Yes, the Spoonie Tree is still upright!
![Cormorants in the Spoonie Tree](https://i0.wp.com/passingbyphoto.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/20240215-5P3A1688-Edit-1024x576.jpg?resize=474%2C267&ssl=1)
And on this morning the reflections were mirror-perfect.
![Reflection of Cormorants in the Spoonie Tree](https://i0.wp.com/passingbyphoto.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/20240215-5P3A1703-Edit-1024x819.jpg?resize=474%2C379&ssl=1)
Donnelley Wildlife Management Area, SC
February 15, 2024
A female or immature Northern Shoveler was feeding on her own, with a nice reflection from my angle.
One of the dabbling ducks, Shovelers feed on aquatic invertebrates and seeds, usually sweeping their beak side to side. In deeper water they will perform the full body dunk.
They are identified by their distinctive wide bill.
Black Point Wildlife Drive, Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge, Florida
January 1, 2024
A small flock of Roseate Spoonbills and assorted other wading birds were feeding around a stand of mangrove. We could only see a few of them, but they put on quite a show of color and technique.
Black Point Wildlife Drive, Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge, Florida
January 1, 2024
This Pied-bill Grebe was swimming a canal at the edge of Black Point Drive. The lighting was perfect for reflections of him and the mangroves that lined the other side.
The grey in this next reflection is from a Tricolored Heron that was perched in the mangroves.
The Grebe just kept paddling along, looking around, and I was surprised he didn’t dive
Black Point Wildlife Drive, Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge, Florida
December 31, 2023
And the chase was on!
Trees from the far back were reflecting in the water.
He started to land then thought better of it, his pursuer was not far behind.
As the Great Egret kept moving away from the far bank the sky made a much nicer reflection.
Huntington Beach State Park, Murrells Inlet, SC
December 7, 2023
After photographing the Late Season Rose I came upon some water lilies in a fountain. Brookgreen Gardens was all lit up for their holiday event, Nights of a Thousand Candles and there were reflections and shadows everywhere as dark descended. There were also a lot of people which limited composition.
Brookgreen Gardens, Murrells Inlet, SC
December 7, 2023
On our last few trips to Donnelley Wildlife Management Area we have encountered onesies and twosies of a variety of birds. Interesting but not the winter numbers that we’ve been expecting. Yesterday we hit the jackpot, starting with these American White Pelicans that have just recently arrived from their northern sojourn.
Donnelley Wildlife Management Area, SC
November 30, 2023
A couple more pre-sunrise images of a marsh at Bear Island. I could tell the color wasn’t going to be much so worked on getting the dewy grass in the foreground. While avoiding a giant ant hill.
The water was like glass, but there wasn’t much to reflect in it.
Bear Island Wildlife Management Area, SC
October 21, 2023