A Cautious Eye in the Okefenokee

Okefenokee Photography by William Wise. A nature photo journal exploration of Georgia's Okefenokee Swamp, the Land of Trembling Earth, one of the largest blackwater swamps in North America. The alligators, birds, snakes and wildlife of Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge and Stephen C Foster State Park. -- "What a wildly wonderful world, God! You made it all, with Wisdom at Your side, made earth overflow with your wonderful creations." Psalms 104 The Message

American Alligator close up eye peering cautiously from behind Spatterdock lily pad in the Okefenokee Swamp National Wildlife Refuge in Georgia. March 9, 2020 canoe trek.

As we pushed off from the Stephen C Foster State Park boat launch and into the blackwaters of the Okefenokee Swamp, I kept an eye on things. Although the giant reptiles weren’t immediately visible, there certainly could be alligators to the left and the right of our small canoe. But my cautious eye wasn’t for fear that we would be attacked or eaten, but that I might miss a great photo opportunity!

Not many strokes into our paddling trip, as I scanned the Spatterdock lily pads, I espied a cautious eye staring back at us and keeping a close look upon our actions! A large alligator lay mostly submerged just a few feet off to my left. Her eye remained fixed upon us as we drifted by, ready to submerge if we encroached into her comfort zone.

Billy’s Lake, just up from the Stephen C Foster campground, is always full of large alligators. At times they are laying on logs and floating peat beds every few feet. Other times, depending upon the weather, they lie mostly submerged. But keep a keen eye and you’ll begin spotting them all through this beautiful blackwater lake within the majestic Okefenokee Swamp!
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A great start to our 2020 Okefenokee paddling trek! 

iNaturalist Observation: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/39962898

A Red-shouldered Hawk keeps a keen eye out for prey below... and they, no doubt, keep a cautious eye skyward when they hear his shrill cry. March 9, 2020, perched on a snag over Billy's Lake in the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, Georgia. (c)www.williamwisephoto.com