These 3 photographs were taken at the end of day, the last of the good light.
There is no real golden hour at this part of the swamp. Light filters through trees from the west, then drops behind them and light suddenly is a problem.
However, for the last half hour of the day this entire side of the swamp is great. Now you just hope things are going on at the same time.
Black Swans were originally brought to Sumter, South Carolina for the Swan Lake park. The Swans liked the weather here, a lot.
The park now includes swamp land adjacent to the lake.
These Swans have young every year.
There are park rangers here who catch and relocate Alligators. Sumter is inland but there are still Alligators here. The biggest Alligator caught in South Carolina was near here. Almost 15 feet long. As big as a Toyota (I just looked).
A little rain didn’t stop either of us. The Heron went in the air (very little but it’s a star), and I got the shot.
This will build confidence and wing strength.
In this nest the bird might fly a short distance at first, over to the branches. Some young don’t have that option. The nearest place to land is further, and water (Alligators) in between.
Getting it right the first time is critical here.
The big Woodpecker holes were obvious, I just don’t think we expected one to pop out.
There is a little disagreement on whether this is the adult or an almost grown juvenile.
This was taken as I started to lose light behind the trees. I had changed my metering and thought to get light just on the Alligator.
Surprise, it worked as planned.
This fellow could not have looked better for the photography shoot. On his best behavior too.
Thankfully more than willing to give a profile.
These are not small birds any longer, probably can fly a little by now.
I took this while they were watching an adult from another nest landing. They were not overly excited so I guess they can recognize their own parents. Still, the adult meant food to them…a big interest at this age.
Some of the Magnolia trees in the south are pretty ‘hefty’.
