All posts by Ellen Jennings

Skinny Tree at Rest

July 29, 2021 Ellen Jennings 2 Comments

I would never be surprised to find the Skinny Tree had succumbed to the elements and fallen into the pond. Happily, it made it through another wading bird nesting season, providing a start to one Great Blue Heron chick in the top nest and five or six Great Egret chicks in at least two nests lower down.

All sorts of birds will use the tree as a perch for the next several months for fleeting moments. Come December the cycle will start again again when the Great Blue Herons start staking out nest sites and hopefully this tree will be around to participate.

It appears that the duck box has no bottom, so any Wood Ducks looking for a nesting spot will have to find another location.

Magnolia Plantation and Gardens, Charleston, SC
July 23, 2021

Wading Birds

Great Egret Getting Lunch, With Salad

July 29, 2021 Ellen Jennings Leave a comment

On to the next bite

Another successful dive

The fish went down

But how to get rid of the garnish

Dunk and swish

Donnelley Wildlife Management Area, SC
July 25, 2021

Reptiles

Juvenile Alligator Passing By Another

July 28, 2021 Ellen Jennings 3 Comments

It is common for female Alligators to have multiple age youngsters in her care, which may include some hatched from other nests as well as her own. These two from a pod that included three ages/sizes are a good example.

I stayed focused on the moving Alligator, wondering if there was going to be some action.

There was not; the moving Alligator just plopped down. In addition to seeing the size difference in their heads, you can see the smaller Alligator’s tail just under the larger one’s chin.

Duck

Make Way – Wood Duck Ducklings

July 27, 2021 Ellen Jennings 12 Comments

I was quite surprised to spot young ducklings last week at Ravenswood Pond, thinking the season was past. I continued on my walk not expecting to see them again as they tend to make a beeline for the other side of the pond.

But, when I passed back by the ducklings were up near the shore. They quickly headed back out into the pond.

Which way?

They regrouped and stayed together for as long as I could spot them.

The mother didn’t show any concern.

For context, here is a pulled back view. Those ducklings are out there somewhere, tucked under the vegetation somewhere between mama and the juvenile Little Blue Heron.

Wood Duck - Where Are the Ducklings — Wood Duck – Where Are the Ducklings?

Wading Birds

Great Egret Getting Lunch

July 27, 2021 Ellen Jennings 2 Comments

I love to watch this scenario, especially when a reflection is involved.

Lunch is small bites

Hold on tight so it doesn’t escape

One quick flip

Next!

Duck

Black-bellied Whistling-Ducks at Pond Edge

July 26, 2021 Ellen Jennings 4 Comments

This is the opposite end of the pond where I photographed the Sunning Juvenile Alligators on Sunday. When the pond is filled this area is all under water.

Several Black-bellied Whistling-Ducks duos were in view and working the pond edge, along with some juvenile Gallinules.

This pair was was off by themselves.

Evidently they had no where to be and plopped down.

Donnelley Wildlife Management Area, SC
July 25, 2021

Reptiles

Sunning Juvenile Alligators

July 26, 2021 Ellen Jennings 3 Comments

Most of the water was let out of this pond earlier this summer leaving a narrow depression of water and a nice edge for young Alligators to enjoy the morning sun.

A few more were milling around in the water.

And a few more were in the reeds on a little raised island. I didn’t see the mother but know she wasn’t far off.

Based on the location and territorial habits of Alligators these are likely some of the youngsters I photographed last fall, seen here stacked up around their mother.

Alligator Mother and Young, October 2020

Raptor

Turkey Vulture, Flying Low

July 25, 2021 Ellen Jennings 5 Comments

This is the same Turkey Vulture I’ve featured in recent posts as part of the the educational and flight demonstration program at the Center for Birds of Prey, this time showing off his flight skills.

Turkey Vultures are impressive with their flight skills, easily making sharp turns, using their wings to full advantage.

It was very cool to see this one glide just above the ground, with seemingly little effort.

The Center for Birds of Prey, Awanda, SC
June 24, 2021

Previous Posts:

Turkey Vulture, Wings Out

Turkey Vulture, Up Close

Animals

Bottlenose Dolphins Mating

July 24, 2021 Ellen Jennings 7 Comments

Like nature shows on tv, our nature boat trip to Bird Key to see the Brown Pelican chicks included some mating. This time is was not birds, but Dolphins.

Our boat captain and guide spotted a pod of Dolphins on our return trip up the Kiawah River. He was quick to say he thought we’d also see some mating based on his interpretation of what we were seeing.

From our distance on a bobbing boat it was hard to say for sure, but scenes frozen by the camera tell the story. Before you scroll on I’ll tell you that even at a distance they are graphic. And amazing.