This was one of the first encounters of the day.
Doesn’t get much better.
Great Blue Heron
Category Archives: Birds
Found On A Dirt Road Trunk
This particular trunk is on a road most always closed off a bit further on. I think this water gate here regulates miles of marshlands. It’s a road easy to miss unless you know where it leads.
Taking the short trip down to the trunk usually gives an opportunity to photograph smaller wading birds. Fiddler crabs, by the millions, are on this cut.
When I walked towards the trunk I immediately missed all kinds of opportunities. Small and large Herons flew in all directions.
This Snowy did not, and gave me a chance not to leave empty handed.
A bigger surprise was the smaller Kingfisher watching from top of the trunk arms. Usually they are the first to leave. I didn’t walk any closer, it was obvious they had food here. No other reason to stay with me around.
Hurricane Ian had dropped some trees so I went back the way I came.
Besides, there was still the strange cloud cover around for landscape shots.
Egret, Spoonbill, In A Marsh
There wasn’t much light here. The birds were in a deep cut with tall reeds and a steep bank. There was no way I would pass this up though.
The young Roseate Spoonbill paid no attention to the Snowy. He just moved around him poking through the water.
They both keep an eye on me. I was even of less importance.
This is a good example of what you can found out in the Basin wildlife areas. Like any place some days are better than others, but how can you beat this… it was a slow day too LOL.
The ‘Old Man’ Of The Marsh
They walk slow, hunched over, and plod along. A bald head and wrinkles complete the picture.
They have been called ‘old men’ out in the marshes.
However, even the Alligators tend to give them space. Maybe they should be called ‘cranky old men’.
Wood Stork, ACE Basin, South Carolina.
Just Walk Around Me, Black Vulture
When I started up the dike I assumed he would eventually move away from me.
Silly me…
I did the only logical thing, walked around him.
Black Vulture, ACE Basin.
Morning Group Portrait
Maybe it was the morning light, or they were half asleep.
Anhinga (right side birds) do not like Great Egrets all that much. Sitting together with no argument doesn’t happen all that much.
Tricolored Heron
I am a big admirer of the Great Blue Heron, maybe my favorite of all birds.
However, the Tricolored are still the prettiest of all.
Donnelley, South Carolina.
Mockingbird
Walking on a trail I noticed this Mockingbird in the thorns. At first I didn’t even raise the camera. I knew he would be long gone before I could even focus.
Obviously I was wrong and ultimately did try for the shot.
This is a Northern Mockingbird, the only type common in North America.