Tag Archives: Canon 18-200mm

Ravenel Bridge, From The Cooper River

The sky looked a bit ominous as we passed under the Ravenel Bridge, but the storm was on its way out. We had just passed under the bridge, this is looking towards Drum Island.

The Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge
Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge

The Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge is a cable-stayed bridge over the Cooper River in South Carolina, US, connecting downtown Charleston to Mount Pleasant. ~ Wikipedia

Baby Pelican Cruise with Coastal Expeditions, leaving from Daniel Island on the Wando River side down to Charleston Harbor and the New Crab Bank just off Shem Creek.

Other posts from this adventure 

Charleston Harbor, SC
June 23, 2023

Skimmer Among Gulls

After sunrise didn’t make much of a show  I walked the beach and this group of gulls was gathered at the tide line ahead of me.

Gulls At the Beach Gulls At the Beach

I suspected they would all fly as I wasn’t the only person on the beach, and some were jogging and others had dogs.

Skimmer With Gulls At the Beach Skimmer With Gulls At the Beach

The gulls actually didn’t fly and the Black Skimmer made him self comfy in the crowd.

Skimmer With Gulls At the Beach Skimmer With Gulls At the Beach

I got one pretty good look at the Skimmer as he stepped away from the group working on their morning grooming. I glanced away for a second and when I turned back he was gone.

Skimmer At the Beach Skimmer At the Beach

St. Augustine Beach, FL
January 21, 2023

Rusty Blackbird at Stream Edge

This Rusty Blackbird blended into the background but as he twisted around poking in the stream his understated color scheme showed off a bit. A nearby maple tree had dropped a few turned leaves for a hint of color in the scene.

Rusty Blackbird Peeking in Blackman Stream
Rusty Blackbird Peeking in Blackman Stream
Rusty Blackbird Peeking in Blackman Stream
Rusty Blackbird Peeking in Blackman Stream
Rusty Blackbird Peeking in Blackman Stream
Rusty Blackbird Peeking in Blackman Stream
Rusty Blackbird Peeking in Blackman Stream
Rusty Blackbird Peeking in Blackman Stream

ID by Merlin Bird ID app

Bradley, ME
October 1, 2022

Palm Warbler, Maine

On my recent trip to Maine I was amazed to witness some warbler migration.  I grew up near where these were taken and don’t remember ever seeing anything like the hundreds of birds I saw in the vicinity including a variety of warblers and finches.

Palm Warbler
Palm Warbler

The mowed lawn seen above was backed by a field of “weeds” that were bursting with all sorts of seeds and flying insects–a song bird buffet.

Palm Warbler
What to choose for my next snack?

I had not taken my long lens on this trip and could not get close enough to most of them with the 18-200mm; this one fellow seemed a bit more curious.

Palm Warbler
Palm Warbler

This particular bird is much more colorful than the Palm Warbler I had photographed a few days before in Charleston, SC.

Palm Warbler
Palm Warbler

ID by Cornell Lab’s Merlin App

Penobscot County, Maine
September 16, 2022

Water Lily and Lily Pads

More from our Water Lilies from our paddle at Cypress Gardens last week.

Water Lily and Lily Pads
Water Lily and Lily Pads – Canon 18-200mm

The same bloom from a different angle and with a different lens.

Water Lily and Lily Pads
Water Lily and Lily Pads – Tamron 180mm, The Pac-man look

Just before we left the sun came out which enhanced the reflection of the nearby trees in the dark water.

Water Lily and Lily Pads
Water Lily and Lily Pads – Tamron 180mm

August 26, 2022
Cypress Gardens, Moncks Corner, SC

Congaree National Park, Big Tree Adventure

In early May I went on a combo boat – hiking trip with fifteen enthusiastic adventurers into the Congaree National Park, about 18 miles southeast of Columbia, the SC state capital.

Congaree River
Congaree River

After traveling up the winding Congaree River from the Bates Bridge Landing we went into the forest to see some amazingly large, and old, trees.

Congaree National Park
Congaree National Park

Very big trees!

Congaree National Park
Congaree National Park

Photography in the forest that shows the relative size is hampered by–the forest.

Congaree National Park
Congaree National Park, Cypress Knees Everywhere

We ate our lunch with a couple of the biggest, including this one.

Congaree National Park
Congaree National Park, Cypress Knees that were several feet tall

Much of the forest floor was muddy, and slippery. And yes I fell. Holding my camera high

Congaree National Park
Congaree National Park

From the park website (nps.gov/cong/index.htm)

Congaree National Park has the largest intact expanse of old growth bottomland hardwood forest remaining in the southeastern United States

May 4, 2022

Cave Swallows

I recently went on a boat trip that passed under this bridge that was hosting swallow nests.

Cave Swallow Nests
Cave Swallow Nests

The Merlin Bird ID By Cornell Lab app identifies them as Cliff Swallows, an uncommon bird in SC.

Cave Swallow Nests
Cave Swallow Nests

There wasn’t enough light to really see the colors, these were taken with my short lens, and these little guys were speedy!

Cave Swallow Nests
Cave Swallow Nests

The nests were pretty fascinating, too, more of an engineering marvel than the bridge.

Cave Swallow Nests
Cave Swallow Nests