Charlie and the Nature Factory [Warning: Stunningly Beautiful Large Photo Images]

[rhymegirl]

When you leave him, do you say, "See ya later, alligator?"

 

[Silver King]

One more for the road, a jumbo that might be Charlie's grandparent.

This gator keeps well away from humans and never ventures (as far as I know) close to the more urban side of the lake:

 

[Lady MacBeth]

He/she is beautiful.

 

[Silver King]

When you leave him, do you say, "See ya later, alligator?"

Yes. And he responds, "After a while, crocodile."

And I say, "Hope to see you soon, baboon."

Then we slap five and part ways.

 

[Silver King]

He/she is beautiful.

We are of like minds and tastes.

 

[kayleamay]

What about cthulhu, SK? Do you think they're beautiful too? Let me tell ya, I have one living in my bathtub and it's NOT beautiful. I'm going to have to bring in a whole army of narwhals to deal with this thing. It keeps drinking my shampoo and laughing at me. It belches too. Sea critters have no manners.

 

[quickWit]

mmmm, delicious charlie...

 

[Haggis]

I saw Charlie today enjoying a nap. He'd been partly out of the water for some time, sun-baked and content.

A neighbor told me that he'd seen him gorge on an ibis earlier that morning:

Man that makes me hungry. I haven't gorged on an ibis in ages.

 

[quickWit]

ibis'ses' is so stoopit...

 

[Haggis]

ibis'ses' is so stoopit...

Well, yeah, if they walk right into a gator's mouth.

 

[Silver King]

What about cthulhu, SK? Do you think they're beautiful too?

I had to look them up, and I must say that they're quite attractive. I might not kiss them on the mouth, or anywhere else, but they can be easily admired from afar.

 

[Silver King]

Man that makes me hungry. I haven't gorged on an ibis in ages.

Yum!

 

[Ari Meermans]

Pretty. It is wearing a goofy expression, though, poor thing.

 

[Haggis]

Pretty. It is wearing a goofy expression, though, poor thing.

Well, it is about to be gorged upon.

 

[Silver King]

Pretty. It is wearing a goofy expression, though, poor thing.

I took that shot soon after her feathers were ruffled a bit by some of the comments in this thread...

 

[Ari Meermans]

Well, no wonder.

 

[rhymegirl]

Yes. And he responds, "After a while, crocodile."

And I say, "Hope to see you soon, baboon."

Then we slap five and part ways.

I laughed at this. Thanks for making me laugh today. I've had a bad day.

 

[Silver King]

I laughed at this. Thanks for making me laugh today. I've had a bad day.

You're welcome. It's the least I can do.

Another scene from the lake, where this anhinga gave me the evil eye:

Sometimes they try to take on more than they can handle in one gulp:

 

[Cella]

Really cool pics, SK!

 

[Ari Meermans]

Yes, they're all gorgeous pics. That last one's the skeeriest of the bunch, tho'.

 

[Silver King]

Really cool pics, SK!

Thank you.

Yes, they're all gorgeous pics. That last one's the skeeriest of the bunch, tho'.

For a while there, I thought I might have to jump into the water and perform the Heimlich Maneuver on that bird. But eventually, tired from her efforts, she gave up on her catch.

(While fishing once, I came upon a pelican floating on the surface with the head and neck of a cormorant lodged in her throat. Both birds were dead. I imagine that as the pelican dove for its meal, the cormorant surged upward from below at the same instant, and they were joined at that most inopportune moment. Really wish I had a picture of that encounter I could post here...)

 

[Lady MacBeth]

Great photos!

 

[Silver King]

From yesterday, a Little Blue Heron, in sharp contrast to its surroundings:

A short distance away, Charlie looked on (at both bird and man) while feigning indifference:

Please note the bird pictured above is a tricolored heron, not a little blue heron. More about that here.

 

[rhymegirl]

I wonder if Charlie watched The Super Bowl yesterday. He reminds me of Patriots fans who tried their best to hide out today. (like us)

 

[Silver King]

If he's smart, which I think he is, he'll stick to college ball and the Florida Gators...