I took a few shots of this guy as he went by. Then I waited. He looked to have a purpose.
He did.
As the water filled with floating grasses he started to climb on.
Of course he sunk right down, he weighed probably 500 pounds.
And that’s where he stayed. Half in, half out.
I fall for this every time.
When I have the opportunity to photograph these birds with a dark background I’ll always go for the shot.
The contrast is what I am trying to capture.
Of course it doesn’t always come out like I think it should.
However when it does I think it tends to be of a portrait than wildlife image.
The Egret flew right into the thick Palms.
Then he disappeared from view.
I guess there was a reason, not a common (or safe) place to sit around. I did catch a glimpse of another already there…a rendezvous?
He didn’t go far this time. A quick circle. However, each time is a little longer and further.
You see, if he goes too far one of the adults might come back and he misses out on a free meal.
Typical teenager.
It’s the little ‘chirping’ sounds that give them away every time.
Usually you can’t spot the very young ones without their noise, and movement. This group was very young, probably no more than a few weeks old.
I counted five, but there could have been twice as many in the weeds. They were only about 6 – 7 inches long.
Alligator is the only reptile that will stay with young after they hatch. I’m sure the female was near though I never did see her.
For now they are the prey not predator. They need protection for at least a year, but stay near ‘mom’ for around three years.
If anything, I’m consistent.
No clue…
The signs are there that this is a breeding adult with young.
If you look at his/her head, behind the eyes, you will see the feathers are rough, some gone. Aggressive chicks grab the adults to demand food before their siblings get any.
Click the image for full size view.
These historic buildings have recently been either damaged by age, or vandalism. They are all a ‘Chapel Of Ease’, old Anglican Church buildings. When built it was to provide a church building far from the main parish church. Travel in the outer lands was difficult at best.
Having visited these in the past I thought a small article and photographs of how they were prior to any new damage might be of interest…like a snap shot of history.
Below is Strawberry Chapel, the most intact chapel. The only one I know of not being damaged during the revolution and civil war. It was completed in 1725 in Childsbury, South Carolina. The chapel is all the exists of the town.
Pon Pon Chapel Of Ease is shown below. In spite of on going efforts the structure continues to fall. This chapel, first wood, was also built in 1725. Previous settlements were destroyed in the Yammasee War, a Native American tribe that fought the English here and Spanish in Georgia just south.
Eventually the Yammasee, and Creek, kept going south away from the invaders to join the Seminoles in southern Florida.
The chapel has been burned numerous times and now is a ruin. What has kept it standing is the remote location. A dirt power line road is the only access. However…we found it LOL.
Last here is St. Helena chapel on the St. Helena Barrier Island near the Georgia border.
Built in the mid 1700’s it was owner by the local planters until 1885 when the island was abandon and taken by the union army.
As expected this chapel also has been burned, a few times.
The structure was created using ‘tabby’ as concrete and this is one of the best examples in the US of the technique. Tabby is burnt oyster shells, lime, water and ash, only used in the Lowcountry and Georgia. It is an ancient Spanish concrete. Morocco is known for Spanish Tabby also. Georgia and Florida were part of the Spanish Empire when this chapel was built.
No wildlife in the article, brief local history instead.
