A couple more pre-sunrise images of a marsh at Bear Island. I could tell the color wasn’t going to be much so worked on getting the dewy grass in the foreground. While avoiding a giant ant hill.
The water was like glass, but there wasn’t much to reflect in it.
Bear Island Wildlife Management Area, SC
October 21, 2023
It was a cloudless morning so the sunrise wasn’t spectacular. Other than that the not to be taken for granted fact that sun rose another day. There was a nice orange glow for a few minutes.
An Alligator was out moving around early.
A Great Blue Heron announced his presence.
The same GBH passed a pair of Tricolored Herons going the other way.
Just before the sun topped the tree line the orange intensified.
Bear Island Wildlife Management Area, SC
October 21, 2023
September 16, 2022
I hardly knew which way to look when this flock of Black Skimmers was actively feeding.
The sun was just up, but behind a cloud bank so the light was dim.
This entire pond is normally under water, but was drained for a couple of weeks to help control vegetation.
This has a bonus effect for feeding birds as any fish are concentrated in a smaller pool of water.
Bear Island Wildlife Management Area, SC
May 9, 2022
Black Skimmers look a bit awkward just standing around.
A lone Black-necked Stilt was sharing their resting space on the dried out pond.
This is a former rice field pond where the water was drained as a natural vegetation control. The hope is that unwanted grasses and other plants that eventually would choke the pond will die.
Bear Island Wildlife Management Area, SC
May 15, 2022
Another selection of Black Skimmers where the light was poor but the action was interesting as the birds wove around Alligators.
Bear Island Wildlife Management Area, SC
May 15, 2022
The light was poor but the Black Skimmer action was outstanding.
The water had been allowed to drain from this pond for a few weeks as part of the vegetation overgrowth control efforts.
This left a very narrow strip of water where the fish were concentrated.
Some shore birds were feeding on the water’s edge and Black Skimmers were busy scooping up breakfast.
Bear Island Wildlife Management Area, SC
May 15, 2022
