As we were leaving one of the marshes he was entering the same spot.
He had the right of way.
Bear Island, South Carolina.
A Surprise Meeting, Bald Eagle
Tag Archives: Bird Photography
Female Common Gallinule, Juvenile
Probably the most common bird in the marshes, from the US to South America.
These birds have the most annoying habit of hiding until you are almost right on top of them, then running across the top of the water… screaming !!! Scares you half to death and lets every other animal know exactly where you are.
Gallinules don’t have web feet, they have huge flat toes toes for easy walking in mud, and running quickly over the top of swamp vegetation. When flapping their wings it’s about the same thing as walking on water… while screaming.
Little Blue In The Morning
We pass this way when going out to the local marshes. It is the front field of an old plantation.
This particular morning a Little Blue Heron was looking around in the canals and ponds before any tourist arrive.
This was a day I missed half my shots due to lens fog.
Magnolia Plantation, Charleston.
Tricolored Heron In A Cypress
Juvenile Tricoloreds have been staying around this swamp rookery. Water level has been very low with a huge amount of vegetation taking over. The depth makes it easier for these mid sized Herons to fish.
A Group Pose, Storks & Spoonbills
Some of everybody in this shot, and the reflections gave it depth. This group had bunched up and were standing around ‘poking and picking’.
Besides the main players here there are also 2 Glossy Ibis in the background, a Snowy Egret strolling around, Great Egret, and what maybe a Little Blue Heron way in the back.
You don’t get these opportunities often.
ACE Basin, South Carolina.
Odd Crowd Here
Nothing odd about Wood Storks and Spoonbills hanging together. But the new comer’s took over the photograph.
Just in this spot alone over 15 Black-bellied Whistling Ducks. The changing weather has them breeding here much more than I thought.
ACE Basin, South Carolina.
Watching The Watchers, Storks
Shot from a dike as these birds were resting in a marsh.
Besides the big Wood Storks, a Glossy Ibis is feeding in the background, and there is a ‘pink butt’ of a Spoonbill if you look closely.
BTW, all the white spots seen on the waters surface, that’s feathers. When you get large flocks of wading birds you also get many feathers. Birds pluck and preen all day long. A few hundred 5 foot (1.5 meters) white birds can make a lot of floating stuff.
Grackle In The Tall Grass
Most marshes keep dikes semi-mowed. In many cases the only way to get from one dike to another is walk/RTV on the top. The sides just grow all year long. Unless there is a trunk for water flow it can be like a tunnel.
Small birds (here a Grackle) and Dragonfly’s love to perch on the sides.
Unfortunately there can be a dozen Storks right on the other side and it’s impossible to get a photograph.
Bear Island, South Carolina.