Tag Archives: Spoonie Tree

Landscape

The Spoonie Tree, Slowly It Tilts, Update

June 11, 2022 Ellen Jennings 4 Comments

I last posted about this slow collapse at the beginning of November, 2021.

Here’s a repeat of the last image from that post.

The Spoonie Tree, October 17, 2021, An Alligator visible at the base of the grass

I’m hoping the tree will stay around even after it collapses to serve as a perch for the wading and water birds.

The Spoonie Tree, November 14, 2021, Several Alligators visible at the base

This spring the pond was allowed to dry as part of a vegetation management protocol.

The Spoonie Tree, May 9, 2022, A Turkey Vulture and two Black Vultures

A wider view–I believe those logs are palm tree trunks. They have been laying there, usually submerged, for at least the five years I’ve been going to Donnelley.

Then with the water back in a few weeks later.

Donnelley Wildlife Management Area, SC

Landscape

Marsh Scene

January 31, 2022 Ellen Jennings 3 Comments

The Spoonie Tree was a gathering spot, both above and below on this late November day:

Anhinga, Double-crested Cormorant, Great Egret, Juvenile Black-crowned Night-heron, Alligators

Donnelley Wildlife Managment Area, SC
November 27, 2021

Wading Birds

Roseate Spoonbill With a Stick

December 31, 2021 Ellen Jennings Leave a comment

This Roseate Spoonbill really wanted to sit in the Spoony Tree with his stick. I didn’t see him arrive, but think he just flew up from underneath the tree.

Roseate Spoonbill With Stick In the Spoonie Tree

Who knows why, it’s not breeding season yet and he doesn’t look like he’s of breeding age based on still having pin feathers on his head.

He took off when the Cormorants started squawking at him.

The Anhinga was not impressed when he came right back.

He headed across the dike, where he promptly landed in the mudflats and abandoned the stick for some fishing.

Donnelley Wildlife Management Area, SC
December 25, 2021

Wading Birds

Silent Sunday: Pink In A Tree

December 12, 2021 Ellen Jennings 5 Comments

Donnelley Wildlife Management Area, SC
December 11/2021

Wading Birds

Audience Unmoved

December 2, 2021 Ellen Jennings 2 Comments

They’ve seen it before…so have I but I still like to photograph it.

Juvenile Black-crowned Night-heron Landing

Touchdown!

Two adults looking on, ho-hum.

Juvenile Black-crowned Night-heron with Audience

Donnelley Wildlife Management Area
November 27, 2021

Wading Birds

Cormorant Supervising

December 1, 2021 Ellen Jennings Leave a comment

Double-crested Cormorants were calmly sunning on the Spoonie Tree when a Great Egret dropped in.

Great Egret Landing In Tree with Cormorants

Then a Black-crowned Night-heron joined the gathering.

Black-crowned Night-heron Landing In Tree

It was close to a crash landing, but the Night-heron made it, perhaps to the surprise of the Cormorant.

Then the Night-heron lost points for not sticking the landing. Not that anyone is keeping score.

Donnelley Wildlife Management Area, SC
November 27, 2021

Landscape, Wading Birds

Great Egret, Fall Colors

November 15, 2021 Ellen Jennings 6 Comments

I wonder if the limbs of the Spoonie Tree creek as a Great Egret works his way along them.

Knowing you can fly if needed probably gives some confidence, even if your perch is on its last legs.

The Great Egret found a satisfactory spot…

a little breeze ruffled his feathers as I dropped to a better angle for the background.

Donnelley Wildlife Management Area
November 14, 2021

Landscape

Fall Colors, Donnelley Pond

November 15, 2021 Ellen Jennings 1 Comment

Pine trees dominate the South Carolina low country landscape, including most of the wildlife areas I frequent so I don’t see a lot of autumn color change.

One Great Egret and Four American White Pelicans feeding

The back edge of the big pond at Donnelley WMA is an exception, and more this year than I remember.

I didn’t expect to see so many Alligators out as it was only about 50 F (10 C).

If you zoom in on the next photo you’ll see Alligators gathered under the Spoonie Tree, which I recently featured in a post: The Spoonie Tree, Slowly It Tilts.

Donnelley Wildlife Management Area
November 14, 2021

Landscape

The Spoonie Tree, Slowly It Tilts

November 5, 2021 Ellen Jennings 4 Comments

How low can it go before it falls?

Roseate Spoonbill Landing in the Spoonie Tree — How the Spoonie Tree Got Its Name (October 2020)

First, a throw back to two years ago… changing water levels in the pond worked to carve out the earth under the roots. Alligator action might have played a role, too.

The smaller branches long gone, some kind of vegetation hid the base over this past summer.

At the beginning of October:

The Spoonie Tree, October 3, 2021, Roseate Spoonbill up top, Alligator below the tree, right

A couple of weeks later that cavity beneath the tree had collapsed.

I’m hoping the tree will stay around even after it collapses to serve as a perch for the wading and water birds.

Donnelley Wildlife Management Area, SC

Wading Birds

Restless Great Blue Heron

February 16, 2021 Ellen Jennings Leave a comment

This was the scene under the Spoonbill Tree at Donnelley Wildlife Management Area on a recent cold and windy morning. The Roseate Spoonbills were wisely at the back of the pond, tucked under a bigger tree.

Great Blue Heron, Gallinules, and Double-crested Cormorants

A few Gallinules were popping in and out view and the Great Blue Heron seemed on the verge of doing something as he repositioned several times.

Great Blue Heron and Double-crested Cormorants

The GBH moved back into the water when a Great Egret appeared. This dead tree, which has been a great perch for a Roseate Spoonbills over the last few years, has taken another step towards its end as another good size limb has fallen off this winter.