Fred
Meet Fred (not his real name). Fred was battling a Red Wasp when I came across him. Fred is a Phidippus audax, or common jumping spider, and they seem to enjoy catching and eating bees and wasps.
Note the green fangs. I don't know why they have green fangs, but I think Fred is all the more charming with his green tinged teeth.
Identifying white dot on back.
I was following a trail of raccoon scat, looking for the guilt party, and saw Fred jumping back and forth along a railing, luring the wasp within range for the daring jump and fatal bite. Fred's kind are also called the "daring jumping spider". (See what I did there?)
I didn't start out curious about the scat but there was such an inordinate amount along the walkway over the swamp that I couldn't help myself. I had to know if the culprit was still getting his morning constitutional on. He wasn't, btw.
Other than the scat and Fred, there wasn't much to see along the boardwalk, so I moved on to the next accessible wetlands. Did I mention I was driving through Louisiana's "outback"? Well, I was driving through the "outback". A collection of wetlands that goes on for hundreds of miles and 3 states that make up the Creole Nature Trail. I was in the part called the "Prairie".
Because a lot of the area looks like this.
But don't let that fool you. A few steps off the road or path and you will sink into the water and become one with whatever is lurking there.
There's a main road and many off-roads sites. Along the way there are also walking paths.
We took a short, 3 mile trip through an off-road. Gravel and dirt road hugged by water on both sides. Signs posted to remind you to remain in your car.
Otherwise, you'd step out and into the wetlands. This is what greets you outside your car door.
Lovely, really.
And then there's this.
If you aren't deterred by wet shoes, socks and swimming with venomous snakes.
Lots of smaller alligators out today. Hunting tags went out in September for gators and other animals, so we didn't go too deep into the wetlands.
Isn't he cute? Barely 3 feet. This one slithered out of the mud while I was stopped for a second to get Pokeballs. Historic sites are often Pokestops and the trail is no exception. 2 Gyms (For battles) and 15 Pokestops (where you get balls and potions you need for the game) along this one 3 mile trail. I wondered if anyone had been stupid enough to get out their car yet. Probably.
This little fellow ran across the road to chase some Gallinules
But the birds were not afraid of such a small alligator. I'm certain they were laughing at him.
Common Gallinule - most of the birds were in the middle areas of the habitat which made it hard to get photos.
Great Blue Heron
Snowy Egrets. It was a 93 degree fall day that felt like summer and these were the only "snowy" anything around.
Double-crested Cormorant.
This guy was holding court and had an attentive audience of one.
Leopard frog that gave me a moment's pause as all I saw at first was his head and eyes. Lots of snakes here and it pays to be aware of patterns in the grass, not to mention heads and eyes. 
I'm going back in a few weeks as more birds will migrate to the wetlands to spend the winter here.
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Lovely photos, and great writing! 
I hope you found something orange. 
Makes me nostalgic for the south. Except for the heat and humidity part, .
Well, proper enough for the area.
Cool and sunny, with fall shadows playing across the green.
Yellow and purple are in abundant here during the early fall. Unfortunately, orange isn't.
Thanks!