This year, 2026, was not a Pelican year for me.
Early on we did visit a Pelican rookery, that’s always incredible. There aren’t many around and they are all off shore. It’s an adventure.
The bigger White Pelicans were always where I wasn’t. I think once we came across a small group in the Bear Island ponds. Those ponds are like mini oceans so they can keep away from people easily.
Below, one of the few unpublished shots I came across the other day.
The birds were a little far but it was all about getting White Ibis in a spot usually impossible to get near.
There were Ibis, Dowitcher, and Snowy back here. The area had been recently cleared and I had never walked in this spot.
White Ibis, ACE Basin, South Carolina.
This is the color I love out in the marshes. The brown and gold moving in with southern green still around.
The Cormorants move out into the marsh once the really hot weather is gone. Anhinga move with the heat and I don’t think they get along with Cormorants. Both birds hunt fish the same way so there’s competition. Anhinga are a mean bird so it’s wise of the Cormorants (and most others) to give them space.
Specs; OM-1 mk2, OM 100-400 II, Lightroom, DxO Filmpack.
A big nosed bird, standing on his head, in swamp water. You would laugh too.
Best viewed large.
White Ibis, South Carolina.
I knew they were heading my way. There’s nothing subtle about an Ibis. They can walk and mumble none stop.
Unusual for me but I just stood there and watched through an opening in the grass.
There were only two though it sounded like an army.
I was careful not to shoot a hundred images.
Specs; OM-1 mk2, OM 100-400, Lightroom, DxO Color Efex.
A bit of a change in subjects and environment.
Along the coast of South Carolina are a string of barrier islands. Some are fairly large, others almost sand bars, and a few nestled so close it’s hard to tell they are actually islands.
Each spring and summer on the deserted ones shore birds nest. Below we drifted in the surf with the high tide to watch the Pelicans. There’s no better way to photograph these amazing birds, you get right down low at their level.
Specs; OM-1 mk2, OM100-400. Finished in ON1, DxO Filmpack.
Taken along the back swamp trail at the Magnolia Plantation. The light was odd and gave a yellow cast on everything shot that day.
Below a Little Blue Heron looking for snacks along the edge of the swamp.
The White Ibis walked ahead on the same trail. When the are on this trail many join in for a walk. They keep just far enough ahead to be comfortable.
They keep you company 😊.
A few random shots that were taken at a Charleston shrimp boat pier. These were all taken around the time I was first moving to OM Systems gear.
I have gone into files looking for unpublished images that I can use as a test / practice while learning the ON1 Photo RAW editor. I still think Lightroom is the gold standard, but the speed and stability of ON1 can’t be ignored.
First here is a typical scene. One of the locals, an Egret, boarding  shrimp boat looking to steal a snack.
Brown Pelicans follow the boats back to the piers. As the shrimp catch is sorted out plenty of scraps are pushed overboard. I specifically wanted a shot like this to see how the masking worked when selecting the ‘back ground’ function. Glare on the water is always  problem. The result was OK.
Last was a white bird against the sky. A ‘subject’ mask. Actually that was better than expected. This was a mediocre shot that should have been deleted. ON1 easily found the bird, the normal sliders worked just fine.
None of the images above had anything difficult done to them. That was the point. These are shots I would take on any given day. ON1 did what was needed, quickly, and easily once you knew your way around the program a little. Editing software is never simple 😆.
