A Yellow-crowned Night-heron was hunting along the edge of a small pond, wading into the grass rather than the water.
Success!
I have no idea what the meal was.
It went down the hatch in one quick gulp.
May 22, 2021
Magnolia Cemetery, Charleston, SC
I like Magnolia Cemetery mostly for the birds that gather there. On this early December visit I was surprised to find the water was out of the pond where I was hoping to see some ducks. Normally the water is a foot or more deep at this edge.
On doing research for this post I discovered the body of water is referred to as a lagoon not a pond; there is this “big lagoon” and a “small lagoon” on the back side near the Smith Pyramid. I’ve read about those stairs leading down to a grassy area where picnicking took place back in the 1800s, which seems odd now but was all the rage at the time.
From the other end of the pond, looking towards Meeting Street, signs of expanding Charleston are evident. I don’t often post images with power lines, but this time they felt like part of the story. Bird watching at the cemetery you feel like you are in the country, but that just isn’t so.
Unfortunately, the bridge has been closed since last summer due to dangerous rotting of the decking. The last time I walked over it I wondered why it hadn’t been closed.
On the marsh end of the pond/lagoon there is a different type of water control trunk than those I am used to seeing in the rice fields.
This one is mostly brick or some kind of masonry with a metal plate cover and hoisting system. A few White Ibis were attracted to the shallow water for easy feeding.
The marsh on the other side of the dike is tidal, leading out to the Cooper River. With the trunk left open water will come and go in the pond with the tide. I’m not sure why they are leaving it open; I was there a few days ago and it was either open again or still open.
My post School’s Out  of jumping fish was taken on the marsh side of this dike, with the tide high. The last image shows the top of the brick arrangement on that side.
The building to the right is an old receiving tomb; Ted has taken some moody images of it which you can see at https://tpjphoto.net/
My trend lately has been less text with my posts; I think today is an anomaly, not a new direction.
Magnolia Cemetery, Charleston, SC
December 3, 2021
There were several Yellow-crowned Night-herons in the trees around the big pond at Magnolia Cemetery and a few were pulling on sticks.
The end of June seemed late for gathering nest material, but perhaps it was for a repair.
Or maybe they just liked to poke around in the trees.
There didn’t seem to be any urgency to the mission.
A couple of them were just watching–me as well as the other herons.
June 27, 2021
Magnolia Cemetery, Charleston, SC
Magnolia Cemetery is full of oddities; to me this pyramid is one of the oddest. I think a tree or large limb must have recently fallen as I don’t recall seeing this view before. Or maybe I’ve been too busy watching the birds.
Magnolia Cemetery, Charleston, SC
Hurricane Dorian blew by Charleston at the beginning of September leaving some destruction in its wake.
Some old trees at Magnolia Cemetery could not stand up to the wind this time.
Some that weren’t so old took a fall, too.
September 26, 2019, Magnolia Cemetery, Charleston, SC
A walk around Magnolia Cemetery fills the senses with textures and colors and small views are sometimes the best.
Shadows and lines surround family plots.
Insects go about their business; this dragonfly was sunning on a deteriorating fence post.
September 26, 2019, Magnolia Cemetery, Charleston, SC
