Phil Lanoue Photography

Alligator at Sunset

This alligator came floating into the marsh pond last week silhouetted by the setting sunlight.

It seems that the great blue heron often feels it must announce it’s comings and goings along the marsh area by squawking loudly at every opportunity. We almost always know when a blue heron is up to something or moving to a new location because the sound they make is loud and unmistakable, and you can often hear one before you see it. I can understand those times when there are other birds around, but these herons even when alone will squawk just to hear themselves speak I think!

April Flights

Well it’s that time of the month again. In keeping with the tradition I started a while back to present some various flight shots for the month that had not otherwise been posted here are some April flights!

Anhinga

Bald Eagle

Great Blue Heron

Great Egret

Least Tern

Little Blue Heron “Tweener”

Osprey

Tricolored Heron

“And In This Corner…”

In between rain showers this afternoon I decided to head over to the marsh and see if anything was going on. As soon as I arrived I noticed these two alligators that clearly had issues with each other. I don’t know what set it off originally but they were involved in a major dispute over something, more then likely territory. As mating season approaches and emotions start to run high, arguments and disagreements are bound to happen. I watched these two go at it for close to half an hour before the whole thing just stopped. One floated off to lick his wounds and the other crawled up onto the bank at the edge of the pond right in front of me and went to sleep, he looked exhausted.

The other odd and interesting thing that occurred while all this was happening… as many as 12 other alligators came floating in and picked out spots in the water nearby as spectators to the battle. I have never seen behavior like this before and still wonder what was on their minds as they picked out front row seats to the event!

Odds and Ends

Just thought I would post up a few individual photos of some fairly uncommon birds we have seen over the past week.

This Black-necked Stilt was performing it’s stilt act in the marsh pond Friday evening. I really like the stilts bubble gum pink legs and their bobble heads as they march about picking for aquatic insects.

The Clapper Rails are shy, nervous, and reclusive birds that are often heard but rarely seen out in the open. These rails are sometimes referred to as “marsh hens”due to their almost chicken like appearance. I saw these two swim across a small portion of water in the salt marsh and then climb up into the safety of the dried reeds along the edge. I suspect it could be a mated pair.

I heard this Common Loon before I saw it floating by along the salt marsh. The loons have an eerie yodeling or laughing wail that can almost send chills up your spine especially at night.

I spotted this male Painted Bunting in among some scrub pines near the marsh. The painted bunting is the most colorful North American songbird and has also been called a flying rainbow. You may notice this one has been banded. There is a banding program in place to help keep track and count of these birds which are considered a species of serious concern due mostly to loss of habitat from clear cutting woodland areas for development. We actually witnessed the banding process last summer and it was quite interesting. Each bird gets two different colored bands on both legs. The color and placement signify location and year, and are used to identify individual birds.

Black-necked Stilt

Clapper Rails

Common Loon

Male Painted Bunting

Ever Have The Feeling You Are Being Watched?

Yesterday evening some snowy egrets that were fishing in a shallow pool in the salt marsh had a bit of company. There was a young alligator also wishing to take advantage of some of the fish that may be trapped in the shallow water. I’m sure the snowys were aware of the gator, and the gator was watching the birds but…Mr. Gator was more interested in the fish and I saw him scoop up several. The little snowys kept their eyes open however, just in case the alligator got any ambitious ideas, but he remained well behaved. The only tense moments for the snowys were when the gator would submerge itself under water and then surface in a different location. What was somewhat amusing was when I saw a few snowys suddenly jump straight up into the air when the alligator came up near the bird. But the snowys never left the area, they just kept right on fishing!

I Knew He Was Up To Something!

Tuesday afternoon I spotted this alligator sitting quietly in the marsh pond. Oh sure, he looks all innocent and cute but I could tell by that look on his face he was up to something. Within moments he busts up out of the water with a blue crab. So that’s what the little sneak was doing! He very likely had his mouth open under water where we couldn’t see it, just waiting for some unfortunate fish or crab to float by and then snap! After he was done crunching poor crabby he settled back down into the water looking all pleased and satisfied with himself.

Anhingas Fishing

Yesterday afternoon I was watching these two anhingas fishing in the marsh pond. The anhinga is a water bird that fishes by swimming under water and spearing a fish on the end of it’s very sharp bill. When it surfaces with the fish impaled, it will flip the fish off it’s bill into mid air and then open it’s mouth wide to catch the fish as it plummets down toward the anhinga’s waiting throat.

An anhinga fishing is my favorite bird action to view, and it is also one of the most challenging wildlife behaviors for me to photograph. These birds can surface almost anywhere and to spot it and lock on focus and hopefully get the patented anhinga ‘fish flip’ captured as it happens can be tough. For anyone wishing to see more photos of these amazing birds in action please feel free to check out the Anhinga Photos gallery at the top of my blog.