You often hear a Belted Kingfisher before you see it, with a distinctive chatter as they swoop over ponds or marshes looking for a fish lunch.
This one landed in the Spoonie Tree, too far for a good photo of such a small bird, but a picturesque scene.
A little while later one that was clearly on a mission passed me as I walked along a dike.
And then he landed in another artful looking dead tree, creating an unmistakable silhouette.
Donnelley Wildlife Management Area, SC
September 2, 2023
I’ve been posting about the slow demise of the Spoonie Tree for a couple of years and remain amazed that it is still standing. I took this image on Sunday, before Hurricane Idalia passed by.
Compare that to this image, taken in April when the water had been let out of the pond. The main limbs are still there but some of the smaller branches are gone and more of the bark has dropped.
Donnelley Wildlife Management Area, SC
I’ve been posting about the slow demise of the Spoonie Tree for a couple of years. I stopped by on a quiet day at the end of February.
A few Double-crested Cormorants were the only birds around and the scenery was mostly brown.
I was reminded I had taken those shots and not processed them when I was there last week. I was rather surprised that none of the wading birds took a break from feeding in the name-sake Spoonie Tree.
Those that flew off after eating went into some trees further back in the pond.
The tree lost a branch, but it is mostly intact compared to this image from May 2022.
Donnelley Wildlife Management Area, SC
There are almost always a Belted Kingfisher or two swooping around the ponds at Donnelley WMA. This morning I thought I was going to get a real close up of one on a rice field trunk. Ha!
Before I could even get my camera to eye level she was gone.
I did track her across the pond.
Where she landed on the Spoonie Tree…way to far for a good shot, but she did stop moving!
Donnelley Wildlife Management Area, SC
December 29, 2022
Donnelley Wildlife Management Area, SC
December 29, 2022
Donnelley Wildlife Management Area, SC
November 26, 2022
Donnelley Wildlife Management Area, SC
October 16, 2022
The Snowy Egret and the Spoonbill took a break from harassing each other while the Great Egret was doing his own thing.
A closer look at the Alligators: it was warming up and they were looking for sunny spots out of the water.
Donnelley Wildlife Management Area, SC
October 16, 2022
Donnelley Wildlife Management Area, SC
October 16, 2022
The Spoonie Tree is still standing, and a single Roseate Spoonbill was perched there on my last visit.
I took a walk down the dike and an hour later he was still there, and still alone.
Just checking things out.
Donnelley Wildlife Management Area, SC
September 14, 2022
