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
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
I saw quite a few dragonflies yesterday morning around a local pond.
Perches over sparkly duck weed seemed to be the preferred landing option.
And a few chose the ever popular random piece of rebar.
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
Middleton Place, Charleston, SC
October 19, 2021
I remembered this delightful bush as I wondered some lesser traveled paths at Magnolia Plantation and Gardens a few weeks ago.
This plant is surely the gift that keeps on giving, as it was just covered with these shapely yellow blooms.
Some of the singles left on a stalk were real stand-outs.
Most of the plant was covered with these clusters.
I had posted images of this plant last December not knowing what it was. Fortuitously, the most recent Magnolia Newsletter had an image and identified it as Cassia.
A little plant research shows there are a number of varieties of Cassia and I’m just going to let it go at that.
December 6, 2021
…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
