All posts by Ted Jennings - TPJ Photography

Never Under Estimate An Anhinga

This male Anhinga surfaced nearby and I could see a catch, just not very well.

I followed his path towards an old ramp surprised he didn’t just eat it. There are many around here that will steal the fish, or even grab him while he is occupied. The first image is not great but the story needed it. The rest are better.

Never Underestimate An Anhinga
Never Underestimate An Anhinga
Never Underestimate An Anhinga
Never Underestimate An Anhinga

After he climbed the ramp I noticed how he still had the fish ‘speared’ on his bill. While most diving birds grab hold of fish, Anhinga spear them underwater. At times they do it a little too good.

Never Underestimate An Anhinga
Never Underestimate An Anhinga

Once he figured how to loosen his catch, next was the head first issue. Fish gills can harm a bird, they must be eaten head first.

Never Underestimate An Anhinga
Never Underestimate An Anhinga

Finally he did a little fish flip…

Never Underestimate An Anhinga
Never Underestimate An Anhinga

A big fish, an even bigger mouth,

Tropical Anhinga in a swamp.

Found On A Walk, Charleston Cemetery

The other morning while out we stopped at an old cemetery.

We were not there long however I decided to capture a few closer views than I normally would.

Found On A Walk, Charleston Cemetery
Found On A Walk, Charleston Cemetery

An old mausoleum columns and carvings, in black and white.

Charleston, South Carolina.

Plucking Sticks, Egret

Most of the time the big wading birds collect old dead sticks. They wander around on the ground searching for the perfect one.

Once in a while a fresh, soft, stick must be needed. These birds are not master builders so they may not have any particular reason why.

However, when they go for a new stick it’s a really big production.

Plucking Sticks, Egret
Plucking Sticks, Egret

Even with two hands it’s not easy to break off a stick. One beak twisting and tugging can take forever.

Red-shouldered Hawk

This was the second sighting of the day for this hawk. He was moving along the far edge of this swamp, searching for frogs. It’s a favorite spot and we’ve seen them hunt here often.

Red-shouldered Hawk
Red-shouldered Hawk
Red-shouldered Hawk
Red-shouldered Hawk

He didn’t stay very long.

Red-shouldered Hawk
Red-shouldered Hawk

The small hawks here tend to just fall to the side when taking off. Doesn’t make for great shots but you take what you can.

Great Blue Heron Lift Off

A small series here of  a Great Blue leaving one of the favorite stick spots, without a treasure.

Great Blue Heron Lift Off
Great Blue Heron Lift Off
Great Blue Heron Lift Off
Great Blue Heron Lift Off

He didn’t go very far though. The edge of the swamp meets some forest here. There should be a full years worth of dead branches laying around. Each year this is the first place picked clean for nesting materials.

Great Blue Heron Lift Off
Great Blue Heron Lift Off

We know they will start collecting here, so we the photographer’s  are as predictable as the herons and egrets. This is the first spot we go.