A few more images of the low flying Great Egret with a double touch of the water.
Lifted up a bit after passing the Alligator…
And squeaked out a single touch.
Rice Field Pond, Middleton Place, Charleston, SC
October 19, 2021
Wood Storks have a wingspan of 60 to 70 inches (150-175 cm) and despite their overall prehistoric look they are quite elegant flyers.
He wasn’t going far, so he stayed low over the marsh grass.
In the right light you can see the pretty green tones in the Wood Stork’s dark feathers.
Donnelley Wildlife Management Area, SC
October 29, 2021
A pair of Bald Eagles had been buzzing the pond where I captured the Great Egret Late Afternoon Flyby .
One of them ventured down the river and I got a nice view on his return a few minutes later. Knowing that he was probably coming back was a big help.
I was at the top of the hill above the pond, making his position almost eye level for me.
The timestamp on these three images shows they were within the same second.
Middleton Place, Charleston, SC
October 19, 2021
Flying by with something to say
October 19, 2021
This Roseate Spoonbill really wanted to sit in the Spoony Tree with his stick. I didn’t see him arrive, but think he just flew up from underneath the tree.
Who knows why, it’s not breeding season yet and he doesn’t look like he’s of breeding age based on still having pin feathers on his head.
He took off when the Cormorants started squawking at him.
The Anhinga was not impressed when he came right back.
He headed across the dike, where he promptly landed in the mudflats and abandoned the stick for some fishing.
Donnelley Wildlife Management Area, SC
December 25, 2021
December 25, 2021
Seeing an American White Pelican lift off from the water is an impressive sight.
A couple of wing flaps and a small splash
and they are airborne.
This time the Pelican wasn’t going far, he lifted up over this hummock and landed on the other side, out of my sight.
Donnelley Wildlife Management Area
December 25, 2021
The sun was just coming up, lighting the bird but not yet high enough to reach the water behind him.
Donnelley Wildlife Management Area, SC
December 25, 2021
And he was on his way…
Gracefully dropping off his perch…
I thought he was going out of my sight to the right.
But I kept shooting… he surprised me by veering left, over the duckweed covered pond for one more good image.
Magnolia’s Audubon Swamp, Charleston, SC
October 18, 2021
A Double-crested Cormorant skipped across the water as he took off.
It takes a lot of flapping and a few foot splashes …
and he’s off!
Donnelley Wildlife Management Area, SC
November 27, 2021
