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This page contains photos of a variety of wildlife that I have spotted around our community this year, mostly when out walking Baloo, Koda, or both. There is a pond behind my condo, and that is where most of the animals have been spotted. I hope you enjoy seeing them as much as I do!
 

 
There is a small alligator that swims in the pond and enjoys sunning on the shoreline. I have seen him (although I don't know if it is male or female) on several occasions. He doesn't seem to be too afraid of humans, though I haven't tried getting too close to him yet!

American Alligator
 

2026-03-31 - An American alligator swimming in the pond.

  
 

2026-04-22 - An American alligator...

  
 

...sunning along the shore.

  
 

2026-04-25 - An American alligator...

  
 

...basking in the water...

  
 

...at the edge of the pond.

  
 

2026-04-26 - An American alligator...

  
 

...swimming through the pond towards me.

  
 

2026-05-06 - I was out walking Baloo today when I spotted the American alligator making its way towards me in the water...

  
 

...swimming closer and closer to me...

  
 

...before settling in the grass...

  
 

...just a couple feet from shore, eyeing us.

  
 

2026-05-21 - After not seeing the American alligator for a couple of weeks, I spotted it today...

  
 

...swimming towards me in the water...

  
 

...but not getting too close to land.

  

2026-05-25 - A few more pictures of the American alligator...

  

...watching me from the water.

  

2026-06-07 - I got to see the little American alligator again...

  

...early this afternoon while walking the dogs...

  

...as it kept an eye on us from the shore.

  

2026-06-07 - The American alligator was out again...

  

...later in the afternoon...

  

...once again watching as I walked the dogs...

  

...keeping a close eye on us.

  

2026-06-07 - One last shot of the American alligator, later at night than usual this time around.

  

2026-06-20 - An American alligator resting near the shore...

  

...and a closer look at its head.

  

2026-07-03 - An American alligator swimming across the pond...

  

...and turning towards shore.

  

2026-07-05 - An American alligator sitting in the muck along the shore of the pond.

  

2026-07-20 - An American alligator watching from the muck along the shore of the pond.

  

 
There is a wide variety of birdlife around the pond. A common sight around the pond is the Anhinga, which I have seen on several occasions.

Anhinga
 

2026-01-06 - An anhinga sunning it's wings on the shore of the pond...

  
 

...technically before I moved in, but I took the photo here while walking Koda, so to me it counts!.

  
 

2026-04-07 - Another shot of an anhinga sunning it's wings on the shore of the pond.

  
 

2026-04-11 - One more shot of an anhinga sunning it's wings on the shore of the pond.

  

2026-06-05 - An anhinga spreading it's wings beside a tree...

  

...before moving towards the water.

  

2026-06-15 - Another anhinga along the shore of the pond...

  

...preening...

  

...and keeping an eye on me.

  

2026-06-18 - This anhinga was sunning itself beside the pond.

  

2026-06-22 - An anhinga was sunning itself beside the pond...

  

...and a closer look as it spreads its wings.

  

 
One evening we had a rather unwelcome visitor to the neighborhood - a bobcat. This one walked out of the woods across from my condo, strolled into the parking lot area, and then turned around and headed back towards the woods. It waited for a bit at the edge of the woods, watching as Samantha and I took photos, before disappearing for the night. Thankfully we haven't seen this one again, as I would hate to bump into this one in the morning while out walking the dogs!

Bobcat
 

2026-03-28 - A bobcat walking across the parking lot...

  
 

...in front of my condo building.

  

 
A bird that I saw earlier in the year was the common gallinule (or moorhen depending on where you live) but I only managed to get one picture of it. A little over a month later I saw one (or a couple) at various points in the same day.

Common Gallinule (Moorhen)
 

2026-04-26 - A common gallinule swimming in the pond.

  

2026-06-07 - A common gallinule standing alongside the pond early one morning.

  

2026-06-07 - A common gallinule swimming in the pond...

  

...later that same afternoon.

  

 
I have seen a double-breasted cormorant a few times, but all of the photos I have taken have been of it hanging out on the same concrete ring in the pond!

Double-Crested Cormorant
 

2026-03-04 - A double-breasted cormorant...

  
 

...enduring a rainy day on the pond.

  
 

2026-03-21 - A double-breasted cormorant enjoying the sun.

