Black-necked Stilts are a snazzy looking bird, with a delicate shape and elegant color scheme.
Donnelley Wildlife Management Area, SC
April 2, 2023
Black-necked Stilt Feeding
Brilliant Blue
I was thinking of making this a Silent Sunday post, but anyone who ever spent time around Peacocks knows that just doesn’t fit. These birds can be a nuisance, but there’s no getting around their flashy color scheme.
Roseate Spoonbill Walking Along
A trio of Roseate Spoonbills was feeding in shallow water, weaving around a few Alligators.
Donnelley Wildlife Management Area, SC
April 2, 2023
The Other Side of the Story
If any of you follow my husband, Ted Jennings/TPJ Photo, you might have seen his post He Couldn’t Wait, Alligator, a series of an Alligator walking across a walkway.
I had passed by before the Alligator came out of the pond on the right, and turned just to see him disappearing into the pond on the left. This was what I saw:
Black-crowned Night-heron Stick Shopping
This Black-crowned Night-heron landed in a tree to locate some nesting material.
Who knew? They are all attached.
He finally snapped off this little piece.
But dropped it when something larger caught his eye.
This was a marginal improvement; he turned and flew away from me to the small island rookery.
Magnolia Plantation and Gardens, Charleston, SC
April 15, 2023
Black-bellied Whistling Ducks are Back
I had been wondering if we would see Black-bellied Whistling Ducks in South Carolina this year; they only starting migrating here from Florida in the last few years.
Last year it was May and June when I got pictures of them last year, although not at Magnolia Plantation & Gardens.
On Saturday, in the fog, there they were! Five of them just standing around in a tree in one of Magnolia’s recently cleared swamp areas.
This morning not far from the above picture these two were soaking up the sun on an Alligator Ramp.
A mother Wood Duck and her brood paddled on by.
Whistling Ducks are cavity nesters like the Wood Ducks, and may use some of the man-made nest boxes or the tree cavities recently used by the Wood Ducks.
I continued on my path and got a little closer view before these two flew off.
Magnolia Plantation and Gardens, Charleston, SC
April 15, 2023 & April 20, 2023
Black-crowned Night-heron Flying By
This Black-crowned Night-heron was busy gathering nest material, undeterred by the fog that was slow to burn off Saturday morning.
Magnolia Plantation and Gardens, Charleston, SC
April 15, 2023
Barred Owl Portrait
Francis Beidler Forest, SC
April 14, 2023
Prothonotary Warbler
Prothonotary Warbler surveying his options, left, right, left. Warblers are speedy, often chasing lunch; this one took a few pauses sort of in the open.
Audubon Center at Beidler Forest, Harleyville, SC
April 14, 2023
Two Frogs
I hardly ever see frogs out in the swamps. Occasionally I hear a splash that seems like it could be a frog, but couldn’t swear to it.
Friday I saw two! This first one was perched on a tree stump.
And this fellow was all about the green: mustache, moss, and umbrella foliage.
Francis Beidler Forest, SC
April 14, 2023