After a couple weeks of grey weather we finally had a clear blue sky on a day that I could get out. This was the welcoming scene at the pond.
It reminded me of the Hitchcock movie “The Birds.” These crows were creating quite a racket but the Eagle was not put off.
Word Press tells me this is my 999th post on Passing By Photo. My first blog post was four years ago yesterday and I’ve seen some amazing things along the way. It’s been my goal to share images that show the beauty of nature, birds and animals, and some non-natural things I’ve passed by, with a bit of text to give context.
Four years ago I could not image all of the marvelous things I would see and photograph, including Roseate Spoonbills.
I have great fun doing this and offer many thanks to all of you that have followed along, commented and liked my posts.
Here’s to another 999!
It was so weird looking I had to stop.
And large, it was at least a foot tall (0.3 Meters).
My brief attempt to identify it took me down many paths but rather than get sidetracked with that, I’ll say it is a fungus growing on a fallen log in a pine forest.
This ant was marching across the surface of a pond covered with Duckweed as if it was solid, catching my eye with the shadow he cast. Individual Duckweed plants consist of a single floating leaf no bigger than a piece of long-grain rice.
The Cormorant was swimming low in the water with his catch, probably a crab based on the parts you can see sticking out in a couple of the images.
Alas, a Laughing Gull spotted him and dropped in for a closer look.
The Cormarant dodged the gull and kept his prize.
The gull rose up a for another try.
Attracted by the activity a second gull joined in the harrassment.
The Cormarant dodged the interlopers and swallowed his lunch before the gulls re-grouped.
Click on any photo for a larger view of the action.
Hidden behind his wing, a Great Egret poses in the late afternoon sun surrounded by Spanish Moss.
Secret, secret, who’s got a secret?
Let me show you.
Now it’s gone.
Made me laugh!
Click on any photo for larger view.
I’ve heard stories and read articles about South Carolina’s wild pigs, especially about how destructive they can be and how their population has exploded since the 1980s. Depending on the source they may be referred to as hogs or boars. This is the first one I’ve seen and in quite an unexpected spot: a canal at the edge of an old rice field where I’ve often photographed egrets, herons and alligators.
There is still a little snow around the edges of the ponds, some of the non-moving water is frozen over and the dense grass areas have ice in them. This may have been the best watering spot he could find, even with the mud.
He sauntered away–I’m not sure he could have run if he needed to, being up to his knees in that mud.
Click on any photo for larger view.
Our subdivision has a nature trail that circles around three connected ponds that border a small stream. I have avoided checking it out over the last year and half due to neighborhood stories about snakes. This week’s record setting weather made me feel pretty safe in that department and with the roads still unsafe to my favorite spots away I went!
I came upon about 30 Canada Geese quietly hanging around in one of the ponds in small groups. The sun was shining and the temperature was hovering just above freezing.
Who knows what a bird might think about this unexpected turn of events, but these Geese seemed to be managing. There are Canada Geese here year round so it’s impossible to know if they are locals or migratory, in which case they might not be that surprised.
01/05/2018, our third day in a row with snow on the ground, Dorchester County, SC
Eyes closed and wings spread to soak up the sun, this Great Blue Heron was catching some Zs on his nest.
Yes, this was before the snow came to Charleston, 12/22/2017,.
Click on image for larger view
