Meet Lefty’s Babies

Gulf State Park — Gulf Shores, Alabama
Temps: Lo 67F / Hi 77F (19C / 25C)

After three days of triking and hiking the trails, today was a rather quiet day. But before I get to today, let me go back to yesterday first.

Monday, 29 April …

Of our three days of fun on the Hugh S. Branyon Backcountry Trail (post for the first two days here), today was the best. Why? Not because we took it a little easier and only triked 12.2 miles (19.5 km). And certainly not because we spent more time at the Butterfly Pavilion, which we had to ourselves as we enjoyed our snacks on the swing.

The Butterfly Pavilion and Garden has …

… a couple of swings on the porch … a good rest-spot for weary trail-explorers.

Rather, today was the best day on the trail because Lefty, the resident alligator, introduced some of her babies to us. From what I have read, alligators lay their eggs in late June and early July. The eggs incubate for 65 days before the babies hatch. That being the case, the baby gators we saw today must be from last year’s litter. The hatchings are apparently about 6-8 inches (15-20 cm) when they are born and grow a foot (30 cm) in the first year. The ones we saw today were plus or minus a foot long, which seems just about right for 8 month-old babies.

One of the babies is taking the easy way out with a ride on Momma Lefty’s back.

Most alligators lay 35-50 eggs, though some can lay as many as 90. We counted six in the pond with Lefty, and later learned that two others had been taken and are on display at the Nature Center. There could have been more hidden from our eyes, of course, but eight is about right since only 20% of the young tend to survive.

One baby was hitching a ride on Lefty’s back; another was sunning on the culvert that provides access to the pond on the other side of the road. The rest were in the water, periodically coming up onto the vegetation to rest. I managed to get a picture of all but one of the babies; the sixth one slipped into the water and disappeared from view before I could click the shutter.

We’ve heard a bull bellowing these past few days. I wonder if it is courting Lefty? It is mating season, after all. I don’t know how long after a cow has her hatchlings she is ready to mate again. Need to do some more reading.

By the way, the viewing area has a large-mesh fence that keeps us safe from Lefty … and vice versa, I suppose. She doesn’t have anything to fear from us, of course. The fence, however, would do nothing to keep the hatchlings safe; they could easily slip through and be on the road in seconds, where they would be in danger of being run over by cyclists and maintenance vehicles. Or even be taken as a pet by some thoughtless person. I wonder why a finer mesh wasn’t used?

OK — enough alligators. On to other things? We shaved off a few miles from our ride by returning from the gator pond back to the Catman Road Trail. On our way to the campground, I stopped to take a photo of a patch of wetlands and was rewarded by catching a wood duck pair at home.

I catch the female just as she leaves the nest to bathe in the pond.
As she does so, the male turns in her direction, as though keeping an eye on her.

When we got to Gator Road, the turn off for our loop, we kept going and cycled to the Gulf State Park Nature Center, which is located in the same complex as the swimming pool and gift shop. The center is small, though there is a big outdoor amphitheater where they have programs … none while we’re here. Also outside is a purple martin condo made of gourds … there were a few birds, but they disappeared when a couple of rowdy kids showed up.

The majority of the live animals are snakes and such;
but there is a more varied stuffed-animal collection on display.

Our primary purpose for stopping by was to see the two gator babies that had been removed from the pond to this facility. Not sure how I feel about that. I suppose it is no different from putting them in a zoo, but I am still wrestling with the thought that these babies were removed from Lefty’s care while so young. Then again, that they are at the nature center increases the likelihood of survival, so that’s something positive.

Click the photo for a legible version of gator factoids from this signage at the Nature Center.

Finally returning home, we relaxed for a bit before heading out to run errands. While out, we also stopped for lunch at Lambert’s Café … the only home of Throwed Rolls! What can I say about this place that hasn’t already been said. Yes, we caught a couple of rolls and tried them with both sorghum syrup and apple butter; tasted the fried okra served on a paper towel at our table; accepted offers of the pass-arounds; and enjoyed our meal. Mui ordered the pulled pork sandwich, which he proceeded to eat without the bun. I ordered the fried shrimp, with two side dishes, and immediately asked for a doggie bag to bring half home. Thus, we surprised our waiter by still having room for dessert — banana pudding instead of the strawberry shortcake special of the day.

Where are the photos you ask? There are none. Since we were out to run errands, I didn’t take my camera with me. Bad, bad Erin! But here’s a photo of the mural on the side of the building. Those who have been to Lambert’s will know that I didn’t take the photograph at lunchtime today. It would have been impossible to do so since the parking lot was chock-a-block with cars. No, I spied the mural last Friday when we passed through Foley on our way to the Pitcher Plant Bog.

The mural, painted by Lorenzo Green, tells the story of four generations of Lamberts.

A relaxing afternoon at home was enhanced with bird sightings in the clearing around us. Nothing quite like being able to do birding from our own patio ;-)

A European Starling carrying dinner home … “froggy” on the menu tonight.

A red-bellied woodpecker comes visiting and
shows off the reddish belly-flush for which it is named.

What a way to end an excellent day here in coastal Alabama.

Back to Today …

Today was a day of rest. Yes, after three days of high-energy activities we took it easy. Not that we stayed home all day! After breakfast, we headed over to the beach. While Mui spent the entire time in the water, I walked along the shore, letting the surf wash over my feet.

Anyone know what this jelly-like sea critter is?

Sandwich Terns

Unfortunately, on my walk I came across another dead sea turtle. I hesitate to identify it; but it's likely another Kemp's Ridley. I reported it to the NOAA Fisheries, Protected Resources Office as I did the Kemp’s Ridley sea turtles we found dead on the beach while we were at Buccaneer State Park in Mississippi. This time, I think the turtle’s demise came at the hands — or rather, the teeth — of a shark. Not to be too gruesome, but it was missing its head.

To spare everyone’s sensibilities, I processed these photos in B&W!
It doesn’t make the loss any less sad, but I do hope this sea turtle died from a shark attack.

By the way, the year-to-date sea turtle stranding stats are out for AL, LA, MS, and TX. And it’s not looking good. The strandings for Kemp’s Ridleys in Mississippi, for example, is already at 89; that’s compared to 153 for MS for all of . Alabama, for the year, has had 11 strandings; that’s compared to 65 for all of .

Screenshot of YTD stats from the NOAA Fisheries, Protected Resources Office website.

Moving onto something less depressing …

We spent the rest of the day relaxing in the screen shelter until the humid afternoon heat forced us inside. Turns out that was a good thing … had we been outside we probably would not have been visited by the flock of cattle egret that came flying into feast on the grass adjacent to our patio.

A flock of cattle egret fly in for an early dinner on the patch of grass next to us.
I managed to open the dining room window without scaring them off.

The buff colored plumes adorning this cattle egret indicate that this is breeding season.

The bird on the left shows a red flush on the legs and beak, present only during the
height of the breeding season. The bird on the right … not so much.

We had plans to go sightseeing this week, but the weather may not cooperate. There’s an 80% chance of rain and gusty winds forecasted for tomorrow. A chore day at home, I think.