Birds aren’t the only wildlife that you’re likely to see on a trip to Sweetwater Wetland Preserve. There are also quite a few reptiles in the park, especially American alligators (Alligator mississippiensis). Earlier this week there were quite a few of them and most of them were out on land sunning themselves and enjoying the unusually warm day. There were a few down in the water, though, including this one. As I was walking past one of the waterways I noticed a disturbance and as I watched, this gator surfaced and slowly began swimming through the duckweed that was covering much of the water surface. Its movements were slow, deliberate and almost totally silent making me realize just how easy it would be for this apex predator to sneak up on prey in this environment.