Some images from Sweetwater Wetlands Park

I got out to the Park this morning on a rumor that theWhooping Crane(s) had been spotted there. Well no Whooping Crane, but there wasa fair amount of wildlife out there. I spotted a very large Alligator baskingon the bank with her mouth open. I grabbed the 600mm f/4, TC-300 and D300 toget some close-up shots.



It was not until I removed the TC-300 that I realized thatthere was a baby Alligator on her back!



There was also a beautiful Blue Heron there





The last image is unusual. There is both an Anhinga andDouble Breasted Cormorant preening in an old dead tree. They are “cousins” butthe Cormorant is usually found in marine environments rather than fresh water lakes.

Cool shot with the baby gator hitching a ride.

Blacktop said:

Cool shot with the baby gator hitching a ride.

Click to expand...

They were far enough away (the reason I had to pull out all of my optical horsepower to photograph the close-up) that I did not even see the baby at first. Given the size of Mom, I don't think the baby was even a foot long. It was not until I took off the TC that I even saw it!