
Magnolia Plantation & Gardens, Charleston, SC
March 13, 2023
I noticed this well camouflaged Red-shouldered Hawk perched in a tangle of crepe myrtle branches. Then I realized it was the flitting of the Mocking Bird that had caught my eye.
The Mocking Bird passed in front of the hawk undisturbed and went on his way.
It was late afternoon and I thought maybe the hawk wasn’t in feeding mode, but then he dropped to the ground. He immediately mantled over some prey, covering it from other potential predators.
That prey either escaped or was very tiny, consumed in one bite.
The hawk flew to another crepe myrtle and continued to watch the ground.
Magnolia Plantation and Gardens, Charleston, SC
November 3, 2022
Red-shouldered Hawk ID confirmed with Merlin Bird ID app.
I finally spotted the Osprey that had been calling, plaintively, for several minutes. By the time I raised my camera he had ducked down. The nest alone made an artsy silhouette on this grey day.
The Osprey is probably a juvenile, calling for a parent and hoping to get fed from the sound. An hour or so later he flew some laps around the area, and paused in this tree.
Then the sun came out and I saw the nest from a different angle, well placed in swamp.
August 26, 2022
Cypress Gardens, Moncks Corner, SC
Dappled sunlight was reaching the tree where this Barred Owl was perched.
Alas, only his tail was to be lit up.
After a bit he dove down and gave the appearance of clutching prey under water.
But, he came up with nothing and chose a different perch to continue his hunt.
Magnolia Plantation and Gardens, Charleston, SC
June 10, 2022
The Red-shouldered Hawk that was sharing a snag with the Black-bellied Whistling Ducks blended right into the branch when he turned away from me.
The hawk opted to move on.
He didn’t go far, maybe just needed his own space.
These snags stand in one of the wetland cells created as part of the city’s water reclamation process.
Orlando Wetlands, Florida
April 12, 2022