Reptile! (and birds, insects, and mammals)

I know these posts are usually an image or two rather than a series, but I'm showing off a location, not just a picture, so I'm posting several shots I've collected from here.

There is a local state park here, St. Andrew State Park, along the channel connecting our bay with the Gulf of Mexico, and wildlife with a tolerance for humans is in abundance. Lots of good shooting!

So I'm walking along this trail around a pond in the park, looking for fun stuff to shoot, when I come across this in a clearing by the water:

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-Q...0/DSC_6924.jpg

I stayed where I was, with my eye on a bench I was pretty sure could get to before he could, when he just decided to mosey on back into the water (oddly enough, called Gator Lake.)
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-g...0/DSC_6927.jpg

Here's a shot that almost has the full length of head to tail
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-v...0/DSC_6929.jpg

What I was actually out there to get was things like:

Other critters
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-D...0/DSC_4486.jpg

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-t...0/DSC_4817.jpg

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-A...0/DSC_4923.jpg

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-A...0/DSC_3195.jpg

Trash thief
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-h...0/DSC_3198.jpg

I apparently didn't notice that the focus sensor in use was upper center, so this one could have been better, but . .
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-P...0/DSC_4948.jpg

Gator and blue heron eyeing each other.
Gator: I wonder if I'm that hungry right now?
Heron: Come any closer and I'll put your eyes out!
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-a...%252520008.jpg

Gator leaving with a hitchhiker
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-i...%252520015.jpg

and hiding in the reeds. I'm surprised this shot worked as well as it did, as it was DARK in there
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/--...%252520019.jpg

The heron let me walk right up for the picture
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-4...%252520020.jpg

Pelican in flight
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-a...0/DSC_3203.jpg

Monarchs coming through on the fall migration
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-h...0/DSC_3176.jpg

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-b...0/DSC_3191.jpg

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-6...0/DSC_3576.jpg

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-E...0/DSC_3461.jpg

Lots of dragonflies in the park, too, pretty much year round.
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-w...0/DSC_4468.jpg

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-p...0/DSC_4938.jpg

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-P...0/DSC_4945.jpg

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-i...%252520025.jpg



Another new trick I've learned is hovering dragonflies. They zip around and flick all about so there's no chance whatsoever of catching a good picture in flight.

Except.

They will sometimes fly in circles, with a hovering pause around a specific point in the circle. If you're quick enough with the manual focus, you can catch them in the hover.

I might spend 30 or 45 minutes shooting, and toss 90% of the shots for out-of-focus or out-of-frame, but once in a while . . . .

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-M...0/DSC_5037.jpg

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-j...0/DSC_5045.jpg

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-b...0/DSC_2857.jpg

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-O...0/DSC_3158.jpg

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-C...0/DSC_3367.jpg

You certainly had a great day. Really nice series of shot. The presence of a 'gator is sufficient cause for an exclamation. I would think running from a alligator is like trying to out run a bear. You won't in either case. Nice captures of the dragon flys. No doubt a difficult subject to master. I would say you are on your way.

Thanks for sharing.

David

Oops, not just a day. These are some from over 3 years of periodic visits to the park since I've gone digital.

As for running, alligators are very fast on land, but only for a few seconds. I've never had to worry, really.

The blue heron/alligator encounter was the same little beach as the first gator pictured.

I've seen more deer than I've ever been able to get pictures of, too. I'll be riding in (I get around on a motorcycle) and there'll be one crossing the street, but my gear is all packed up. I'll park, get the camera and stalk, but never see her again, just hear a few brush scrapes that I can't keep up with.

Great photos! I especially like the dragon fly photo's, very cool!

Looks like a delightful place to visit. I have several places like this, where I go back again and again over the years, and always see something new and wonderful. Photography gives one a whole new appreciation for nature -- we tend to pay better attention, look closer and discover whole new worlds of wonder in the details.

Great series! I love the croc. I'm living on Aruba and no crocodiles here. (maybe a purse or some shoes at the most)