Tag Archives: Photography

Birds, Duck

Ducks Being Ducks

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Duck behavior has a rhythm to it: eat, preen, paddle, splash… then repeat. This Blue-winged Teal added some stretching moves to his paddling that showed off his color.

Occasionally they make a big splash as this trio did, moving about 10 feet down the pond as an alligator raised his head nearby. Reflections from the budding trees on the other side of the pond added some color interest to the water.

No one was hurt and calmness returned almost immediately.  The direction and slow movement of this male Teal swimming back up the pond put him in the perfect spot for exposure and reflection.

Click on any photo for larger view.

 

Landscape, South Carolina

Morris Island Light Through Driftwood

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This was a quiet January day at the north end of Folly Island, without even a gull in sight. This pile of driftwood marks the spot where high tide can trap you on the beach if you aren’t watchful.

Morris Island

This listing light, decommissioned in 1962, guided ships near Charleston Harbor. Once on shore, shifting sands have resulted in the light now being off shore, surrounded by sand bars. All remnants of the accompanying housing complex are long gone.

Click on photo for larger view.

Birds, Wading Birds

Great Egret Stick Gathering

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Selection of the sticks to add to the nest is important business. This Great Egret selected and discarded a few before being satisfied.

Great Egret

A short trip back to the nest.

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This was repeated several times with sticks selected from several points around the pond.

Great Egret Nest Building

The female took each contribution and added it to the nest.

Great Egrets Nesting

Magnolia Plantation Audubon Swamp Rookery, 3/3/2017.

Birds, Wading Birds

Black-crowned Night-Heron

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A flock of at least eight Black-crowned Night-Herons have taken space in a couple of the islands at the Heron Rookery.

Black-crowned Night-Herons

I did not see any at our last visit, just four days ago, and I don’t yet know if they stay here to nest or if this is just a stop-over.

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Several of the Herons were making loops around the island in search of good perching spots.

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Click on any photo for larger view.

 

Birds, Duck

American Wigeon

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I’ve spotted American WIgeons off and on at Magnolia’s Audubon Swamp since the middle of January. Up until today they were always at the shady end of the pond resulting in poor shots.

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Today I finally got some nice photographs of ducks in the sun as they were having an early morning swim down the side of the pond. A pretty bird even without the iridescent green head stripe, some of the males are now sporting their breeding colors.

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Click on photos for larger view.

 

 

Birds, Raptor

Red-shouldered Hawk Snake Snack

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This Red-shouldered Hawk kept a vigilant watch while he snarfed down lunch, his head was swiveling all around.

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I hadn’t seen him land so didn’t know what he might be eating.

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I was rather surprised when I developed these photos that it was a snake and at the way it was coiled up under his feet.

Red-shouldered Hawk

From a little further down the path the background was nicer and the snake out of view.

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Click any photo for a larger view/close up of the snake.

Taken February 22, 2017.

Birds

Yellow-rumped Warbler

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The tree lines around Magnolia Plantation are active with small birds going about their business.

Yellow-rumped Warbler

These Yellow-rumped Warblers have a chirpy song that gives you a hint where to look, but they don’t stay in one place for long and I didn’t get any good shots of the patch of yellow on their rump.

Yellow-rumped Warbler

They seem oblivious to the herons, egrets and other water birds carrying on in the pond just to the edge of these trees.

Yellow-rumped Warbler

This time of year before the trees leaf out is likely the best chance to photograph them.

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Magnolia Plantation, Charleston, SC, 02/13/2017.