Another odd gathering of birds at the rice field pond that has been drained in preparation for repairs and a controlled burn.
Northern Shoveler and four YellowlegsMagnolia Plantation and Gardens, Charleston, SC
November 3, 2022
I was quite surprised to see two American Avocet flying by at Magnolia Plantation and Gardens last week. The big rice field pond has been drained in preparation for repairs and a controlled burn and all sorts of water birds have stopped by.
The Avocet are one of my favorite birds with their understated color scheme, graceful posture and elegant beak.
The pair looped around me twice but I didn’t get them in the same frame again.
And I didn’t see where they landed, or if they just continued on their way.
Magnolia Plantation and Gardens, Charleston, SC
November 3, 2022
A single Royal Tern wandered away from his flock…
and single footedly enjoyed the beach solitude.
Kiawah Beach, SC
October 21, 2022
Or, Why Fly When You Can Run?
Kiawah Beach, SC
October 21, 2022
A small flock of Sanderlings seemed at rest…
…then they set off at full speed at some hidden signal.
Racing the surf, they always make me smile with their zippy trot.
They had places to go, but not so urgent they needed to fly.
Folly Beach, SC
September 19, 2022
A momentary pause before he zips down the beach.
Folly Beach, SC
September 19, 2022
A lone Willet was patrolling a small sandbar
Gentle waves were churning up possible snacks.
Success!
Let’s wade in a little deeper.
Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge
April 11, 2022
… or more precisely, a snack.
Working with images that have sparkly water is a challenge and I don’t take nearly as many as I used to, knowing they’ll likely get deleted.
This day on our water trip to see the baby pelicans our captain commented how he always liked to see the sparkles, and how the light dance on the water appealed to him.
A pair of Ruddy Turnstones on a just exposed sandbar gave me a bit of a subject so I took a few shots.
A little further on a clump of grass growing from another sandbar caught my eye.
Kiawah River
June 2, 2022
American Oystercatchers make “divot” nests, basically a depression in the ground which in this case was a mound of shells.
While one adult sat on the nest the other paced around…
…what else is there to do until the young hatch?
I didn’t get a very good picture of the overall scene, but this gives you an idea of how vulnerable these birds are.
Marsh edge of Kiawah River, SC
June 1, 2022
