I saw this Mississippi Kite land or might not have noticed him, way up overhead.
He sat right there while I shifted around to get the light on his good side.
And sat there some more. I hoped to see him take off, but finally gave up waiting and I moved on.
Magnolia Plantation and Gardens, Charleston, SC
July 4, 2026
A pair of Red-shouldered Hawks were hanging around near one of the ponds at Magnolia Plantation yesterday providing me another great opportunity for my first time using the OM System camera.
With fewer leaves on the trees and this one calling out I was able to spot him after he landed right above me.
Never posing together, they took turns on the dead tree and zooming in and out of the woods, seeming to enjoy the warm afternoon rather than hunting.
Magnolia Plantation and Gardens, Charleston, SC
November 17, 2025
The Bald Eagle pair was perched in their usual treetop location on the Magnolia Plantation grounds when I passed by on Friday.
I found out from a photographer friend that while I was walking the 300 feet (90 M) from the above location to a better vantage point the pair had mated. She was pretty excited as she had captured their interaction.
The pair hung around for about twenty minutes, then first one took off.
Gracefully gliding towards the Ashely River…
Not to be left behind…
…less then twenty seconds later the second one followed along.
They flew out of my sight, up the river towards what I suspect is their nest.
Magnolia Plantation and Gardens, Charleston, SC
January 17, 2025
Ted gets extra points for spotting this Red-shouldered Hawk, far off the path and blending in with the muted fall colors behind him.
Magnolia Plantation and Gardens, Charleston, SC
December 17, 2024
There were two Bald Eagles perched about 500 feet (150 meters) from this branch so I was rather surprised to see a Osprey land.
I only noticed him because he had been calling as he circled around.
He didn’t stay long, made a steep drop…
then flew up the Ashley River.
Magnolia Plantation and Gardens, Charleston, SC
April 28, 2024
A pair of Bald Eagles was perched in one of their regular spots on Sunday, looking relaxed and basking in the early morning sun. There was no juvenile with them getting hunting lessons so I suspect that if they had a nest this winter/spring it was not successful.
The nest that I have photographed previous years is still intact, but has not been used by Eagles for at least three seasons.
Magnolia Plantation and Gardens, Charleston, SC
April 28, 2024
The pair of Barred Owls at Magnolia Plantation had one chick this year and I recently spotted him completely filling the nest entryway.
He was interested in looking out into the great wide world, but he didn’t seem quite ready to fledge.
One of the parents was napping within sight of the nest.
I moved on and found out later that the owlet chick did fledge that afternoon, and has since been spotted in a nearby pine tree.
Magnolia Plantation and Gardens, Charleston, SC
April 23, 2024
The Red-shouldered Hawks have started hanging out in pairs. Nesting season can’t be far off for them.
Canon 100mm Macro lens
Magnolia Plantation and Gardens, Charleston, SC
January 25, 2024
A roosting Black Vulture was joined by a Wood Stork.
The Vulture was pretty much unfazed, even with all that flapping going on.
Settle down, look around…we’re at the top of the world!
The angle between these birds and my position created an optical illusion that these two birds are close in height. The Wood Stork actually is longer, weighs more, and has a slightly wider wing span.
Black Vulture:
Wood Stork:
From The Cornell Lab, All About Birds
St. Augustine Alligator Farm, St. Augustine, FL
January 20, 2023
It was very windy, the kind of wind that makes your eyes water, as I walked around the recently burned rice field pond on Monday. At the first corner a number of Turkey Vultures were hunkered down.
At first I thought they might have found something dead to snack on, but as I got closer I could see they were resting.
Some of the reeds on the edge of the pond did burn, although not all the way to the ground.
A wider view, with the Vultures blending in to the brown vegetation. Oddly, I got no odiferous hint that there had recently been a fire here.
Magnolia Plantation and Gardens, Charleston, SC
January 9, 2023
