Baby Alligator Catches A Bug!

This has always been one of my favorite series. We were watching a baby alligator moving around the swamp among the duckweed. The little guy could not have been more than a foot long. It was clearly hunting for a meal, trying to learn how to be a big gator just like his mom taught him. We saw it lunge at a small frog and miss. Froggy got away. Then we saw the little youngster plunge it’s head under water and surface with something in his tiny jaws. That something turned out to be an insect, likely a cicada. Well our little alligator came up out of the water with the same look and attitude that a full grown gator has with a huge catch! It may have only been a bug, but for this little guy it was a meal and a continuing lesson on how to survuve in the wild and grow up to maybe, one day, be king of the swamp. 

Tricolored Herons

Earlier this week we were watching this tricolored heron fishing in the marsh pond. Tricolored heron fishing methods can vary. At times they become very animated and display an almost dance like prancing behavior across the water, similar to a reddish egret. Other times they employ a more standard slow stalk with their neck curled back and head angled, poised to strike. This particular individual was using everything in it’s repertoire to successfully snatch small bait fish. Even if occasionally one fish gets away. 

Clapper Rail

A clapper rail walks along the edge of the marsh pond among the Morning Glories this morning.

Morning Snack

An alligator popped up out of the marsh pond this morning with a nice little blue crab for breakfast.

Roseate Spoonbills

Last night a small group of Roseate Spoonbills descended upon the salt marsh at low tide to begin feeding.

One juvenile arrived first, followed by an adult. You can notice how the juvenile is much more pale with only a tinge of pink compared to the adult.

The juvenile also has a black eye while the adult’s eye is red.

Just as the adult landed a second juvie arrives. We watched them feed in the mud and shallow water of the low tide for quite a while.

I Guess Not Everbody Hates Mondays

This alligator seems to be happy and enjoying his day. And why not? He’s got a nice place to relax in the sun with a waterfront view. Life is good!

Reddish Egret

This morning we were watching a juvenile reddish egret fishing in the marsh pond.

The reddish have a very interesting and often entertaining method of feeding.

They race around chasing after fish with their wings up, turning and changing direction frequently.

It resembles some sort of frenetic dance routine and can be quite comical to observe.

Great Blue Heron

Early this morning I photographed this great blue heron flying against the trees at the edge of the marsh pond.

The great blue is one of the larger wading birds and may stand up to 4 feet tall. It can commonly be seen in many areas and is one of my favorite birds.

The great blue can rarely be intimidated, and will stand up to practically any other bird in the marsh including the bald eagle.

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