We took a winding “short cut” from the North Santee River to the South Santee River.
Trees crowded and overhung the river bank, with golden reflections all around.
November 8, 2021
Santee Delta By Boat, Reflections
Tag Archives: River
Santee Delta By Boat, Wood Ducks
Our guide on the Santee Delta trip was an excellent bird spotter, and saw this small flock of Wood Ducks coming in for a landing.
Taking pictures of a small moving bird from a small moving boat gives so-so results, but it was fun to see them.
The ducks, or at least one of them, seemed to think they’d better fly right back out.
And of course the rest followed along.
This section of the river was lined with grass and reeds, a perfect spot for Wood Ducks to hang out.
Santee River Trip with Coastal Expeditions
November 8, 2021
View my other Santee Delta trip posts
Santee Delta By Boat, 1
The first week of November we took a boat trip in South Carolina’s Santee Delta, about half way between Charleston and Myrtle Beach.
We starting at a public boat landing where US Route 17 crosses the North Santee River and headed up river. These images were from the first stretch of the river.
Once we passed a few docks with moored boats it was easy to imagine our boat of ten folks as the only humans for miles.
A variety of trees line the river bank, and were in various stages of color and leaf loss.
Santee River Trip with Coastal Expeditions
November 8, 2021
Bird Convention
With no apparent connection to dry land this old wall or walkway out in a marshy inlet of the Cooper River makes a perfect spot for a bird gathering.
This marsh borders Charleston’s Magnolia Cemetery, some of which has sunk into the marsh. It’s hard to tell if it may have been a part of the cemetery property.
I followed a berm to get a closer shot but was driven to retreat by a viscous horde of mosquitoes.
(Click any photo to enlarge.)
I’ll Ignore You…
Sharing the shallow edge of the Cooper River in the shadow of Charleston’s Ravenel Bridge these two waders patiently ignored each other as they went about their business.
The Snowy Egret was intent on personal grooming and the Tricolored Heron was in search of dinner.
They ignored the noise of a live concert happening at the adjacent Waterfront Park and a small airplane practicing banking over the river as well.
The Tricolored Heron finally moved along, flapping his wings in the late afternoon sun.
Click on photos for larger view.
Turkey Vulture at the River
I startled this vulture as he was feeding on a dead fish washed up at a boat landing on the Wando River. This, of course, startled me. Vultures are abundant near Charleston, SC, but this is the first one I’ve seen with his toes in the water.
Similar to the Black Vultures, the Turkey Vulture is elegant in flight.
He swooped up to a nearby dock waiting for me to move on.