  

 
My condo has a wooded area across the parking lot outside my front door, and the second bedroom has a window that overlooks another wooded area. It is the area between my condo and the wooded area alongside it that I see the most eastern cottontail rabbits. Most of them run away from me when they see me and Baloo approaching. I have managed to get a few shots of some that aren't quite so scared to see us.

Eastern Cottontail Rabbit
 

2026-04-12 - An eastern cottontail rabbit...

  
 

...sitting in the grass near my condo.

  
 

2026-04-13 - Baloo eyeing an eastern cottontail rabbit.

  

2026-06-18 - An eastern cottontail rabbit hopping across the grass.

  

2026-07-03 - An eastern cottontail rabbit keeping an eye on me from the sidewalk.

  
 

 
I see a lot of Florida softshell turtles in the pond behind my apartment but they are hard to get pictures of.

Florida Softshell Turtle

2026-07-23 - A Florida softshell turtle...

  

 

  

...swimming in the pond.

  
 

 
I saw this great blue heron near the pond behind my apartment.

Great Blue Heron

2026-07-22 - A great egret blue heron...

  

...standing near the pond.

  

 
There are a lot of great egrets that hang out around the pond behind my apartment.

Great Egret
 

2026-03-25 - A great egret standing near the pond.

  
 

2026-04-22 - A great egret standing near the pond.

  
 

2026-04-22 - Another picture of the great egret from the prior photo.

  

2026-07-30 - A great egret standing near the pond.

  

2026-07-30 - And one more picture of the great egret from the prior photo.

  
 

 
I saw a little blue heron wading in the water today as I walked Baloo.

Little Blue Heron
 

2026-05-07 - A little blue heron wading in the water...

  
 

...and looking around as I neared...

  
 

...but not flying away.

  

2026-07-25 - A little blue heron...

  

 

  

...walking near the pond.

  

2026-07-30 - A little blue heron walking near the sidewalk.

  

 
I have seen ducks on the pond several times, but I usually can't get very close to them in order to take any pictures.

Mottled Ducks
 

2026-02-15 - A trio of mottled ducks wandering through the grass near the pond.

  
 

2026-04-26 - Today it was a pair of mottled ducks hanging out on the grass near the pond.

  

 
I am not sure if I have spotted any reddish egrets before, but I did see at least one!

Reddish Egret
 

2026-04-26 - A reddish egret wandering near the edge of the pond.

  
 
 
I spotted this little fellow along the edge of the pond recently. It was such a unique color that I had to try to get a picture!

I did a little research, and here is what I found: The Scarlet Skimmer (Crocothemis servilia) is a vibrant dragonfly known for its striking red color in males, with females and immature males being yellowish-brown. Native to East and Southeast Asia, it's also found in introduced locations like Florida, where it breeds in ponds, marshes, and rice fields, playing a role in mosquito control. It's also called the Ruddy Marsh Skimmer.

Scarlet Skimmer

2026-06-01 - A scarlet skimmer resting on a plant...

  

...along the edge of the pond.

  

 
I spotted this turtle along the shore of the pond behind my condo, but it raced into the water and swam away when I tried to get closer for a better picture. This one is zoomed in pretty far, and therefore doesn't look very good. Based on the other pictures, it is possible that this is a peninsula cooter, which is apparently a common freshwater turtle in Florida.

Turtle
 

2026-04-11 - A turtle sunning on the shore of the pond.

  
 

2026-05-12 - Baloo was sniffing around in the grass during our morning walk...

  
 

...and when I turned on the flashlight this turtle was laying in the grass.

  

 
I have seen plenty of fish during my walks around the pond, but the pictures usually don't turn out too great. Today I caught a very clear spot in the water and was able to capture a few decent pictures. I have no idea what kind of fish they are, but I wanted to share the pictures anyway!

Unknown Fish
 

2026-05-14 - The water was clear today...

  
 

...allowing me to get...

  
 

...a few decent pictures of the fish swimming around.

  
 

2026-05-21 - I spotted this big fellow in the water today...

  
 

...swimming near the shore.

  

2026-05-25 - I saw these two fish in the water today...

  

...and managed to get a picture of this one...

  

...and this one swimming around.

  

2026-07-04 - A bunch of fish swimming in the pond today.

  
 

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