bet he loved that sun nap. Great shots of this guy!

Reply ↓
- Phil Lanoue on January 8, 2015 at 1:32 pm said:
  
  Oh one of their favorite things to do is nap. Now that I think of it, they have a lot in common with cats. 🙂
  
  Reply ↓