Sheep-pede

March 23, 2021 Ellen Jennings 6 Comments

A low key stampede, but these sheep were on a mission.

As part of their Heritage Breeds program Middleton Place maintains a herd of Gulf Coast Sheep that roam the grounds freely during the day.

Herd of Sheep

Every afternoon the animal staff go through a process of securing the animals for the night.

Herd of Sheep – Getting Closer, Me not ready with 100-400 mm lens!

The sheep know the routine and easily headed towards their enclosure when it was their turn.

Herd of Sheep

They got a surprise when they got closer to their nighttime quarters and decided they would mill around rather than go by a pressure-washer that a worker had been using to clean fence that evidently hadn’t been there when they left that morning.

Animals

Good Morning!

March 22, 2021 Ellen Jennings 2 Comments

An Eastern Grey Squirrel looking ready for the day, posed between some resurrection fern and Spanish Moss.

Flowers

Pink Obsession

March 21, 2021 Ellen Jennings 2 Comments

Actually one of the plant markers I found said “Pink Perfection.”

Either way, these beauties fascinate me.

March 6, 2021

Water Birds

Double-crested Cormorant

March 20, 2021 Ellen Jennings 8 Comments

This log at the edge of one of Magnolia Plantation’s ponds is often occupied by a drying Anhinga, but on this day a Double-crested Cormorant had possession.

I have rarely seen one this close, and he seemed to only be paying attention to the warm sun.

About an hour later when I passed back by, sunlight was no longer shining on the pond or the bird, and the Cormorant was in the same spot.

And he was just as uninterested in passers by.

Raptor

Barred Owl, Two Views

March 19, 2021 Ellen Jennings 16 Comments

I’m reasonably sure that these two images are of the same Barred Owl. I first spotted him in a little glen where I have previously seen a pair. It was late afternoon and as the sun got lower the light filtered through a gap in the trees behind me.

After a bit the Owl flew towards a small pond and I continued my walk. As I suspected the Owl didn’t go far, or his mate was here the whole time. The trees were much denser and it was darker here, but still a nice view of a beautiful bird.

Reptiles

Greens, Lines and an Anole

March 19, 2021 Ellen Jennings 4 Comments

A Carolina Anole sunning on a palm frond is another sure sign of spring.

Water Birds

Anhinga Catch and Eat

March 18, 2021 Ellen Jennings 10 Comments

Catch and release would be an accident. And yes, it does happen as the fish has to be in the right alignment to be swallowed whole. I missed the shot showing the fish stabbed on that sharp beak.

The toss