Category Archives: Wildlife

Wildlife Photography

Marsh Residents

A few residents of a local marsh.

The first is a Tricolored Heron, unfortunately he was down where two canals met, and fed into the Ashley River. A deep cut, plenty of muck, and a pretty bird.

Marsh Residents
Marsh Residents

Not far from the Tricolor above a Great Blue Heron. Since he was out in the marsh itself we substitute muck for thick reeds and Duck Weed.

Marsh Residents
Marsh Residents

Final photograph is a female Anhinga perched on a stump. View her large and you will see small clumps of the ever present Duck Weed on her feathers.

Marsh ResidentsMarsh Residents

I consider a walk like this a success when I can catch several different species.

Looks Confused, Juvenile Little Blue Heron

Still in the young Little Blue white stage I found him sitting in a swamp, staring at the water like some free meal would be delivered.

Sorry little guy, those days are over. The good news is probably within 25 feet there’s enough food to feed him for a month.

Looks Confused, Juvenile Little Blue Heron
Looks Confused, Juvenile Little Blue Heron
Looks Confused, Juvenile Little Blue Heron
Looks Confused, Juvenile Little Blue Heron

By now he can hunt on his own. Probably day dreaming about the good old days of Moms free delivery.

Dragonfly, Marsh Reeds

Not a subject I shoot very often however the air was filled with all types and sizes.

Here I had a never before lens used, and a camera used maybe three times. The focal length was only 40-150mm. Yet in this marsh if you can take standing in the reeds a minute or so something small will be right in front of you. With luck it doesn’t bite.

Dragonfly, Marsh Reeds
Dragonfly, Marsh Reeds

Considering all the buttons and dials are not where I expect I’ll take these images a a win.

Dragonfly, Marsh Reeds
Dragonfly, Marsh Reeds
Dragonfly, Marsh Reeds
Dragonfly, Marsh Reeds

Locals (Alligators) We Noticed On A Walk

The swamps this time of year, September, are thick with vegetation from the hot and damp Lowcountry weather. The swamp Alligators wear this assorted ‘green’ like a suit. It’s all over them, and hides a gator pretty good.

Below is ‘Momma’ guarding her babies on a back trail. The only way I spotted her was she jumped at a Heron coming too close to her brood. She is completely covered.

Locals (Alligators) We Noticed On A Walk
Locals (Alligators) We Noticed On A Walk

The nest two photographs are green Duck Weed, with a bit of Alligator. The weed almost looks solid. Duck Weed is actually a very tiny complete plant. Gazillions of them make of the weed covering.

Locals (Alligators) We Noticed On A Walk
Locals (Alligators) We Noticed On A Walk
Locals (Alligators) We Noticed On A Walk
Locals (Alligators) We Noticed On A Walk

Last are Alligators up on old wooden ramps. The weed has dried on them, yet you can still see plenty if you look close.

Locals (Alligators) We Noticed On A Walk
Locals (Alligators) We Noticed On A Walk
Locals (Alligators) We Noticed On A Walk
Locals (Alligators) We Noticed On A Walk

Most birds have moved out to the marshes. Alligators are what you find when out on a walk.

Charleston, South Carolina.

Bald Eagle, For A Brief Moment

We had left the last marsh, it was close to noon, definitely time to quit. Of course a big bird flew up from the center of the road. Assuming it was a vulture we almost passed by. The white tail gave him away.

The trees are thick and dark, even the road is under a canopy.

I had a quick chance to get a few shots in the trees before he dropped out of site.

Bald Eagle
Bald Eagle

The long Leica/Panasonic lens has not been delivered yet so this was taken with a spur of the moment purchase. A 150 mm budget lens.

Bald Eagle, ACE Basin, South Carolina.

Stork Chasing Spoonbill

This is one of many Stork and Spoonbill interactions taken one morning in a rice field at Donnelley wildlife area.

There were a number of times a Wood Stork chased Spoonbills away from the only log in the area. A Roseate Spoonbill would climb on the log, another would push him off, then repeat, finally a Stork snapped. Storks are like calm old men, Spoonbills are clowns.

Stork Chasing Spoonbill
Stork Chasing Spoonbill

I think there were so many like this some images were just skipped at random. At least I had color coded these in the PC as to do files.

Great Blue Heron, On A Dike

Early one morning last week I found a nice colorful scene on a dike separating the Ashley River from old rice fields.

A Great Blue Heron was perched a top a wooden piling looking out over the river. The morning sun gave everything a nice gold color.

Great Blue Heron, On A Dike
Great Blue Heron, On A Dike

This dike is being repaired in what is becoming a yearly event. The dike is almost a mile long and has been standing between the river and rice fields for around 200 years.

I guess Herons have been standing here for just as long.

Great Blue Heron, On A Dike
Great Blue Heron, On A Dike
Great Blue Heron, On A Dike
Great Blue Heron, On A Dike

Ashley River, South Carolina.