All posts by Ellen Jennings

Turtle, It’s What’s For Lunch

January 17, 2019 Ellen Jennings 5 Comments

I saw this Red-shouldered Hawk standing on the ground at the side of a pond and approached slowly. Other times I’ve seen them do this the bird was squeezing his next meal, but I didn’t see any food here.

Afterwards, when I zoomed in on what I thought was a tree root or Cypress knee, it turned out to be a turtle standing on its end.

Who knew a Red-shouldered Hawk could lift so much?He didn’t struggle at all and disappeared into the woods with his catch

I don’t know what made the hawk take off; I was standing still and the only human in view.

These were taken with the Sony Alpha 6500 which uses an electronic viewfinder, not the best arrangement for images of birds in flight due to the lag time.

Sony Alpha 6500, Sony 55-210 mm, at 210 mm.

Wading Birds

Great Blue Heron Posing & Posturing

January 15, 2019 Ellen Jennings 8 Comments

This Great Blue Heron was alert and posturing as he staked his claim to a potential nest site.

It was a dark afternoon, even had been sprinkling a bit. I processed these each a little differently, trying to compensate for the lack of light.

A Great Egret flew by but did not stop as the GBH gave a pointed look.

Raptor

Red-shouldered Hawk – Grey Day

January 14, 2019 Ellen Jennings 5 Comments

I was taking a short-cut from the rice field back to the swamp and almost walked by him, perched on a branch just off the path. Throughout December I have been hearing the Red-shouldered Hawks calling around the swamp but this is the first one of seen in awhile.

Taken 1/2/2019.

Water Birds

3 Coots

January 3, 2019 Ellen Jennings 2 Comments

I had hopes that these three American Coots would synchronize their swimming direction or angle for a portrait composition.

They circled, they zigged and zagged, they separated and came back together, but an organized group shot was not to be.

Eventually they did all turn their heads in the same direction, almost.

Wading Birds

White Ibis Stretchercizing

January 1, 2019 Ellen Jennings 7 Comments

A White Ibis demonstrating his stretch method.

First, beak to ground level…

Slowly lift a leg…

Throw in a squawk …

Push that leg…

To the full extension, and hold.

Happy New Year!

Wading Birds

Goodby 2018

December 31, 2018 Ellen Jennings 9 Comments

2018 has been a wonderful year of observing and photographing the wonders of nature, mostly birds in the low country of South Carolina. Thank you for following along. I appreciate all of your comments and observations.

I end the year with a Snowy Egret fishing in a rice field canal, taken on one of the few sunny days we’ve had lately.

A White Ibis dropped in amazing close to the Egret considering all the unoccupied space nearby.

White Ibis Photobombing Snowy Egret Fishing

Nonplussed, they both moved on.

Best wishes for a peaceful and healthy 2019!

Click on any photo for larger view.

Wading Birds, Water Birds

Floating Photobomb

December 29, 2018 Ellen Jennings 4 Comments

The White Ibis was wading in the canal just off the dike at the rice field impoundment. I waited patiently for him to get far enough from the bank to get a clear shot.

Then an intruder! Several Ring-billed Gulls were on the opposite bank in the shallow water. I didn’t expect any to be interested in the deeper water, not thinking they would float, not wade.

White Ibis and Gull — White Ibis and Ring-billed Gull

The Gull continued paddling until he was behind the White Ibis and lifted his head, turning a photobombed shot into a nice bird combo image.

Shore Birds

Forster’s Tern

December 28, 2018 Ellen Jennings 3 Comments

I’ve watched several Forster’s Terns the last few times I’ve been to the rice field impoundment. They are incredibly acrobatic in flight, twisting and turning, then swooping down to the water to go after small fish.

They are quite striking birds, even in non-breeding plumage. When they’ve make the turn and loop back for another run at the pond is the best opportunity to photograph them.

And did I mention they are fast? This is the best I got this day for a dive.

If they pick up a small fish with their feet they quickly pass it to their mouth and down the hatch it goes.

Water Birds

Pied-billed Grebe

December 27, 2018 Ellen Jennings 1 Comment

Small and chunky, the Pied-billed Grebe always looks like a baby-faced juvenile to me.

Last week several of them were swimming in the rice field canal. Saltbrush seeds from shrubs that lined the bank were drifting over the water.

The lowering late afternoon light and growth on the opposite bank changed the look of the water as I proceeded down the canal.

Further along the Saltbrush seeds looked like sparkly feathers floating on the water. Saltbrush, Baccharis halimifolia, is a woody shrub or small tree in the Asteraceae family, and is also known as Groundsel.

Nature

White Ibis in a Nesting Tree

December 26, 2018 Ellen Jennings 2 Comments

If they follow last year’s pattern this tree will soon be occupied by nesting Great Blue Heron and Great Egret couples. Until then White Ibis have taken over the tree for sunning.

Doing the one-legged doze the Ibis stood right here for a couple of hours at least.

There is not a bit of material left from last year’s nests. Any Great Blues or Great Egrets that stake this out to start a family will be starting nest building from zero.

Taken as fall is coming to an end, 12/18/2018.