The combination of the sun light and the distance from the perches to the background shows off this dragonfly’s striped wings quite nicely.
I don’t remember seeing this type of dragonfly before; but recognize the “return to the same spot” behavior I’ve seen in others.
He left and re-lit on this grain stalk multiple times while I watched.
5/19/2019 Mepkin Abbey
It’s nice to have a breeze around the pond but sometimes it blows low hanging branches into your shot. I still liked the pose and colors of this Little Blue Heron.
I was able to move a few steps for a different angle, however the bird was on the move.
He paused for a quick look around.
See ya later!
This stand of Bamboo is drooping over a small pond making a perch for a Barred Owl to watch the water for food. After much waiting he dropped down and snatched a crayfish, action I did not capture.
When there is a little breeze these hollow Bamboo stalks make pleasing percussion sounds, and occasionally cause a concentrating photographer jump.
Twisted twigs from an old vine and a small drape of Spanish Moss made a fanciful scene for a passing Carolina Anole. He showed off his red dewlap as he marched up the branch.
The Barred Owls I have observed spend a lot of time watching before they strike their prey.
When the time is right, the dive is very precise, and fast.
And sometimes after all that the prize is pond detritus. I didn’t see if he dropped this clump of leaves in flight or after he landed, but pretty soon he tried again.
I frequently see Cattle Egrets in my local travels at some small farms with cattle, horses and goats. This is the first time I’ve seen one up close at any of the swamp / marsh areas in South Carolina.
Slightly smaller than a Little Blue Heron, I wasn’t surprised when he disappeared from my sight in the tall vegetation. After poking around a bit he stuck his head up for a look.
He moved to some shorter vegetation along the edge of the pond and I was able to get to a better angle.
Finally he stood fully upright showing off his golden head, neck and chest feathers.
I know, it is still a snake. I’ve never been a fan, but am becoming more accustomed to them. I spotted this one at Beidler Forest working his way along a rotting log.
I don’t study the educational signs with the ID info about snakes, but do know that the round eyes and round head are signs this one is harmless.
The snake slowly checked out the crevices in the log and showed no interest in me watching him
Plus, I was on a boardwalk at least ten feet away.
This Raccoon didn’t run when he saw me, but didn’t waste any time reversing direction either. I only got the one image before he disappeared.
The Ebony Jewelwing Damselfly is a stunning insect. I’ve taken poor photographs of them each of the last three years at Beidler Forest and finally this year captured one at eye level and another in a spot of sun.
Access to this area is only from a boardwalk so there is not much you can do to change your angle.
The second one stayed put on this leaf, opening and closing his wings for a few seconds, creating a nice shadow on the leaf.
While waiting for the Prothonotary Warbler on Knee to emerge from its nest cavity I heard an odd scraping noise. This squirrel was peeling bark off a tree.
He kept pulling and stuffing it in his mouth. The strands seemed very pliable, good material to welcome baby squirrels.
Hey, I’m beeing watched!
Then he balled it all up in his mouth and scooted around the other side of the tree where I lost sight of him.
