Category Archives: Water Birds

American White Pelicans, They Are Back

On our last few trips to Donnelley Wildlife Management Area we have encountered onesies and twosies of a variety of birds. Interesting but not the winter numbers that we’ve been expecting. Yesterday we hit the jackpot, starting with these American White Pelicans that have just recently arrived from their northern sojourn.

American White Pelicans Feeding
American White Pelicans Feeding
American White Pelicans Feeding
American White Pelicans Feeding
American White Pelicans Feeding
American White Pelicans Feeding
American White Pelican Swimming
American White Pelican Swimming

Donnelley Wildlife Management Area, SC
November 30, 2023

Anhinga Takeoff

With their long tail Anhinga are more suited to branch or dock sitting, I don’t often see one standing on the ground.

Anhinga Standing
Anhinga Standing

I wasn’t going to see this one for long, either.

Ready…

Anhinga Ready For Takeoff
Anhinga Ready For Takeoff

Set…

Anhinga Ready For Takeoff
Anhinga Ready For Takeoff

Liftoff!

Anhinga Liftoff
Anhinga Airborne

Feet tucked in…

Anhinga Flying Away
Anhinga Flying Away

And away she went…

Anhinga Flying Away
Anhinga Flying Away

Ashley River Park, Summerville, SC
August 1, 2023

Common Gallinule Showing Off

Common Gallinules are usually very skittish, calling out with their wild cackle and running away over the water well before you get close.

Common Gallinule
Common Gallinule – my what big feet you have!

This one had a different approach, just standing on a tree branch that had fallen at the edge of a pond…

Common Gallinule
Common Gallinule

… seemingly with out a care in the world as he preened a bit…

Common Gallinule
Common Gallinule

…had a look around…

Common Gallinule
Common Gallinule

…then stepped into the water…

Common Gallinule
Common Gallinule

…silently moving on to his next adventure.

Common Gallinule
Common Gallinule

Magnolia Plantation and Gardens, Charleston, SC
July 25, 2023

Anhinga Gathering Nest Material

Most of the bigger birds I’ve watched nesting gather sticks off the ground or take easily snapped dead limbs for their nesting materials.

Anhinga Gathering Nest Material
Anhinga Gathering Nest Material

Anhingas prefer live branches.

Anhinga Feet
Anhinga Feet

It may have something to do with their feet and ability to land in live trees.

Anhinga Gathering Nest Material
Anhinga Gathering Nest Material

This fellow wasn’t having much luck and dropped at least one branch in the water below.

Anhinga Gathering Nest Material
Anhinga Gathering Nest Material

He made an empty trip back to the nest but pretty quickly returned to try again.

Anhinga Flying
Anhinga Flying

Magnolia Plantation & Gardens, Charleston, SC
February 23, 2023