Cedar Waxwings Eating Mulberries

I had spotted a half dozen Cedar Waxwings in a nature area, backlit and high above me and really had no hope of getting any photos. Then I took a stroll on a residential street on the edge of the  preserve and was nearly divebombed by this crew.

Cedar Waxwings Eating Mulberries
Cedar Waxwings Eating Mulberries

It was a real treat to watch a flock of about 50 Cedar Waxwings zip in and out of a mulberry tree that hung over the road.

Cedar Waxwings Eating Mulberries
Cedar Waxwings Eating Mulberries

The branches were bouncing up and down and every time a car drove by the birds scattered.

Cedar Waxwings Eating Mulberries
Cedar Waxwings Eating Mulberries

Good timing for me, there was a ten minute gap with no cars and the serious eating began.

Cedar Waxwings Eating Mulberries
Cedar Waxwings Eating Mulberries

They hung onto the berries almost like prizes and even worked together to break off bits.

Cedar Waxwings Eating Mulberries
Cedar Waxwings Eating Mulberries

Port Royal, SC
March 29, 2024

Precarious Iris

This iris was holding its own on the steep bank of the Ashley River. It’s not part of a cultivated space and likely was an escapee bulb from a nearby garden cleanout project.

Iris
Iris at the Ashley River

The afternoon sun lit the flowers as they danced in the light breeze.

Iris
Iris

The bigger bloom made a nice subject for isolation on black.

Iris
Iris

A different take, highlighting the water a bit:

Iris
Iris

Magnolia Plantation & Gardens, Charleston, SC
March 21, 2024

Tung Oil Tree Blooms

I’ve recently revisited two of the Tung Oil Trees I know of at Magnolia Plantation.  The trees themselves didn’t look so healthy and not as full of blossoms as previous years. The blooms are pretty spectacular.

Tung Oil Blossoms
Tung Oil Blossoms, Tree by the Cabins, March 17
Tung Oil Blossoms
Tung Oil Blossoms, Tree by the entrance, March 21
Tung Oil Blossoms
Tung Oil Blossoms with nut that didn’t fall, Tree by the entrance, March 21
Tung Oil Blossoms
Tung Oil Blossoms, Tree by the entrance, March 21

Magnolia Plantation & Gardens, Charleston, SC
March 17 and 21, 2024

Songbird Serenade

On the opposite side of the wildlife drive where the Black-bellied Whistling Ducks were hanging out a few song birds were using the remains of a bridge as a perch.

Red-winged Blackbird
Red-winged Blackbird

This Red-winged Blackbird was hard to ignore as he was singing his heart out.

Red-winged Blackbird
Red-winged Blackbird

The Merlin app identifies this as a Savannah Sparrow, appropriate as this location is just a few miles from its namesake Savannah, Georgia. All About Birds says they are “common and widespread” and “are one of the most numerous songbirds in North America.” It’s new to me or perhaps I’ve misidentified it in the past.

Savannah Sparrow
Savannah Sparrow

Savannah National Wildlife Refuge, Laurel Hill Wildlife Drive, Hardeeville, SC
March 13, 2024

Black-bellied Whistling Ducks

I estimated at least 750 Black-bellied Whistling Ducks in a couple of impoundments at Savannah National Wildlife Refuge last week.

Black-bellied Whistling Duck
Black-bellied Whistling Duck

The few that were close enough for photos were lined up in grass clumps.

Black-bellied Whistling Duck
Black-bellied Whistling Duck

We arrived shortly after sunrise and the ducks were pretty quiet.

Black-bellied Whistling Duck
Black-bellied Whistling Duck

A few were in a watchful mode and some appeared to be sleeping.

Black-bellied Whistling Duck
Black-bellied Whistling Duck

A wider view of some of the crowd, the dots in the sky are swallows, swooping for bugs.

Black-bellied Whistling Ducks at Savannah National Wildlife
Black-bellied Whistling Ducks at Savannah National Wildlife

Savannah National Wildlife Refuge, Laurel Hill Wildlife Drive, Hardeeville, SC
March 13, 2024

Mute Swan Show Off

The pair of swans that live at Middleton Place’s Reflection Pool spend their days patrolling up and down the pond or lounging on the banks with the occasional turtle or small alligator enjoying the sun with them. On my recent visit two workmen were trying to dislodge a clog of the pool’s drainage system. One of the swans was not keen on sharing his territory, making his presence known with fluffed up wings and neck displays.

Mute Swan
Mute Swan
Mute Swan
Mute Swan
Mute Swan
Mute Swan
Mute Swan
Mute Swan

Middleton Place, Charleston, SC
March 11, 2024