This brilliant purple butterfly bush was attracting a half dozen American Painted Ladies.
Depending on the reference they are called or just American Lady.
In typical butterfly fashion they were flitting all around the bush.
I didn’t get a very good capture of the upper side of the wings, but here’s a glimpse that shows how different the colors and patterns are.
May 28, 2021
This Mute Swan appeared to be asleep, soaking up some sun.
At some point while I was watching the Young Great Blue Heron Practice Stalking  the swan’s head popped up.
And stayed up until the heron had passed on by.
Did you hear? Something is about to happen!
And we are ready!
Ah, the gate around the corner had been opened.
Last one out is a rotten egg!
May 29, 2021
Middleton Place Stableyard, Charleston, SC
The bird from my post Young Great Blue Heron Stalking Lunch continued his stalking practice after dropping the stick.
He was in the shade at the edge of a pond with reflection of trees on the other side creating a dreamy look.
He poked at the water a few times, but I didn’t see any serious attempts to catch anything.
Mirror, mirror in the water…
…I wonder what he sees.
I had been watching this Black Skimmer work his way around the inlets at Shem Creek at low tide.
I suspect he had a nest nearby as after this pass he took his catch out into the mouth of the creek…
… caught up to…
…and passed a Brown Pelican.
He disappeared from my sight. The Pelican stayed his course, gliding the whole time.
In addition to the cygnets being pretty cute as they learned to feed, watching the constant motion of the parents and the little ones was rather comical.
Bottoms up is the only way for the swans to get the grass in the deeper water, which also shows off their enormous feet.
The cygnets certainly swam a lot further during feeding than the parents, around and around.
Most of the time one adult had a head up and they all stayed pretty close together.
Swan Lake Iris Gardens, Sumpter SC
May 20, 2021
I can’t resist taking images of Mallards, especially when a reflection might be involved.
This one didn’t have much to do, he slowly drifted from the shade of an overhanging tree out into the sunshine.
A juvenile Great Blue Heron was stalking the edge of the pond where he has spent his life so far at Swan Lake and Iris Gardens.
At Swan Lake there are many swans that a young heron should be attentive to.
Perhaps this Mute Swan realized the heron was no threat as he didn’t get up as the stalking went on behind him.
The heron wasn’t much of a threat to any fish, either.
Ptooey!
Later in the morning I saw a parent bring him some food as he’s still learning how to catch his own.
