Tag Archives: South Carolina

Prothonotary Warbler on Knee

May 11, 2019 Ellen Jennings 3 Comments

I returned to Beidler Forrest one morning this week hoping for another opportunity to see a Prothonotary Warbler or two. I did hear a few high in the tree tops but mostly they eluded me. The promised sun did not materialize, keeping the forest dark.

I did capture this one as it was returning to its nest, which the center staff pointed me to. The nest is down inside that Cypress knee. After a moment the adult dropped into the nest and stayed put for at least the next twenty minutes, likely laying on eggs.

May 7, 2019.

Songbirds

Prothonotary Warbler in the Forest

May 10, 2019 Ellen Jennings 6 Comments

The Prothonotary Warblers have returned to my area. Often you hear them before seeing them, even with this brilliant yellow.

These images were taken at Beidler Forest which has many of the features these warblers like: tree cavities for nesting, damp forest floor, dense undergrowth and both standing and slow moving water.

As I was leaving for the day one final Prothonotary Warbler crossed my path and perched on an open, if dimly lit, branch for a few moments.

Reptiles

Anole, Shedding His Skin

May 10, 2019 Ellen Jennings Leave a comment

This is probably a Carolina Anole, due to the bright green color. They have the ability to change to a duller green or brown, depending on the temperature and their environment.

This one is shedding his skin, which is brought on by growth: like other reptiles their skin doesn’t grow with them.

Anoles become less active when going through the shedding process and this one picked a dangerous spot at the edge of the swamp to just hang out. He would easily be seen by a passing bird who could snatch him up for lunch. I left before that happened.

Artsy, Landscape, South Carolina

Ravenel Bridge, Another View

May 7, 2019 Ellen Jennings Leave a comment

This is a somewhat artsy presentation of the Ravenel Bridge through a monument at Magnolia Cemetery.

Ravenel Bridge, Charleston from Magnolia Cemetery

Landscape, South Carolina

Ravenel Bridge Across the Marsh

May 6, 2019 Ellen Jennings 6 Comments

Charleston’s Ravenel Bridge is part of the landscape seen from the back of Magnolia Cemetery. The Cooper River runs under the bridge and creates the marsh that edges the cemetery, which is just barely above the level of the river.

A storm was predicted for the morning I was there but the clouds drifted higher before anything dramatic looking happened.

May 3, 2019

Flowers

Wild Pink

May 4, 2019 Ellen Jennings 4 Comments

Wild flowers have been allowed to grow unmolested by the lawnmower at Magnolia Cemetery in Charleston and this morning there were more types than I ever remember seeing there. A nice patch of these pink beauties, perhaps some kind of mallow, caught my eye.

A single bloom off on its own shows delicate pink shades.

The ground was dry and after scanning for snakes, ants and other creatures I got down on the ground for a few images

Click any image for a larger view.

Landscape

The Long White Bridge, 2019

April 19, 2019 Ellen Jennings 4 Comments

Photographing this iconic spot at Magnolia Plantation and Gardens with Azaleas in bloom is all about timing. The flower blooms, the light, the stillness of the water, the absence of people on the bridge– all things we have no control over. It’s a lovely spot and I tend to take a few captures whenever I pass by, even if the flowers aren’t in bloom.

Taken 3/22/2019

Landscape

Ravenswood Pond, Puffy Clouds

April 17, 2019 Ellen Jennings 4 Comments

The sky was filled with fluffy white clouds and the water was still, making beautiful reflections.

Both images were taken from the more manicured short side of this rectangular man-made pond, looking towards the far end. The corner where I took the first one widens a bit into an overflow outlet where I was standing.

The second image was taken from the other end of that short side. The trees standing in the water and small island are home to many of the wading bird nests I photograph.

April 5, 2019

Landscape

Rice Field Canal, Two Views

April 7, 2019 Ellen Jennings 2 Comments

The old rice fields along South Carolina’s coast that are maintained as part of the wildlife management areas are connected by canals and the water flow is controlled by opening or closing a series of “trunks.”

Taken March 28, trees are budding and leafing out all around but there are still a lot of brown dead reeds from last year on the edges of the canals.

This second view is the same canal from a slightly different angle without the trunk.

Landscape

Trees Marking the Way

March 28, 2019 Ellen Jennings Leave a comment

This image was taken the same morning as my post Roseate Spoonbills on Foggy Pond. Surprisingly for such foggy conditions there was no issue with condensation on my lens.