A female Anhinga struck up a pose at the edge of a small pond. It was late afternoon with little sunlight reaching the water.
The reflections in the water changed considerable by my moving just a few feet and a small drape of fall colored leaves added some color.
A few steps further on and the leaves and some Spanish Moss competed for a frame around the bird.
Most Wood Ducks I have seen are pretty shy, and this one was no exception.
He either heard me or a hawk that was in the area, or both.
He didn’t make a fuss, but calmly made for denser quarters, avoiding paddling through the patches of sunlight.
One of the Gulls I was watching in post Gull Ballet successfully nabbed a snack from the water.
In no time a second Gull was in hot pursuit.
The first Gull picked up speed.
As they flew off he still had possession, probably trying to swallow it as they went.
It was grey, overcast, and very still.
A few gulls were performing intricate moves as they hunted for a meal in a small pond.
The ripple in the water was from the bird first lifting up.
He hovered a moment then dropped right back down inside the rings…
smoothly entering the water.
Some days the birds are just too far for photographing.
That doesn’t stop me from taking a few images to record what I saw and occasionally those far off shots become a nice landscape.
Bear Island Wildlife Management Area, September 29, 2019.
I can’t help but smile when I see a Brown Pelican, they are just goofy looking birds.
Then, they do something even goofier looking.
South Carolina’s coastal bays and rivers are full of entertainment.
Open wide!
Story River, from a boat, September 13, 2019
Brown Pelicans are fascinating to watch in flight, so graceful yet so prehistoric looking.
I thought this one was going to land and try to catch a fish. He dropped his feet.
But then he tucked them in as he glided over a school of jumping fish.
Fooled me again.
Brown Pelicans eat by either diving into the water and scooping food into their beak/pouch or sometimes by bobbing on the water and snatching up a fish, not by picking it up with their feet–I’m not sure what he was up to here.
Then it was landing gear up and away he went down the river, no lunch.
A Brown Pelican lowered his feet, opened his wings wide, and slid into the water — it still amazes me no mater how many times I’ve seen it.
One of the challenges in wildlife photography is choosing where to stand. Should I stay put or go to the next opening for a better view? Will the bird stay on the same path or veer to the left? Are there any Alligators nearby?
I saw this pair of Black Skimmers coming towards me along the edge of the pond. My view was obstructed of their approach by the reeds.
I got lucky and they stayed together and moved into the center of the open water. I stayed put and got an aerial show.
I love to watch these birds fly and wonder when they are in pairs how they stay synchronized.
Their fishing is done by touch and when the Skimmer feels a fish in the water their heads snap down as they lift the prey.
Just after the Juvenile Little Blue Heron flew off I realized he wasn’t alone in the trees above me.
This Anhinga was having a look around.
These views from underneath show off how sharp the Anhinga’s bill is, perfectly shaped for the way they spear fish under water.
After I passed by I turned for another image and a look at those amazing webbed feet, which you can see better if you zoom in.
