Great Blue Herons Making The Swap

March 17, 2023 Ellen Jennings 6 Comments

The mated pair of Great Blue Herons that is nesting on the skinny tree swapped egg protection duties shortly after sunrise.

Great Blue Heron Left Alone, (s)he quickly laid down on the egg(s)

Magnolia Plantation & Gardens, Charleston, SC
March 14, 2023

Nature

Redwood Tree at Magnolia

March 17, 2023 Ellen Jennings Leave a comment

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

Landscape, South Carolina

Plantation House at Magnolia Plantation & Gardens

March 16, 2023 Ellen Jennings Leave a comment

The view across the big field of the Plantation House. Previous visitors to this location may notice that the hedge to the right of the house and the English boxed garden in front of the house have been removed.

Another view taken a few days later, on a grey afternoon, image cooked up just a bit.

Magnolia Plantation & Gardens, Charleston, SC
March 11 & 13, 2023

Raptor

Red-shouldered Hawk

March 16, 2023 Ellen Jennings Leave a comment

Magnolia Plantation & Gardens, Charleston, SC
March 13, 2023

Birds

Red-bellied Woodpecker Working Hard

March 15, 2023 Ellen Jennings Leave a comment

It took me awhile to spot this Red-bellied Woodpecker after listening to the rat-a-tat for several minutes.

He was working very high up in a dead pine tree on what I presume will be a nesting cavity.

All in, the pecking continued.

He took a few pauses and you can see there are several other holes.

I tried for a different angle, and this isn’t a great image of the bird but it shows off more of the well-used tree.

Magnolia Plantation & Gardens, Charleston, SC
March 11, 2023

Songbirds

Eastern Bluebird On The Spot

March 13, 2023 Ellen Jennings 5 Comments

X marks the spot, if only for a moment.

March 11, 2023

Raptor

Sleeping Barred Owl

March 13, 2023 Ellen Jennings 2 Comments

A Barred Owl taking his mid-afternoon nap.

From a little further away through an azalea bush.

Magnolia Plantation and Gardens, Charleston, SC
March 11, 2023

Flowers

Tung Oil Tree In Bloom

March 12, 2023 Ellen Jennings 1 Comment

From a distance I thought these white blossoms were dogwood.

As much as I like dogwood, I was happily surprised as I got closer to find that it was a Tung Oil tree.

How could you not love these gorgeous blossoms? Although some of the shine came off when I discovered it is non-native and invasive in the gulf coast states where it was grown as a cash crop in the early 1900s.

These blossoms will produce fruits with seeds that are the source of tung oil (tungoil). The oil is used for manufacturing varnishes and paints, and as a waterproofing agent for linoleum and oilcloth. Unfortunately, all parts of the plant are toxic to livestock and humans.