It never fails! Things always start to get interesting too early. I stand there looking, then focus, and wait.
Until I just can’t stand it.
The alligators looked to be leaving, I took a shot to show how many were around.
The crowd was moving around too.
Of course they waited, finally flying off the the complete opposite direction. And yes, the sun came out a little bit later.
No award winners here by any means. But it is good to see the larger flocks are starting to gather.
Starting the day.
Note; best viewed large.
The first shot of the day.
Always a good start.
Fighting against all odds.
There are always trade offs in wildlife photography. Things are rarely perfect.
A nice young Spoonbill, ever present mud.
If the mud leaves then the water is probably covering it. And, it’s too deep to fish.
Found on a walk, Charleston.
This year between the heat and pandemic limitations my trips to the further marshes has been limited. When I did get out the larger flocks and feedings just were not around.
I’ll stop complaining… for now.
Click the image to view details.
Wood Storks and Roseate Spoonbills working a marsh together.
Taken in a wildlife management area, ACE Basin. This land has been a plantation, hunting preserve, and now managed by South Carolina Dept. Natural Resources.
Some of the largest tracts of land here, tens of thousands of acres, were once owned by wealthy business men and used as hunting preserves.
Ownership was passed to South Carolina, with provisions, starting about 100 years ago. The WMA’s are still growing today using the same agreements.
A large land tract with plants known only to grow on a specific island was donated by Tom Yawkee, owner of baseballs Boston Red Sox. Ted Turner, of CNN and Turner Broadcasting, added a barrier island that is a pristine ecosystem (Ellen and I were among the first allowed on the island to photograph).
This system of wild land donations works well here. Not so much in other places in the US.
These Spoonbill, and other rare critters, thrive and survive here due to all that hard work.
Taken at Donnelley Wildlife Management Area.
