I never get tired of visiting Brazos Bend State Park at this time of the year. The park bills itself as being the "Home of the American Alligator" and every spring gives plenty of different looks at these amazing creatures.
Three weeks ago, the big males put on a fantastic show with their territorial bellowing.
Two weeks ago, the males were quiet but the number of gators around the lakes was impressive: I saw 50 in less than two hours.
Yesterday a walk around 40 Acre Lake turned up only a dozen or so, but these included a mother with her young.
This particular female was watching over some of the babies that she hatched last fall.
However, at least one of the young that she hatched the previous year was still staying close to mum for protection. (Adult alligators are only too happy to eat any unprotected babies or juveniles that they come across.)
A few of the alligators we saw were swimming around but most were just lazing in the sun. Some were remarkably clean ...
while others were less so.
There was a brisk wind at the park and this had blown someone's cowboy hat off and into a marshy area. No prizes for guessing why the owner hadn't tried to retrieve it!
Tomorrow:
The birds we saw at Brazos Bend
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2 comments:
Thanks for reminding me about Brazos Bend State Park. It's been a long time since I visited. My husband is from California and has never visited the park -- we need to go for a visit one of these days. We both got a chuckle out of the last photo -- not surprising the hat's owner decided to let it be.
I think a walk around 40 Acre Lake really brings home just how different Texas is from California. I know it did for me the very first time I visited it.
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