Category Archives: Birds

Common Gallinule Chicks

September 12, 2017 Ellen Jennings 2 Comments

The Common Gallinules have reproduced much later in the summer than the other water birds in this area. Through the end of August we spotted a few families around the rice ponds and marsh areas.

Awkward, like most young, these chicks are covered with fuzz which picked up the duck weed, making them look even sillier. Members of the Rallidae family, they do swim even though their feet are not webbed and I usually see them just floating or wading.

Common Gallinule Chicks – click image for larger view

One of the adults came closer when the chicks ventured into the deeper water to supervise.

Common Gallinule Chick with Adult – click image for larger view

At least one juvenile Alligator was nearby and while I don’t think they can catch or eat even the small Gallinule chicks, I’m sure mom wasn’t far away.

Birds

Hairy Woodpeckers

August 29, 2017 Ellen Jennings 4 Comments

On a recent trip to Maine a family of Hairy Woodpeckers entertained me as they investigated this tree. The tree wasn’t too healthy looking but the lack of full boughs and the lichen made for good woodpecker props.

I couldn’t resist photographing them even though the tree was very tall, the birds were in the higher reaches and I had left my long lens at home.

Click either photo for larger view.

Birds

Belted Kingfisher Passing Through

August 19, 2017 Ellen Jennings 9 Comments

The old Pitt Street Bridge at Pickett Park in Mount Pleasant is known locally as a hang out for Belted Kingfisher. Often they oblige bird watchers by fishing just off the pier and then posing on the old bridge beams. (See my December post, Belted Kingfisher.)

Yesterday a female made just one pass, impressing us with her flying skill, paused for less than 15 seconds on the beam, then flew out over the marsh.

At low tide there isn’t much water near the bridge for a diving bird to hunt in and at over 90 degrees it was too warm to hang out waiting for the tide to turn. We didn’t stay much longer, either.

Birds

Hummingbird Territory

August 14, 2017 Ellen Jennings 6 Comments

This summer we have been entertained in our back yard by a small group of hummingbirds zipping around. We regularly see four of them and they spend more time chasing each other defending their territories than feeding. There are at least six other feeders in our immediate neighbors’ yards so there is plenty of spots to go around but they aren’t into sharing.

Occasionally one or two will rest in the Crepe Myrtle or high in one of the Pines.

Hummingbird – click photo for larger view

Birds, Landscape, Wading Birds

Reflecting on Summer

August 11, 2017 Ellen Jennings 4 Comments

The greenery around the edges of the old rice field ponds is at its peak. In places it is so high and dense you can’t get a view of the water from the berm so long distance shots will have to do.

Great Egret and reflection in pond – click photo for larger view

Birds, Wading Birds

Roseate Spoonbills

August 7, 2017 Ellen Jennings 2 Comments

You have to love the pink. Actually, what’s not to love about a Spoonbill?

Roseate Spoonbills – click on photo for larger view

The profile of a mature Roseate Spoonbill in flight shows off that fabulous pink and the bill well adapted for feeding in shallow water.

The Spoonbills in this group are younger with less color, but still something to look at.

Their flight seems effortless and like most of the large wading birds they are masters of the glide.

Birds, Flowers

Nature’s Beauty

August 2, 2017 Ellen Jennings Leave a comment

There is not much going on at the marsh areas we visit. The summer heat if full force and nesting / family rearing season for the birds that breed here has ended.

A Sunflower and a Turkey Vulture were my best photographs of the day. The Sunflower in a field planted by the Wildlife Management Service was hosting a bee.

The Turkey Vulture had been working on road kill clean up duty and circled around as we passed by. Masters of wind currents they are beautiful in flight, if not at all glamorous close up. Even on this short flight his turning skill into the pine tree was impressive.

Birds, Nature

Making A Hole

August 1, 2017 Ellen Jennings 2 Comments

I’ve watched a Red-bellied Woodpecker on this tree on several visits to this area. It is a neck-craning experience due to surrounding trees, but I can’t resist following the sound of the tap-tap-tapping.

The tree he is working on is dead and if you put your hand on the trunk you can feel the vibration as the woodpecker does his thing. I think nesting season is over and doesn’t appear to be finding food, but there must be something attracting him.

Not a great shot, but standing way back and peaking through the leaves there is a view of the large hole being worked on. He puts his entire top half in the hole to tap-tap-tap.

Birds, Wading Birds

Lazy Hot Day

July 23, 2017 Ellen Jennings 2 Comments

It was a hot afternoon at the swamp and now that nesting season is about over the Great Egrets that are still around don’t have much to do when they aren’t feeding.

Scratch in itch, if you can reach it with your beak.

Or go the traditional route, showing off a one-legged stance.

Itch satisfied let’s survey the swamp.

Or catch a few ZZZs.

These dead tree branches add nice interest to the photographs, but the sky was dull. I used some filters in Nik’s Color Efex Pro to add some depth to the background.

Birds, Juvenile Birds, Wading Birds

Little Blue Heron Flight School

July 22, 2017 Ellen Jennings 4 Comments

Adult Little Blue Herons teach their young to fly by encouraging them, sometimes with food, out to the end of a branch. The adult then takes off, hoping the juvenile will follow.

Although the juveniles have been venturing onto the branches for a couple of weeks, In the beginning actually lifting off is a tough sell.

Juvenile Little Blue Heron Flight School

Many of the families have three or four chicks and the sibling competition seems to spur them on. This fellow appeared to be an only child, or maybe the others have already moved on.

“I don’t know if I can do this!”

Success! It was a short hop but he made it and landed successfully.