Category Archives: Birds

Juvenile Red-headed Woodpecker

September 29, 2021 Ellen Jennings 2 Comments

This Juvenile Red-headed Woodpecker’s movement in some dead trees caught my eye. I could hear cheeping from him and two or three others nearby.

The conundrum of where to look: I decided not to take my eyes off this one. If he flew I likely wouldn’t spot him as he blended in with the Spanish moss and snags. And I may not be able to spot the others.

He performed the classic rotation around the limb woodpecker maneuver.

He paused for a moment before zipping off into a leafy tree with no photo opportunity.

Donnelley Wildlife Management Area, SC
September 19, 2021

Birds

Female Ruby-throated Hummingbird On Purple

August 4, 2021 Ellen Jennings 4 Comments

A large bed of these purple flowers, maybe Salvia of some kind, kept this Ruby-throated Hummingbird busy.

Ruby-throated Hummingbird on Purple Flower

They both provided me with an unexpected photo shoot.

Birds

Pileated Woodpecker, Learning to Forage

August 3, 2021 Ellen Jennings 12 Comments

There were two Pileated Woodpeckers in a Live Oak tree above my head, picking through the Spanish Moss and Resurrection Fern. The vegetation looks lovely in the tree, but sure limits photography of birds.

I never saw what they were eating but it appeared to be berries or nuts, and no pecking was going on.

It is likely this was an adult teaching a juvenile as a few times the younger looking one was just watching then got fed.

One came out into the open just before they flew off.

July 23, 2021

Birds

Red-headed Woodpecker In a Snag

July 24, 2021 Ellen Jennings 3 Comments

A snag at the edge of a swamp was the perfect spot for this Red-headed Woodpecker to survey his territory.

Birds

Red-bellied Woodpecker Overhead

June 30, 2021 Ellen Jennings 6 Comments

I heard this Red-bellied Woodpecker way before I finally spotted him. I waited and got this reward.

Birds

Pileated Woodpecker, Cheesy Wood

June 15, 2021 Ellen Jennings 6 Comments

Swiss Cheese, anyone?

For probably not the first time this Pileated Woodpecker did the rounds of this well pecked tree.

Checking out the existing holes…

…giving it a few new knocks…

…and having a general look around.

June 9, 2021

Birds

Sticky Beaks

May 18, 2021 Ellen Jennings 5 Comments

Fellow blogger Ms. Liz, (ExploringColour.wordpress.com/) recently introduced me to the New Zealand term “sticky beak” used for an inquisitive and prying person.

Our chat came immediately to mind when I saw this group of barnyard chickens trying to peak through the slats into the coop where a few other chickens had been confined.

This chicken might have been as nosey but was exploring on his own.

Birds

Pea Hen

May 15, 2021 Ellen Jennings 2 Comments

A Pea Hen was perched on the wall around the Middleton Place Stable Yard late one afternoon.

I hadn’t seen or heard any Pea Fowl at Middleton this spring and had wondered if they still hosted any. They roam free and easily fall victim to any number of predators.

Looking around I only saw this one dapper looking hen, no Peacocks. Other years a half dozen or more were all around the stable area.

May 2, 2021

Birds

Red-headed Woodpecker

May 4, 2021 Ellen Jennings 12 Comments

The Red-headed Woodpecker is a bird that I have only glimpsed, generally flying away from me. Then a few weeks ago I saw two in less than ten minutes!

The second one, perhaps a mate to the first, tormented Ted and me with knocking that we could not locate. Who knew they could make such a racket inside a tree?

Once out of the cavity he stuck to the shady side of the tree.

Birds

You Looking at Me?

April 5, 2021 Ellen Jennings 3 Comments

We’re so pretty!