Two Great Blue Heron chicks are growing up fast in the skinny tree nest.
Magnolia Plantation and Gardens, Charleston, SC
April 10, 2026
Great Blue Heron Chicks
Category Archives: Nature
Anhinga Preening and Drying Off
I frequently see an Anhinga drying off in this tree that hangs over one of the ponds they hunt at Magnolia Plantation.
Today this male was nicely lit by the sun, with swaying Spanish Moss completing the scene.
Magnolia Plantation and Gardens, Charleston, SC
March 19, 2026
Great Egret, Foggy Morning
Ravenswood Pond, Magnolia Plantation and Gardens, Charleston, SC
March 7, 2026
Pond Cover
Leaves and other bits of tree debris merge with the Duck Weed, completely covering the smaller ponds around Magnolia Plantation.
If you didn’t know it was water or didn’t see a duck paddling by you might think it was a solid surface.
Magnolia Plantation and Gardens, Charleston, SC
November 16, 2025
Peace On Earth
Redwood Tree at Magnolia
I’ve been on this corner at the back of the old rice field when the Nature Train was passing and heard the tour guide point out this Redwood Tree as they pass.
They either didn’t say, or I’ve never paid enough attention, why this single Redwood happens to be right here.
Magnolia Plantation and Gardens, Charleston, SC
Let’s Share
A roosting Black Vulture was joined by a Wood Stork.
The Vulture was pretty much unfazed, even with all that flapping going on.
Settle down, look around…we’re at the top of the world!
The angle between these birds and my position created an optical illusion that these two birds are close in height. The Wood Stork actually is longer, weighs more, and has a slightly wider wing span.
Black Vulture:
- Length: 23.6-26.8 in (60-68 cm)
- Weight: 56.4-77.6 oz (1600-2200 g)
- Wingspan: 53.9-59.1 in (137-150 cm)
Wood Stork:
- Length: 33.5-45.3 in (85-115 cm)
- Weight: 72.3-93.1 oz (2050-2640 g)
- Wingspan: 59.1-68.9 in (150-175 cm)
From The Cornell Lab, All About Birds
St. Augustine Alligator Farm, St. Augustine, FL
January 20, 2023
Butterfly Contrast
Here’s another view of the bold Gulf Fritillary I featured yesterday.
In contrast, this one was tattered and faded.
That’s quite a chunk missing out of his forewing, and the hind wings have some damage, too. But he could still fly.
Donnelley Wildlife Management Area, SC
November 26, 2022
Butterflies on Honeysuckle
As the morning warmed up I could smell the honeysuckle as I walked along the dike and pretty soon several butterflies appeared.
This Gulf Fritillary was a very bold orange, and in pristine shape like he had just hatched.
Several Skippers were intent on feeding from the underside of the leaves, this one popped out for just a moment.
This last butterfly looks like a Sulpher Butterfly, but was much smaller, about this size of a dime (Diameter 0.750 in. ~ 19.05 mm) . Research turns up it is likely a Little Yellow.
Donnelley Wildlife Management Area, SC
November 26, 2022
Great Egret Goal Posts
It was a nail-biter.
For me.
Surely the White Pelican would swoosh between the Great Egrets…
But no, he ran out of oomph and veered left.
There was to be no touch down score for this American White Pelican
Bear Island Wildlife Management Area, SC
February 23, 2022