Cheated in the title here. I could not remember if this was at the mouth of the Edisto or Kiawah river. Both dump into the Atlantic near to each other. So we will call it South Carolina and be safe.
Nice looking Pelican either way.
These are my favorite style of Pelican shots. This is all about location. A low boat is a requirement. In flight photos like this mean you need to be at the same level as the big bird flying by (or around you).
Once or twice a year we will go out to the small islands / keys, at high tide, and float just off shore. The birds don’t pay any attention since you are floating around with them and not anywhere close to nests.
Now, the boat is bouncing and the birds flying, so the rule is bring plenty of batteries and memory cards. There will be many more misses than usual. Ultimately though you will have plenty of amazing photographs not to mention a great adventure.
Coastal South Carolina.
I think more often than not photographs of these Ibis lose most of their color. They can look almost black. The right light and they are iridescent.
The South Carolina Lowcountry is made up of marshes, swamps, and coastal inlets.
Brown Pelican are as common here as the big Herons and Egrets.
Brown Pelicans and Laughing Gulls, barrier island, South Carolina.
Not the type of shot that I would capture a series of. He blew by way too fast. I am more than happy to catch anything of Reddish Egrets in flight (or just standing around).
Reddish Egret, Florida salt marsh.
The Tricolored Heron here was completely ignoring the smaller Yellowlegs in his path. I didn’t expect much since they do get along most of the time. I did take a few more shots then I should have, never know when something might happen.
These shots were taken in a salt marsh so the clear water made for decent reflections.
Huntington Beach, South Carolina.
The only place known where Dolphin will drive fish to shore, and then follow them right on the beach is the Lowcountry. The Dolphin pods are residents to the inlets here and are not ocean going. As such they have taught themselves new ways to hunt and pass it on to each new generation.
Above several Dolphin drove Mullet to the beach and went up and caught them on shore. You can see a fish by a Dolphin.
The other trick with these Dolphin pods are their followers, Brown Pelicans. Pelicans will push right in to steal the fish.
Kiawah River, South Carolina.
One of the most striking marsh bird. Everything about them is delicate and graceful. They don’t walk, it’s more a glide..
In the background is a Lesser Yellow-leg with a prize.
