A few Wood Ducks have been around the ponds at Magnolia Gardens over the last month. With the males’ color scheme they are easy to pick out in a crowd of ducks. That and they are usually retreating faster than the rest, having been aware of a human before you spot them.
This day they were gathered at the far end of the big pond. I waited at an opening in the brush for them to edge their way closer.
Back and forth, I finally got a couple of shots without too much glare on the water.
The male of the Blue Winged Teal pair flashes a range of blue and green in his wing feathers. The female has a subtle hint of green in view while she is grooming.
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I know the way…
In late afternoon at Middleton Place’s barnyard most of the animals are rounded up and secured for the night. This is for their safety and for some, to keep them from causing mischief. I think this sheep had mischief on his mind as he pointed the way further from his pen.
While the sheep and some Guinea Hens were being corralled these Mallards were zooming back and forth through the horse enclosure. They stayed in a straight line, flashing their orange feet and iridescent heads, anxious not to miss any feeding opportunities.
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Middleton Place, Charleston, SC, 2/6/2017
I was sitting on a bench at the edge of the swamp watching a Great Blue Heron when this pair of Blue-winged Teals swam by.
The pair mostly stayed together, only rarely separating for a solo photograph.
The Great Blue Heron can easily see over the vegetation, watching for lunch as more Teals swam behind him.
The Teal pair quickly did a U-turn when the open water ended near where the Heron stood and went back where they came from.
Magnolia Plantation Audubon Swamp, Charleston, SC.
Blue-winged Teals are dabbling ducks and often have bits of grass or duckweed hanging from their beaks or heads. The ones at Magnolia Plantation are wary of people and I mostly get photographs of them swimming away.
They do a lot of swimming in circles, creating rings of waves. If you stand still they sometimes come circling back near the shore.
When they are away from the duckweed and the light is right their reflections can be quite pretty.
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Shaking his foot, this Green-winged Teal seemed to be bothered by something under the duckweed but he didn’t move on.
He stood with his foot in the air for several minutes, then slowly lowered it, maximizing the stretch.
Finally he settled in with a flash of color showing.
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