Phil Lanoue Photography

“This Is MY Pond!”

We were watching this alligator yesterday morning that seemed to be in a particularly cranky mood. It was running off some of the smaller gators and in general annoying the entire marsh pond for no other reason that we could determine except that it could! So at one point it came slowly floating toward me, stopped and gave me this look. I don’t know exactly what it was thinking, but I had the distinct feeling that it was letting me know who was in charge of the marsh…and guess what? It wasn’t me!!

Morning Meeting

Early this morning we saw some wood storks, a great egret, and a great blue heron all standing next to a tiny island in the marsh pond. They looked like they were all ready to start a meeting but needed to wait until everyone had arrived. We weren’t sure if this was the arrival they were expecting or not, but an alligator decided to join the group and settle in comfortably on the island.

The birds stood around and actually appeared a little confused about their new “member”…had he actually been invited?…if so, by who? Deciding that since he was already there, and seemed ok, the meeting continued. Well, after about 10 minutes the meeting concluded and all the birds departed the area leaving the new guy alone. With all business now completed, the alligator also left the island and floated off to his next assignment. We’re hoping that all issues were successfully discussed and a mutual agreement was reached!

Day Is Done…

Last night while I was watching and photographing the changing sky and clouds, I heard the familiar squawk of a great blue heron behind me. When I turned around there he was flying in just barely above the reeds toward me, finally landing on the oyster beds in the salt marsh. After staying a few minutes he took off and headed toward the trees to roost for the night. Another day transitions into night in the marshland!

Transition

Interesting sky and cloud transition this evening looking west from the marsh. These photos were taken within a 20 minute time period.

Alright, I know what you all are thinking…Phil, those are ok enough sky photos but where’s the bird or alligator? Well you know I have to get in one egret sunset silhouette from tonight!

Fish Alert!

Well…yesterday evening in the salt marsh started out quietly enough. There were a few birds waiting around for the tide to start coming in bringing fish along with it. But then the snowy egret got the whole place in an uproar when it spotted one decent sized fish that was trying to make it’s way along a narrow channel of water between the oyster beds. The snowy, in his excitement over seeing the fish, announced it to the entire marsh by running and dancing around wildly in an attempt to capture the fish! This is the universal signal to other birds that somebody found something really good and it might just be available for the taking. The closest competitor in this case was a great egret who quickly snatched up the fish before anyone else could get there!

The egret then spotted trouble coming which was a great blue heron. The egret also knew the heron could take the fish if he didn’t act immediately. Wading birds like this egret don’t often fly with their catch, they generally take their time with a fish. But this egret knew it had no time at all because the great blue was closing in rapidly so…the egret took off with it’s prize, landing among the oyster beds where it did the quickest gulp in history to get the fish down before the heron could take it! The great blue meanwhile…realizing it had lost a prime opportunity, displayed it’s frustration and displeasure with this very impressive posturing pose. We were all duly impressed…but the egret did end up with the fish!

Evening In The Marsh

Yesterday evening we went out to see if there was any activity in the marsh. Not a whole lot going on but we did see some things…

A baby alligator (well, we refer to any gator 3 feet or under as a baby) floating in the water with just his little head exposed.

A Clapper Rail, a small marsh bird, was seen picking around among the oyster beds.

A Great Blue Heron who decided that it would be more comfortable standing on one leg.

A White Ibis did a quick flyby.

A Snowy Egret was seen fishing in the salt marsh.

A Tricolored Heron was also fishing for minnows and seemed to be pretty successful!

And a young alligator who looked particularly attractive with it’s colorful stripes lit by the late evening sun…

Sloshing For Fish!

Over the weekend we were watching this alligator sloshing around in the marsh trying to stir up small fish and crabs for breakfast. When utilizing this technique, the gators will often lunge out quickly toward the fish hoping to trap several along with a huge gulp of water. The alligator will strain out the water leaving just the fish and sometimes an unlucky crab as well! Look carefully at the bubble on the end of the gator’s nose…it remained intact during the entire event!

September Flights

Continuing in the tradition I started in August which was showing various flight shots taken during the month that had not been otherwise posted…Here are some for September!