The repairs to the dike between the boat pond and the Ashley River at Magnolia Plantation have been completed. The water level is back up and some wading birds have started to feed at the edges. I was busy watching a Snowy Egret when this Great Blue Heron landed near me.
Pretty soon he dropped down into the pond.
His one attempt at catching some lunch yielded nothing.
He didn’t stay long…maybe the grass was greener on the other bank.
Magnolia Plantation and Gardens, Charleston, SC
May 19, 2025
The season is changing, looking more like autumn each day.
This was at the end of October when the changing hues of the grasses made a nice backdrop.
The water level in the pond was quite high. We’ve heard there is a plan to lower it sometime this month which will attract more birds with easier feeding opportunities.
Donnelley Wildlife Management Area, SC
October 30, 2024
The incoming Roseate Spoonbill did stick his landing, but it easily could have ended differently. The Spoonbill on the lower branch never doubted, or didn’t care.
Donnelley Wildlife Management Area, SC
October 8, 2024
There hasn’t been much action in Perry Pond with the water high, but a few Snowy Egrets were staking a claim.
This one, closer to shore, was hunting by stirring the water with his feet.
Slowly moving forward, hoping some small fish or crustacean would show itself.
He didn’t have much luck and decided to move on.
Magnolia Plantation and Gardens, Charleston, SC
March 23, 2024
The “skinny tree” is hosting a Great Blue Heron nest again this year.
Two chicks are sharing the space which seems very small compared to some other years.
That doesn’t stop them from exploring their new world, chewing on each other when not pestering mom to get fed.
She was ignoring them while I was watching, and soon after this the little ones settled back down out of my sight.
Magnolia Plantation and Gardens, Charleston, SC
March 26, 2024
A small flock of White Ibis were poking around in a swampy area and this one flew up onto a higher vantage point.
He looked around a bit, showing me his blue, blue eye.
He walked a few steps down the tree trunk before flying off deeper into the woods.
Magnolia Plantation and Gardens, Charleston, SC
March 26, 2024
Magnolia Plantation and Gardens, Charleston, SC
February 19, 2024
You could also file this under “timing is everything.” A couple minutes sooner I might have seen different action. A couple minutes later and I wouldn’t have known any of this.
I walked past the skinny tree and took this first picture of the GBH standing on the nest. The lighting wasn’t great, but if you peek through the lower branches you can make out a second heron standing on a lower level. It was almost closing time so I moved along.
Not two minutes later a loud ruckus was happening. I turned back to see that the mate had returned to the nest and took issue with the GBH below.
A lot of posturing and wing flapping went on.
Eventually the lower GBH flew off, leaving the pair to have a moment, territory crisis averted.
Magnolia Plantation and Gardens, Charleston, SC
January 26, 2024
I wasn’t sure if the Roseate Spoonbill was watching me or the cemetery grounds crew working with mowers and weed whackers behind me.
The bird was curious…
… but didn’t come any closer.
Magnolia Cemetery, Charleston, SC
August 21, 2023
A couple of Roseate Spoonbills were just wandering around in the pond, not feeding, just checking things out.
Magnolia Cemetery, Charleston, SC
August 21, 2023
