…for the human visitors.
A swath of trees was removed this summer along the road leading to Lodge Pond at Donnelley WMA, opening some views into a tree line.
A Great Egret and Roseate Spoonbill were looking the place over.
The view from their perches didn’t change much, just that they could see down the entrance road if they were inclined to look.
Drapes of Spanish Moss gave the local a nice cozy look.
Donnelley Wildlife Management Area, SC
October 3, 2021
Cornell’s Merlin App has identified this as a King Rail, a member of the Rallidae Family, along with other Rails, Gallinules, and Coots.
Both the handsome adult and the distinctive all-black chick were new to me. I watched them for ten minutes and the adult kept this posture, perhaps a cooling mechanism on a hot August day, while the chick tottered around in the grass.
Donnelley Wildlife Management Area, Green Pond, SC
August 8, 2021
A beautiful Halloween Pennant dragonfly was hanging on tight to a grass seed head.
Small changes to his wing and body position kept him stabilized in the breeze.
Center for Birds of Prey, Awenda, SC
June 24, 2021
Hundreds of birds nested on Bird Key this summer and the land and sky were full of activity on this July day.
Most of the birds on land seen here are Brown Pelicans, the smaller white ones are chicks. The chicks were awkwardly walking, but not yet flying.  There were lots of Laughing Gulls that provided constant noise, and a few White Ibis mixed in.
On the outer edge of the island, the open Atlantic Ocean beyond, a sand bar has formed that was popular spot for preening.
Taken from a boat at Bird Key Stono Heritage Preserve
Between Kiawah Island and Folly Beach, SC
July 12, 2021
The Calla Lily was past its prime, but it still made a cozy spot for a tree frog early this morning.
After visiting the sheep one day last week I continued across Middleton Place to the Mill Pond where two Alligators were taking advantage of the afternoon sun.
The smaller one plopped down after a short walk across the berm.
I had intended to go past the Mill building, but diverted to the left on an Alligator-free route, stopping for a different view of the big fellow.
Every time I’ve been to the pond where I’ve been photographing the damselflies and purple Iris this month the fish have been jumping. Of course every time I try to capture the action. Finally on April 17th I got one.
I have no idea what kind of fish, but they are large, at least a foot (30cm) long.
And they make a pretty good splash.
The Alligators don’t appear to follow them, but you can be sure they know where to look when they are hungry.
This scene reminded me of a museum diorama, almost made up with the variety of occupants.
Dangling from a slim tree branch a wasp nest adds to the decoration of this pond-side tree.
A closer look shows that there is not much supporting the nest. I didn’t see any buzzing activity and don’t know if wasps spend the winter in these nests or hunker in more weather resistant homes.
