wherethereptilesroam

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Once the alligator calmed down & returned to its original position, I gave it some time before even reapproaching. I did get a lil bit closer again without getting too close for comfort & staying in its field of vision. Only took several photos before I let it be as to not stress it out any further. (After this encounter, I did finally get a proper zoom lens so I can get close to animals without putting them or myself in a bad situation.) I was very ill prepared for photographing alligators. However they aren't the aggressive beasts hellbent on attacking/killing people that they're made out to be.

[wherethereptilesroam]

Same alligator from the last several posts (6-7 foot alligator). Once it plopped down, the alligator didn't move much except to turn its head. If you can't tell, it is in fact hissing. Entirely my fault as I wasn't paying attention, stepped into its blind spot while photographing it & it was not having it. I did back up right away & get back into its field of vision. As soon as I did, it calmed down & returned to its original position. I do feel like I should note: 1. Hissing doesn't mean an alligator is aggressive (again this one wasn't aggressive by any means). It was just vocal about its boundaries. A lot tend to retreat rather than hiss or confront but this one wanted to stay right where it plopped down. 2. Once you hear an alligator hiss, as long as you comply & respond appropriately right away, you won't get attacked.

[wherethereptilesroam]

After I moved back, it crawled up on land & plopped right down.

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After a few minutes of floating there, it started crawling out of the water. Once again, I was ill-prepared shooting with the 18-55mm lens. It was several feet away from me. I took a couple photos before slowly & calmly moving to give it space to get on land. It wasn't aggressive by any means nor did it try to bite or attack.

[wherethereptilesroam]

One of the more interesting encounters I've had. I spent all the previous day photographing alligators here & that entire day this one kept changing directions any time it got close. It was always too far to photograph. It's the bigger alligator, not nearly as reclusive & makes it's presence known unlike the others. Well the 2nd day, a few people had pointed this one out. Once again, too far away to photograph but I tried to anyway. Where I was facing, it was heading west. It ended up making a turn right toward me (It never swam up to anyone else either day & didn't seem to pay attention to people otherwise, nothing about it's behavior suggests it's being fed). I assumed it was just gonna swim away as it had done the previous day so I kept photographing it. It never swam away. It floated there for a few minutes.

About a 6-7 foot alligator.

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I didn't realize until I started going over the photos that the alligator has a fishing hook caught in its leg & paw. (I am currently trying to locate this alligator to get it some help). I believe this is the same 4-5 foot alligator I first posted.

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Same alligator from the previous post. After it got done eating whatever it caught.

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Also about a 4-5 foot alligator. While looking for alligators to photograph, found this one trying to catch a fish, turtle or something. These as well as the others were taken with a 18-55mm lens (before I got a proper zoom lens). Not the best for taking photos of wildlife. I was about 3 feet from the alligator.

[wherethereptilesroam]

4-5 foot alligator.

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4-5 foot alligator.

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White Ibis

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The one time I see a bird 'sunning' or 'anting' maybe both, it happens to be a Barred Owl. If you're not familiar, anting is a fascinating behavior in which certain species of birds will either pick up ants in their beak & rub the ants on their feathers (active anting) or will plop down on or near an ant's nest & wait for ants to crawl on them (passive anting). It's a way to clean & rid themselves of parasites & such. Anting can be done with other insects besides ants too.

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Have yet to come across a creature half as curious as house geckos.

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