Tag Archives: Water Bird

Gulls Took To The Air

July 23, 2021 Ellen Jennings 3 Comments

Danger, danger, fly, fly!

Can you spot the Eagle?

Birds in the Air over Bird Key, Stono — Birds in the Air, Eagle is about 1/4 of way in from the left, one of the top birds

This island has a lot of advantages for nesting birds, but it is not without risk. This time the Eagle appeared to leave without a meal.

About a half hour later it happened again. We were further away from the action and I didn’t capture the Eagle, but this view gives an idea of how many birds are nesting on this little island. And how unconcerned the Pelicans appeared.

Taken from a boat at Bird Key Stono Heritage Preserve
Between Kiawah Island and Folly Beach, SC

July 12, 2021

Water Birds

Common Gallinule Chicks

June 14, 2021 Ellen Jennings 2 Comments

The Common Gallinule chicks I saw last week wandered in and out of some pond-side vegetation going through the water, and sometimes just plomping down to rest.

The top of this little one’s head with the orange peaking through reminded me of the old tv ads for spray on hair for men.

The whole family came together after doing some individual exploring.

June 8, 2021

Water Birds

Got Feet?

June 12, 2021 Ellen Jennings 4 Comments

Common Gallinules are in the Rail family, and have feet more like a chicken than a duck.

These juveniles looked a bit awkward when they were resting, with their feet having grown faster than the rest of their bodies.

They had no trouble getting around; I saw them walking through some grass.

And then into shallow water.

June 8, 2021

Water Birds

Mute Swan

June 7, 2021 Ellen Jennings Leave a comment

This Mute Swan appeared to be asleep, soaking up some sun.

At some point while I was watching the Young Great Blue Heron Practice Stalking the swan’s head popped up.

And stayed up until the heron had passed on by.

Water Birds

Black Skimmer and Brown Pelican

June 4, 2021 Ellen Jennings 6 Comments

I had been watching this Black Skimmer work his way around the inlets at Shem Creek at low tide.

I suspect he had a nest nearby as after this pass he took his catch out into the mouth of the creek…

… caught up to…

…and passed a Brown Pelican.

He disappeared from my sight. The Pelican stayed his course, gliding the whole time.

Water Birds

Black Australian Swan Cygnets Learning to Feed, 2

June 3, 2021 Ellen Jennings 4 Comments

In addition to the cygnets being pretty cute as they learned to feed, watching the constant motion of the parents and the little ones was rather comical.

Black Australian Swan Cygnets and Parents

Bottoms up is the only way for the swans to get the grass in the deeper water, which also shows off their enormous feet.

The cygnets certainly swam a lot further during feeding than the parents, around and around.

Most of the time one adult had a head up and they all stayed pretty close together.

Swan Lake Iris Gardens, Sumpter SC
May 20, 2021

Water Birds

Mute Swan with Cygnets

May 31, 2021 Ellen Jennings 2 Comments

Hello world!

A Mute Swan cygnet poked his head out just as I was passing this nest, and was soon followed by a sibling.

They didn’t go very far.

The adult, presumably mother, based on swan behavior, was alert to the squirming around but never shifted her position.

She seemed to be prompting the pair to settle down; I don’t know if there were more young underneath or not.

Excursion over, time to tuck back in.

A staff person told me he thought this pair was about two weeks old.

May 20, 2021

Water Birds

Black Australian Swan Cygnets Learning to Feed

May 20, 2021 Ellen Jennings 3 Comments

A pair of Black Australian Swan cygnets were learning the ropes of feeding from their parents.

Swan Lake Iris Gardens, Sumpter SC
May 20, 2021

Water Birds

Anhingas

April 29, 2021 Ellen Jennings 4 Comments

Anhingas are beautiful birds in an understated way. During mating season the color around their eye intensifies to a rich minty green.

The male, on the left below, is all black and the female has a tan neck and shoulders.

These images are from a few years ago, a post I started but left unfinished. This year we are not seeing nearly as many Anhinga pairs at the rookery as other years.