As I was reviewing my trips to Middleton Place when I was mentioning lambs in yesterday’s post I couldn’t find that I had ever published this year’s offspring. So here are some pictures from May of the three lambs at about a month old.
The black lamb stayed close to mama.
Curious and incredibly cute.
Finally the three lambs lined up, sort of.
May 2, 2023
Middleton Place Stable Yard, Charleston, SC
Another photographer told me about this young fawn just off the boardwalk. It would be easy to pass right by without seeing it; in fact I saw some chatty folks do just that.
The fawn never moved while I took a few photographs.
I did two circuits around the Beidler boardwalk and the second time around he was in the same spot, tucked down even further and appeared to be asleep.
As I walked away something startled him and he took off like a shot. I expect the Doe wasn’t far off. Deer are known to leave their young on their own as their spotty camouflage and lack of scent protects them from predators.
Francis Beidler Forest, SC
April 14, 2023
I had never seen a dragonfly emerge and was pretty surprised to see this at my eye height. The emergence process was nearly over when I passed by. The dragonfly was likely waiting for his wings to harden and he didn’t move at all for the two or three minutes I watched.
Audubon Center at Beidler Forest, Harleyville, SC
March 30, 2023
We’ve had some nights below freezing recently, and the day I took these didn’t get much above the mid 50s (10 C)Â so I was surprised to see any dragonfly.
I spent some time with my “Dragonflies and Damselflies of the East” book and searching online. I did not even come up with Blue Corporal as a possibility.
The ID was provided by Odonata of the Eastern United States Facebook group, with one very confident ID as a Juvenile male Blue Corporal Dragonfly, with several assents.
Audubon Center at Beidler Forest, Harleyville, SC
March 19, 2023
I happened upon a Juvenile White Ibis that had just found a snack, some kind of crayfish from the look.
That was good, let’s find another.
He paced around,
poked and prodded into the muck,
and came up empty.
Magnolia Plantation & Gardens, Charleston, SC
February 18, 2023
I’m not sure if this juvenile Alligator knew there was a treasure ahead, or if he had just wandered out of the pond.
But, once he got closer there was no doubt.
Even after studying these images I have no idea what the “treasure” is.
The alligator gave it a shake…
and beat feet!
August 26, 2022
Cypress Gardens, Moncks Corner, SC
We’ve had several Carolina Anoles hatch in our back yard over the last few weeks.
This one spent hours inspecting this dried hibiscus blossom.
Another one chose a more secretive location, but also didn’t go far over several hours.
August 19 & 20, 2022
Referred to as pups, baby Nine-banded Armadillos almost always come in fours. The fertilized egg breaks into four identical zygotes, yielding quadruplets.
No adult was to be seen supervising this quartet of constant movement. They nurse for two to three months then gradually venture off on their own.
Insects, larvae and other food found on or in the ground make up the Armadillo’s diet.
This fellow shows off his claw and snout, the tools used to maximize his grazing.
Francis Beidler Forest, SC
July 9, 2022
Young Alligators often perch on their mother’s body, maybe for safety or in this case a good sun patch.
Bulls Island is a barrier island off the coast of South Carolina made of a series of ancient sand dunes that run parallel to the long ocean side. Over time fresh water sloughs have formed between the dunes, home to many Alligators.
A closer view of the two duck weed coated youngsters on the bank:
Another juvenile found his own dry spot, complete with dappled sun.
April 1, 2022
Last year the first one lamb at Middleton Place was born April 7th so I was somewhat surprised when I stopped by on Monday, March 14th and was told “any day now.” I didn’t get back until Thursday, to find a single had been born on Tuesday and a set of twins arrived just that morning.
The twins were finishing up feeding when I got there and almost immediately collapsed into sleep.
The older one was more adventurous, spending some time under the shelter.
Then she checked out her new mates.
I look forward to photographing them as they grow, and hopefully in better light.
The twins having a look around.
Middleton Place BarnYard, Charleston, SC
March 17, 2022
