The Eastern Phoebes around the rice field canals often eat by alternating flying out over the canal to gather insects and landing on a perch that overhangs the water.
The marsh reeds appeared golden at the end of the afternoon on this day and I was able to get a bit better background as I got closer to this Phoebe.
Not surprisingly, many of their chosen perches are obstructed from view by branches and reeds. And they don’t hold still very long.
The reflections were like a pot of gold in the back corner of the canal that runs along the rice field dike. The dike and canal make a 90 degree turn at this corner, and then the water widens off to the left into a pond. There was a little breeze ruffling the water surface in the more open area.
Taken about a half hour later, this view is towards that same line of trees from a bend in the dike. A few Great Blue Herons have been using the clumps of reeds sticking out from the bank as fishing and sunning spots.
The sky was gloriously blue and this Yellow-rumped Warbler flitted in and out of the trees along the rice field dike.
Anyone who follows birds, especially the small ones, knows the advantage of fall and leafless trees.
The other edge of the dike is lined with various evergreen trees making it easy for these little fellows to disappear in a flash.
Today I’m sharing a few random flower images taken over the last month around the swamp. These Swamp Sunflowers are growing on a floating clump on one of the ponds.
We have not yet had a hard freeze and a few late lilies are still blooming, if a little bedraggled.
I don’t know what this one looked like in bloom, but I liked the wispy fluff around the drying stalk.
An Eastern Phoebe flew up from the brush around the marsh edge and paused on this reed stalk.
I tried re-positioning myself to capture the bird with a sky background, but it was not to be as the Phoebe had other plans.
I joined some photographer friends at Folly Beach yesterday afternoon to watch the sunset. Fall sunsets there can be very dramatic with pink often playing a big part. This one didn’t live up to “spectacular” but it was pretty and we had fun during the waiting.
The water in the foreground of this image is a tidal pool left by recent very high tides.
This couple was peddling away from the sunset.
This dog clearly can’t read. His owner, a few steps to the right of my frame ignored this and the “Dogs on Leash at All Times” sign he had just passed.
Actually there is no more than average danger and no one “Keeps Off” this cement walkway that leads from the parking lot to the beach. In fact you can’t see this warning if you are on the walkway. The water is the end of the tidal pool seen above.
Loose dogs are another matter.
This was late in the afternoon and it was mostly quiet on the pond. You can just make out the half moon hanging. The water was still, creating a nice reflection except where the duck weed gathered.
About 2 hours later the second image was taken from the side of the pond, about half way down. White Ibis were gathering in one of the far trees for the night and the light was disappearing fast.
I was on my way out and by the time I got back to where the first image was taken there were at least 100 Ibis in that tree. It was cool to watch but not enough light to photograph.
Or, let sleeping Alligators lie.
A view from a little further back showing off the swamp sunflowers that were in bloom throughout October:
I’m still occasionally seeing dragonflies, capturing these on Sunday as he investigated a manicured shrub hedge.
Look closely through his wing below and you’ll spot another thorn pointing away from his body.
An un-obscured head shot proved elusive and the direction of his position may have been due to the stiff breeze we had that day. These were taken in an area that is often overrun with mosquitoes so I was happy to have the air movement.
Magnolia Cemetery, Charleston, SC 11/04/2018
The day had warmed up from 50 F (10 C) to the high 70s (21 C) and the bees came out to inspect the wild flowers around the old rice ponds.
These asters were a big draw and this patch had multiple bees working the blossoms.
Here’s a wider view of the aster patch well lit by the mid-day sun.
