Wood Stork Patrolling His Domain

April 24, 2019 Ellen Jennings 2 Comments

This is the first time I’ve seen a Wood Stork at this pond in the three years I’ve been visiting.

He’s standing on an Alligator ramp that is completely out of the water due to the pond being drained for repairs.

A number of wading birds were taking advantage of the low water, standing around where just the week before the water would have been up to the tops of their necks.

The Wood Stork was more interested in the platform itself.

The last image was taken a few days earlier when there was still a foot or so (30 centimeters) of water in the pond.

Wading Birds

Great Blue Herons Whispering Sweet Nothings

April 23, 2019 Ellen Jennings Leave a comment

Hey, we live here.

Wading Birds

Black-crowned Night-Heron

April 22, 2019 Ellen Jennings 4 Comments

A Black-crowned Night-Heron struck a classic pose and held it for a very long time. This tree fell into the pond giving him a great undercover spot to watch the water.

Wading Birds

Rosette Spoonbill, Treetop Primping

April 22, 2019 Ellen Jennings 4 Comments

I love to watch any of the wading birds perform their preening ritual, showing off the flexibility of their necks. Add the pink and it gets even better!

Artsy, Flowers

Water Lily

April 21, 2019 Ellen Jennings 4 Comments

Nature at her finest.

Flowers, Landscape

Pond of Water Lilies

April 20, 2019 Ellen Jennings 2 Comments

When I first saw these flashes of white from the road I thought they were birds. It was a nice treat to find water lilies, even though I couldn’t get very close.

There was a small grouping of lilies closer to the dike that runs along the side of the pond.

A stiff breeze was flapping the lily pads out of the water in an open area where a single Cormorant was fishing.

Wading Birds

Scram, Great Egret

April 20, 2019 Ellen Jennings 5 Comments

Incoming!

Which did not go unnoticed by the Great Blue Heron sitting on his nest.

And was’t going to be tolerated, either.

Great Egret Getting Chased Out of Nest Tree

March 22, 2019.

Landscape

The Long White Bridge, 2019

April 19, 2019 Ellen Jennings 4 Comments

Photographing this iconic spot at Magnolia Plantation and Gardens with Azaleas in bloom is all about timing. The flower blooms, the light, the stillness of the water, the absence of people on the bridge– all things we have no control over. It’s a lovely spot and I tend to take a few captures whenever I pass by, even if the flowers aren’t in bloom.