Magnolia Plantation and Gardens, Charleston, SC
October 27, 2026
Silent Sunday: More Swamp Sunflowers
Tag Archives: OM 100-400mm
Skipper Butterfly
The sun and location were perfect to highlight the iridescence of this Skipper Butterfly perched on a plant frond with its own joyful color scheme going on.
I think it is a Long-tailed Skipper based on the color and size.
A nearby patch of lantana attracted a few more skippers, including this one that paused for a few moments to feed.
Magnolia Plantation and Gardens, Charleston, SC
October 23, 2026
Great Blue Heron On Alligator Ramp
This Great Blue Heron was standing in the road when I photographed the Wood Ducks In a Row. When he spotted me he flew to an alligator ramp in the pond.
Vegetation around the pond has the look of autumn, many plants have gone to seed, leaves are turning brown and falling over.
“Did you get my good side?”
Magnolia Plantation and Gardens, Charleston, SC
October 11, 2026
Wood Ducks In a Row
A quartet of Wood Ducks casually paddled away from me on a recent cloudy afternoon.
Magnolia Plantation and Gardens, Charleston, SC
October 11, 2026
Eastern Bluebird, Monument Perch
A juvenile Eastern Bluebird perched on one of the monuments at Magnolia Cemetery.
Magnolia Cemetery, Charleston, SC
August 5, 2026
Wood Stork, Chick and Parent
The adult Wood Stork didn’t move much, changing from left facing to right facing just once while I was watching.
The chick tried all kinds of positions from having his legs bended beneath him in the first image to upright…
… to the full tall stretch.
Their bodies are roughly the same size, but you can see the youngster doesn’t have the full tail or beak length yet.
Cypress Wetlands, Port Royal, SC
June 6, 2026
Danger, Danger!
The adult Common Gallinule was aware of the approaching alligator and started fussing at her chicks.
Gather around!
Better yet, get behind me.
A squawk for good measure, as if that would deter an alligator!
The chicks got the message and continued away from the water.
The alligator veered off, drifting into the pond bank a bit further along. Perhaps he wasn’t hungry, or that loud bird wasn’t worth his effort.
Cypress Wetlands, Port Royal, SC
June 6, 2026
Wood Stork, Getting A Snack
Only sometimes it turns out to be a dud.
Just open your beak…
…and drop it back in the water.
Cypress Wetlands, Port Royal, SC
June 6, 2026
Snowy Egret Hanging Out In the Spoonie Tree
A Snowy Egret doing what egrets do: stand, stretch, scratch and stare.
Donnelley Wildlife Management Area, SC
June 21, 2026
The Spoonie Tree Finally Tipped Over
I’ve watched this tree slowly tilt for many years. It was upright at our last visit in June, when there wasn’t much going on but I did take one shot of the tree:
Sometime between then and August 9 it tipped over.
Hopefully it will continue to provide a bird soap box for years.
A few posts documenting the tree’s demise:
February 2024: Cormorants in the Spoonie Tree
August 2023: The Spoonie Tree, August 2023
November 2021: The Spoonie Tree, Slowly It Tilts
Donnelley Wildlife Management Area, SC
August 9, 2026