American Alligator Takes a Turtle
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(Warning – this post contains graphic photos)
I was watching this alligator glide ever so slowly across the water and liked the reflections. While taking the photo, I saw a turtle’s head sticking out of the water.
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I continued to snap photos just as the turtle disappeared at the same time the alligator’s tail engaged its power. I’ll share just a few photos of the action.
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Just as quick, the splashing stopped. The alligator resurfaced with the turtle in it’s mouth, and slowly swam towards and disappeared in the mangroves.
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We can’t help but feel bad for the turtle, but this is the cycle of life. And an example at how fast and violent an alligator can be. If you come upon a alligator, please respect it and keep your distance. It will take what it wants.
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American Alligator Gallery
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With young and old alike, one of the most popular wildlife sightings everyone wants to see while visiting the swamps and preserves in south Florida is the American Alligator in its natural habitat.
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It is easy down here to find American Alligators in their one million+ acres of raw, natural habitat. They roam where they want to roam. They lay where they want to lay. Even if it is alongside the road.
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American Alligator snoozing alongside the road
(black at bottom of photo is my car window/door)
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I’ve enjoyed trying to capture them in a beautiful setting, reflections a bonus.
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I kept saying quietly, “Faster, egret, walk faster!” The alligator wasn’t fazed.
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While photographing this next alligator eyeing me…..
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It suddenly did a hard and fast submersion, instead of the usual slow sink.
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Fast submersion
(see the eye and teeth through the water splash and reflections?)
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After disappearing in the swamp, the alligator finally reappeared further away and in thick growth, with just its head up and peeking.
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Most of the photos above were cropped, some considerably. Please know I was not anywhere near any of these alligators.
Alligators are definitely fascinating. You’re looking back in time at a prehistoric creature.
Alligators are also very dangerous. They will take what they want. My next post will show a short series of an alligator taking a turtle. A warning will be posted, in case you’d prefer to not see, which I can respect.
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Gopher Tortoise
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The gopher tortoise is one of five North American tortoise species and is the only tortoise naturally found east of the Mississippi River in coastal scrub and pine flatwood habitats of the southeast United States.
The gopher tortoise is considered a “keystone” species because its burrows provide benefits to more than 350 other species.
In all their inhabiting southeastern states, the gopher tortoise is considered endangered or threatened. In Florida, it is listed as “threatened”.
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Gopher Tortoise
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To get a chance to possibly see this 9-15″ (23-38 cm) dry-land turtle, we traveled not far to Rena Point. With perfect conditions for the gopher tortoise, roadside rescues are brought to this enclosed, protected area that were not able to be returned to the wild.
We explored the area and trail for about an hour with no sightings and returned to the parking lot. And this is where we found this gopher tortoise doing a little foraging not too far from our car. 😏
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Gopher Tortoise
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Gopher Tortoise
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More information on the gopher tortoise posted at Rena Point, if you’re interested!
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Big Cypress Fox Squirrel
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I feel very fortunate to get an opportunity to capture southwest Florida’s Big Cypress fox squirrel.
This fox squirrel is a unique subspecies of the Eastern fox squirrel, and is found south of the Caloosahatchee River and west of the Everglades region of Florida.
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Big Cypress Fox Squirrel
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The Big Cypress fox squirrel is protected as a threatened species in Florida. There is little information known about this subspecies due to their limited range, secretive nature, and reluctance to be captured.
Sightings are rare. I photographed this one in Big Cypress National Preserve which is where Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission suggests to search for them while walking or driving along the preserve’s dirt roads into the wet pine and cypress forests.
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Big Cypress Fox Squirrel
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After that last shot, the fox squirrel scampered up the tree and I continued my walk.
Returning back down the path to my car, I looked for the fox squirrel again and found him/her relaxing in another tree. A quick photo and I continued on, very excited with this sighting!
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Big Cypress Fox Squirrel
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Snowy Egrets – Water Ballet
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There was a bit of a frenzy for a couple hours one morning with the Snowy Egrets when a fishing hole was swimming with tiny fish.
Too deep to stand, they took turns flying over, hovering/dangling their bright yellow toes, snatching a fish if they could, and then would fly off while gulping it down.
I was able to take photos from both the refuge’s deck and at ground level. It was an entertaining display of water ballet!
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This next photo shows how deep that fishing hole is with the Great Blue Heron up to its belly in water.
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This photo shows how deep the fishing hole is with the Great Blue Heron up to its belly in the water.
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And finally, this next three-photo series follows through with the tiptoeing to gulp success!
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Great Horned Owl
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I received a tip from a local resident that a Great Horned Owl was seen in an old banyan tree in town.
I was at the tree that evening, and looked and looked.
Ah-ha! When I finally spotted the owl, it was not perched in the banyan tree this time, but in a palm tree next to it, hiding in the shadows of the fronds.
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Great Horned Owl
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It was breezy, so I hoped for a chance to catch the early evening’s sun on the owl’s face inbetween the moving shadows.
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Great Horned Owl
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Fact – Great Horned Owls are the largest owl in North America and generally mate for life.
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Five On The Wing – #6
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Continuing my series of five birds in flight, this one has the added theme, raptors. Enjoy!
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Osprey
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Red-shouldered Hawk
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American Bald Eagle (adult)
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American Bald Eagle (immature)
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Crested Caracara
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More American White Pelicans
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Here is another series of photos of the beautiful American White Pelican from two weeks ago. I hope you enjoy!
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Red-shouldered Hawks – Mating Behavior
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Yesterday early morning while golf cart birding, I spotted a pair of Red-shouldered Hawks in a pine tree. I stopped for this shot, including seeing the power lines crossing my ‘scene’ as I took the photo. Ugh. Must get better shot, I thought!
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Red-shouldered Hawks (male top, female bottom)
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I quickly moved while trying to get my lens back on the scene. At the same time, the male dropped down to the female and began mating!
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Red-shouldered Hawks mating
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Red-shouldered Hawks mating
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As is with birds, it was over just as quick as it started. But what followed I had not seen before. The female immediately began to nip at the male’s feathers. Bonding bites?
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Female nipping male
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Female nipping male as he edges away
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Female continues the bonding nips
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Female is saying something?
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Just then some sunshine popped through the clouds, perfect timing for this next funny shot.
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“Ooooh, Baby!”
(male gets excited/fluffs up, as the female watches)
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She must have said something pretty good, you think? 😏
(Fact: Red-shouldered Hawks are monogamous and usually mate for life.)
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A Day in the Life of a Great Blue Heron
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It’s morning, time to wake up, Great Blue Heron.
You’ve got a lot to do today….
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Standing on those nice long legs….
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Fishing all day….
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With a dagger beak…
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Successfully…
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While protecting your fishing territory….
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Or maybe some courtship….
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Got to stay clean with an occasional bath….
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And preen those gorgeous feathers….
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While flying around from favorite spot to favorite spot…..
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Or sometimes just resting and enjoying the big view….
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And as the busy day comes to an end, feeling sleepy and ready for the night’s rest….
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A lot goes on in the day of the life of the Great Blue Heron.
(All photos taken in Florida in recent weeks.)
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Bay Photos by Donna 