Category Archives: This and That

Pants Grabbers Are Thriving

March 27, 2021 Ellen Jennings 7 Comments

These vines grow along many of the rice field berms and overgrown fields I frequent in the wildlife management areas. Most of the year they are rather non-descript and innocent looking, until you find one has latched onto your pants with multiple thorns.

This is the first time I remember noticing their blooms, which are tiny, but there were a small million of them, all looking very healthy.

The thorns are tiny, too. This next image is a severe crop and way over-sharpened, and even then the thorns are hard to see on the stem leading to that center flower.

These two patches were close together, but had different color schemes in the leaves.

The individual flowers aren’t much to look at after they opened, but the water drops made this one special.

If you think you can step over it without an interaction you’re advised to raise your foot another couple inches, just to be sure!

Donnelley Wildlife Management Area, Green Pond, SC
March 21, 2021

This and That

Are We Late?

March 18, 2021 Ellen Jennings 2 Comments

Or early?

Two Groupings of White Chairs Set Up Under Live Oak Tree

This and That

A Leaf, A Nest? What Is It?

February 15, 2021 Ellen Jennings 12 Comments

When I took these photographs I thought these were dried leaves in an arty configuration. On closer inspection at home, I think there may be more to it as they are too precisely shaped.

Twig against the sky, two dangling unknowns

Here’s a slightly closer view. It was quite breezy that day which may be why I didn’t get a closeup shot

Twig against the sky, a dangling unknown

I’m hoping to return to this spot soon, and to remember to look. If I do and they are there I’ll follow up.

Donnelley Wildlife Management Area, SC
February 3, 2012

This and That

Hidden Mushroom World

February 11, 2021 Ellen Jennings Leave a comment

It was a slow bird day at the swamp and I was looking for movement around the edges.

I didn’t see any moving creatures but did spot two groups of fungus that were in their own worlds in a crevice of a dead tree.

The next two images were taken with the Canon built in flash.

I didn’t have great footing and as I didn’t want to end up in the swamp I didn’t try to get the two groups together.

Here’s a wider shot of the tree where you can see the grouping from my first image; the second is a bit to the left. The tree had to have been magnificent in its day and is huge. I doubt I could put my arms around that limb. Sadly it has deteriorated noticeably in the five years I’ve been passing by.

This and That

Mute Swan Fun-house Reflections

February 10, 2021 Ellen Jennings Leave a comment

I like to photograph wildlife with water reflections and even when they aren’t a mirror image they can be interesting. The ripple in this water gave the reflection of the Mute Swan a groovy beak and two eyes.

Less than a second later the reflection had a new shape with two distinct heads.

This and That

A Waiting Stage, I’m Still Waiting

December 24, 2020 Ellen Jennings 2 Comments

I walked by this stump recently when it was nicely lit by the late afternoon sun. I was reminded of a previous post, A Waiting Stage, and took a few images.

It was almost exactly a year later, and the biggest difference in the scene is more green moss now on the trunk. I also got a different angle with Palmetto fronds in the background.

There was still no wildlife taking advantage of the stage but I still think it is an attractive spot and will continue to keep my eye on it.

This and That

Extra Fence Ornamentation

September 13, 2020 Ellen Jennings 8 Comments

A juvenile Bluebird landed between the pickets on an old metal fence at Magnolia Cemetery.

Juvenile Bluebird on Metal Fence – Old Photo Stylized

A wider view showing off the corner element of the fence.

Magnolia Cemetery, Charleston, SC
August 7, 2020

This and That

Red Seeds Bursting

September 5, 2020 Ellen Jennings 2 Comments

These bright red seeds got my attention in a tangle of vegetation on the side of a pond dike.

Bright Red Seeds Bursting From Their Pod

Following their stem they I couldn’t identify any corresponding leaves.

I wanted to get a different angle but I was not willing to step any further in; biting insects are my biggest concern.

Perhaps this is Texas Mountain Laurel based on a search for “red seeds in pods.”

August 20, 2020

This and That, Wading Birds

Did You See a Sign?

August 25, 2020 Ellen Jennings Leave a comment

Surely they didn’t mean us!

Juvenile Yellow-crowned Night Herons on Dock, Ashley River, Charleston

A pair of juvenile Yellow-crowned Night Herons that flushed out of a tree when I passed by landed on a dock that sits on the Ashley River.

Juvenile Yellow-crowned Night Heron on Dock

The river is tidal and the tide was in so there would be no river bank fishing for this duo for several hours.

This and That

A Rare Sighting

June 29, 2020 Ellen Jennings 8 Comments

of the photographer.

This image goes with Ted’s post at TPJ Photo, Mud Gator, which could have been titled “Why Did The Alligator Cross the Road?”

I digress. Ted and I have pretty much given up on alerting the other to photography opportunities when we are out but I turned when I heard him call my name. This is what I saw: