This was my first time seeing White Ibis chicks. This pair were getting fed, with the adult regurgitating food for them.
As they mature the chicks will lose the stripe on their beak.
And and they gradually turn to all white in their first year except for the tips of their wings, as seen in the adult here.
Cypress Wetlands, Port Royal, SC
August 2, 2024
I last visited the Wood Stork Chicks  at Cypress Wetlands in June. While many of them have fledged, this pair didn’t exhibit any flight intentions and were concentrating on their preening.
Cypress Wetlands, Port Royal, SC
August 2, 2024
I saw this pair of Tricolored Heron chicks a few times over the course of the morning, standing up and looking around.
They look big enough to start doing some “wingercizing” — flapping their wings to build strength and start to figure out how they work, but I didn’t see them do it.
Cypress Wetlands, Port Royal, SC
June 12, 2024
The adult Wood Storks appeared to be passing nest duty, after first inspecting their pair of chicks.
Not yet walking, the chicks were scrambling around probably hoping to get fed.
One adult flew off, which gave the other a bit more room to maneuver…
…check on junior’s grooming…
…and then get a little space away from the chicks.
Cypress Wetlands, Port Royal, SC
June 12, 2024
Again this year I went on the Baby Pelican Cruise with Coastal Expeditions. We left from their HQ on Shem Creek in Mount Pleasant. All the pictures in this series were taken from a moving boat as we went from Shem Creek, to the refurbished Crab Bank just off Shem Creek and then around Shutes Folly/Castle Pinkney in Charleston Harbor.
One of the unexpected things I saw was Royal Tern chicks. These terns were one of at least five species that had active nests on the Castle Pinkney property: Brown Pelicans, Snowy Egrets, Tricolored Herons, Laughing Gulls, Royal Tern.
The edge of the island was covered in blanket flower.
That red thing is trash, probably washed up by the tide as there is no human activity allowed on the island. The Snowy Egret popping out of the brush made me laugh.
The adult Royal Terns were looking around while the chicks were either laying or standing in place in the couple of minutes I had to watch them. It was hot and had been raining.
Baby Pelican Cruise with Coastal Expeditions, from Shem Creek, to the refurbished Crab Bank just off Shem Creek and then around Shutes Folly/Castle Pinkney in Charleston Harbor.
June 23, 2024
I spotted the Barred Owl owlet on a low hanging branch over the water. He was making that pitiful crying noise that I interpret as “momma, I’m hungry.” One of the parents was nearby, not seeming to pay much attention and finally junior flew down closer to the pond, landing on a cypress knee.
A few minutes later he flew a few more feet to the edge of the pond.
The light was very low under the trees so I couldn’t really tell what he was doing. He then flew up to a lovely perch closer to me.
Turns out he did have a crayfish that he’d found in the mud. He then spent at least ten minutes holding it, turning it…like he was wondering what to do with it.
The adult moved a couple of times while the owlet was working this out, getting further away and actually turned away once junior started to hunt.
Magnolia Plantation and Gardens, Charleston, SC
June 19, 2024
I didn’t see any food get exchanged, but this Tricolored Heron chick was really working it with his parent to get a regurgitated meal.
The chick was big enough he could inflict some damage with his beak the way they were both bobbing around.
Then, the adult was finished!
The chicks always look amazed when the parent flies off.
It won’t be long and this one will be engaged in flight school and learning to get his own food.
Cypress Wetlands, Port Royal, SC
June 12, 2024
More Wood Stork chicks were standing up at Cypress Wetlands yesterday. This trio were the oldest/largest with the least vegetation allowing photographs.
Wood Stork Chicks in Nest
Cypress Wetlands, Port Royal, SC
June 12, 2024
A female Wood Duck and six juveniles were sunning on an alligator ramp in one of the small ponds at Magnolia Plantation that is completely covered in duck weed.
No longer looking like ducklings, if seen individually without the mother with them I might have thought they were full adults.
They grow up fast!
The adult stayed on alert as I passed by, but the youngsters settled in for a rest.
Magnolia Plantation and Gardens, Charleston, SC
June 5, 2024
Showing off their fluffy tops, several Tricolored Heron chicks were boldly walking around their nest areas. I didn’t see an wing flapping so they will be right here for awhile.
Cypress Wetlands, Port Royal, SC
May 30, 2024
