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Wildlife Photography / Florida
Move Along, Big’un
A reptilian roadblock, we wait patiently.
In February, my friend Gina and I visited Sweetwater Wetlands Park, my favorite birding site. After nearly two hours of hiking on the trails and boardwalks, we were walking in the direction of the park entrance when we encountered a roadblock — a huge gator lying comfortably in the middle of the path.
We waited five, ten minutes, but he didn’t move. Gina suggested passing him on the left, but that entailed being right at the water’s edge where the soil was mucky and slippery — the same water where this big guy appeared to be heading before he settled down on the path — the same water that held more gators. We couldn’t go to the right behind him because a second gator was there.
So, we waited.
The morning began with a chilly fog. The Sweetwater gators — and there are many — were cold. As the fog dissipated, we saw several lumber onto shore to warm up in the sun.
This big guy was using the path as his chaise lounge for a little sunbathing.
After another five minutes of waiting, the warmed-up gator rose to his feet and sauntered to the water, and we were able to go home.
© Dennett 2023
