I don’t see that many Canada Geese expect near housing developments, but a few have been hanging around the pond at Magnolia Cemetery recently.
This one entertained me with a stalk of vegetation that he seemed quite sure was valuable.
He carefully kept his back to his mate, clearly not looking to share this find.
In the end he dropped the whole thing back in the water, perhaps it was too tough or just not edible.
American Avocet aren’t the only birds in these images, but I haven’t seen one in awhile so thought I’d give them top billing. And I really like them with their snazzy color scheme.
I sure was hoping they would fly closer to my side of the pond.
Instead they disappeared on the other side of the marsh.
Two of a flock of American White Pelicans decided to be on their way while a few more continued to feed.
Bear Island Wildlife Management Area
February 17, 2021
The big pond at Donnelley Wildlife Management Area is dotted with these little islands covered with clumps of marsh grasses. Maybe not quite technically hummocks, as I’m not sure the ground is in a mound or if the grass is just thriving in a clump.
It’s not uncommon to see Black-crowned Night-herons tucked into the grass, but on this cold day they were joined by a Great Egret and a Double-crested Cormorant was bobbing in the water. I couple other Night Herons came and went while I was watching.
Look closely and those little blurs are Swallows zipping through the air. By 11:30 AM it had warmed up enough for insects to be active at the water surface.
These Swallows are fast!
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.
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.
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.
I was expecting the Heron to drive off the other birds the way he came back around the front of the island all puffed up.
But he decided to ignore whatever was going on behind him at least for the moment, as one lone gull paddled by.
February 4, 2021
A few more images of the Mute Swan Busking , after he had moved further into the pond, but still displaying with his wings raised.
As the Mute Swan got further from me the reflection of the sky in the water was quite different and the sun created a nice rainbow in the fountain.
Lastly, a nice front view with a few drops of water from his beak.
Middleton Place, Charleston, SC
January 29, 2021
Before I knew about swans using an elevated wing display for “wind assisted transportation” I thought these two Mute Swans might be getting ready to tussle.
They were moving pretty fast up the far side of the reflecting pond from where I stood.
Ah, then it became clear: a passerby was handing out snacks. And the two swans shared without any squabbling.
From the man’s behavior I suspect this is a regular routine. He threw a few tidbits to the waiting birds then went on his way.
Middleton Place, Charleston, SC
January 29, 2021
Busking not as in a street performance, but a threat display or the same posture used for “wind-assisted transportation” per Wikipedia.
The wind assist was not something I’ve seen described elsewhere, but there was a stiff breeze this day. Two Mute Swans were traveling the length of this 600 foot (185M) long pond in no time, so it would not surprise me.
A water performance and no tips expected, the Mute Swans at Middleton Place were very entertaining.
This scene of a cattail, some pond-side greens, and a Double-crested Cormorant made me think of a bouquet.
I edged along the path to get a better angle and the Cormorant decided to relocate.
He wasn’t in any particular hurry, with a gentle splash he dropped into the water.
Then he headed toward the middle of the pond.
A Pied-billed Grebe paddled into the corner of a pond, the wind rippling his wake.
Some tall reeds worked like a blind for me…
…for a minute.
He popped right back up,
and paddled away.
