It’s an almost 1/2 mile (675 Meter) trek to the beach, most of it through an open marsh with this one dead tree standing at the edge of the walkway.
One small fishing boat cruised back and forth parallel to the beach.
Brown Pelicans and some terns and/or gulls were feeding.
A few dolphin passed by, too, but alas no photo.
Botany Bay Wildlife Management Area, SC
October 19, 2023
A couple more pre-sunrise images of a marsh at Bear Island. I could tell the color wasn’t going to be much so worked on getting the dewy grass in the foreground. While avoiding a giant ant hill.
The water was like glass, but there wasn’t much to reflect in it.
Bear Island Wildlife Management Area, SC
October 21, 2023
It was a cloudless morning so the sunrise wasn’t spectacular. Other than that the not to be taken for granted fact that sun rose another day. There was a nice orange glow for a few minutes.
An Alligator was out moving around early.
A Great Blue Heron announced his presence.
The same GBH passed a pair of Tricolored Herons going the other way.
Just before the sun topped the tree line the orange intensified.
Bear Island Wildlife Management Area, SC
October 21, 2023
We didn’t see much for birds on Saturday at Donnelley Wildlife Management Area. The Spoonie Tree, so named because Roseate Spoonbills like to perch in it when they are around, had no birds when we arrived.
The elusive Kingfisher was in her usual spot on the water control trunk.
However, she relocated to the Spoonie Tree when she noticed us.
A wider view of the Spoonie Tree’s spot in the marsh.
Donnelley Wildlife Management Area, SC
October 21, 2023
I was last here almost exactly one year ago. Last year’s sunrise was a bit more spectacular but this was still worth the ride.
October 19, 2023
See Silent Sunday: Sunrise from 2022
I’ve been posting about the slow demise of the Spoonie Tree for a couple of years and remain amazed that it is still standing. I took this image on Sunday, before Hurricane Idalia passed by.
Compare that to this image, taken in April when the water had been let out of the pond. The main limbs are still there but some of the smaller branches are gone and more of the bark has dropped.
Donnelley Wildlife Management Area, SC
Magnolia Plantation & Gardens, Charleston, SC
July 25, 2023
I’ve photographed parts of this scene many times, often with alligators or turtles on the far bank. On this mid-June day there were no creatures about but if felt very lush with all those greens. And two red Texas Star Hibiscus.
Magnolia Plantation and Gardens, Charleston, SC
June 16, 2023
I’ve been posting about the slow demise of the Spoonie Tree for a couple of years. I stopped by on a quiet day at the end of February.
A few Double-crested Cormorants were the only birds around and the scenery was mostly brown.
I was reminded I had taken those shots and not processed them when I was there last week. I was rather surprised that none of the wading birds took a break from feeding in the name-sake Spoonie Tree.
Those that flew off after eating went into some trees further back in the pond.
The tree lost a branch, but it is mostly intact compared to this image from May 2022.
Donnelley Wildlife Management Area, SC
The sun was working its way up, lighting up this wisteria bloom, though not yet reaching the grounds around the cabins.
These cabins housed enslaved workers when Magnolia was a working rice plantation and are now part of the “From Slavery to Freedom” tour.
This smaller building was likely used for cooking.
Magnolia Plantation & Gardens, Charleston, SC
March 14, 2023
