Phil Lanoue Photography

Up From The Marsh

Early this morning we noticed Mr. Alligator sneaking his way through the reeds in the salt marsh. He didn’t appear to be hunting for food so we suspected he had likely been out there all night and was ready to get out of the salt water and back to his pond.

This would require slogging across the mud at low tide, then climbing up the bank to make his way over to the pond. So that’s exactly what our gator friend did… and after all the hard work of crunching up through the dried reeds, he rested his chin for a bit before taking a slow stroll to the pond where a nap in the sun was most probably his plan.

Determined Stalker

This morning I was watching some tricolored herons fishing in the marsh pond. I was particularly impressed by this one juvenile tri that was using a fishing method more commonly seen by reddish egrets. This tri was putting up his wings and employing almost dance like moves as it stalked the tiny fish that it regularly feeds on. Although these maneuvers may appear almost comical at times, the method has a very high success rate and many fish became part of this entertaining youngster’s morning meal!

Disagreement In The Marsh

Yesterday morning a tricolored heron apparently had an issue with our pink spoonbill friend and let him have it. Well…spoonie wasn’t going to be talked to in this way so he gave it right back to the tri who seemed surprised that the spoonbill did not immediately flee in terror. Spoonie didn’t let it bother him however, he promptly went right back to fishing and within a minute the entire incident appeared forgotten and they went back to being friends and sharing that fishing spot.

Morning Spoonbill

We were pleased to see one lone roseate spoonbill in the marsh pond early this morning. He was picking around with a few of his egret and heron friends but surprisingly no wood storks or ibis which are the usual spoonbill associates. Once I saw him lift his head, open his yap, and give me that look, I suspected it was time to leave and sure enough, spoonie took off!

He flew over to the salt marsh where we tracked him down, then back across to a far corner of the marsh pond where once again we tracked him down. Photos of our pink friend in those locations will be subjects of upcoming posts. Including one particularly unfriendly encounter with a tricolored heron. 🙂

Two Evenings…Two Alligators

Last week this first alligator was floating along in the marsh pond with the setting sunlight making the water sparkle as he went by.

Then last night the overcast sky combined with no breeze gave the water a smooth, glassy look.

Morning Skim

Last week I was happy to see a black skimmer zipping along across the marsh pond. On this run, the skimmer came up empty with no fish to show for his efforts. But when it flew up from finishing another pass in the far back corner of the pond, I saw that this time the skimmer did have a small fish in it’s bright orange bill!

Woody Catches Two…Looses One…

Earlier this weekend I was watching this wood stork fishing in the salt marsh. At one point woody came up with two fish on one attempt. But astonishingly, one of the fish manages to twist and wriggle it’s way out of woody’s prodigious bill and plummet back into the water…perhaps to live to swim another day. Or maybe woody just snatched it back up again later. Either way. 🙂

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.