Tag Archives: Colorful

Landscape, Marsh, Swamp, This and That, Wildlife

View From A Side Trail

April 24, 2019 Ted Jennings - TPJ Photography 4 Comments

Last week we walked a trail right at the edge of a wildlife management area. This is where forest, marsh, and swamp all meet.

Here I can get some perspective about just how large, and diverse, this area is. The start of this trail is from a wooded section. In this one photograph above you can see a little bit of everything.

Once you move along here the wetlands open up, but still have a boundary of woods. I would guess at this point the background woods above are a minimum of a mile (1.5 k) away.

Above is a view down the trail. This is closed off to all but a few ranger vehicles. This is actually an old dike, the right side is also wetlands.

This a long way to the first tree line. How far? At the end of the trail is a small ‘white dot’, enlarge the image for a better view. That dot is actually Ellen who forged ahead while I changed lens. We don’t always stay together since we would duplicate the photographs.

This last image is from down that trail, closer to the ‘dot lady’. Marsh water is seen when you get closer.

Our photographs for the most part are wildlife, but it’s nice to put a face and perspective to where we are while searching for our subjects.

This is an impressive place isn’t it.

Birds, Charleston, Egret, Marsh, Swamp, Wildlife

Snowy Egret Portrait

April 24, 2019 Ted Jennings - TPJ Photography 2 Comments

Breeding colors on this Snowy Egret were extremely vivid. This guy more than most.

The lore color is almost a shade of red here, the usual is more orange. His crown feathers are pretty distinct also

A Great Egret has a bright green lore during mating season.

Birds, Marsh, Swamp, Wildlife

Bald Eagle Overhead

April 24, 2019 Ted Jennings - TPJ Photography 2 Comments

Many times I ignore the big shadows passing by. More often than not it’s a Vulture searching the area.

Sometimes it’s not.

Alligator, Egret, Marsh, Swamp, Wildlife

And We Have Another Genius

April 23, 2019 Ted Jennings - TPJ Photography 2 Comments

Everybody just hanging out, enjoying the sun.

Of course there’s plenty of people that probably say that about me, LOL

Birds, Charleston, Egret, Marsh, Swamp, What I Saw, Wildlife

Triplets, Egret

April 23, 2019 Ted Jennings - TPJ Photography Leave a comment

All the old excuses…bad light, angle, etc.

But hey, they have triplets.

Birds, Marsh, Shore Bird, Swamp, Wildlife

Yellowleg In Marshlands

April 23, 2019 Ted Jennings - TPJ Photography Leave a comment

Yellowlegs are not particularly choosy over where they get food. Give them a stretch of water they can stand in and they are happy.

There are two types, but they look almost identical. The bill length is the main difference.

They live all along the coasts of the US and Canada. A marsh, swamp, beach, all water with food.

At times they will stand in the same spot and bob their head, over and over. The original ‘booble head’.

Other small wading birds look almost the same, and mix with them in flocks. When out shooting we usually just call them ‘shore birds’ and worry about details later. Way too confusing.

Photographed in ACE Basin, South Carolina.

Birds, Charleston, Ocean Shore, Pelican, Shore Bird, Wildlife

Swamp To Shore, Pelican

April 22, 2019 Ted Jennings - TPJ Photography 2 Comments

In the Lowcountry we are blessed with having the ability to photograph marshlands, swamps, and the shore. It’s all right here.

The other day it was a time for shore, Pelicans, and shrimpers.

The Brown Pelicans didn’t disappoint. Prehistoric, but oh so agile.

Taken at my usual Pelican spot, on the shrimp boat pier. I can stand there and take my pick of fly by shots.

If I don’t get a few good ones it’s nobody’s fault but mine.

A Watering Hole, Alligator, Birds, Landscape, Marsh, Shore Bird, Spoonbill, Swamp, What I Saw, Wildlife

Earth Day 2019

April 22, 2019 Ted Jennings - TPJ Photography 3 Comments

For Earth Day 2019 I thought to publish a photograph that shows us what we have, and what we could easily lose. I think this is a day where we can be allowed a short ‘soap box speech’.

The photograph was taken where a delicate balance is working, but can be so easily tipped over.

Clear and flowing water, both fresh and tidal, are needed for this ecosystem to exist. Charleston, South Carolina, is one of the fastest growing places in the US…and it’s a straight shot from here. This would not be the first land to be lost to uncontrolled development.

Roseate Spoonbills, like the ones above, are actually benefiting from climate changes. They have lost habitat all through Florida, but these marshes here are warm enough now for tropical birds. A bright spot if the marshes are protected.

As for these Alligators, well no housing areas are going to allow dinosaurs to wander around. The water, and housing would doom them.

Last is the hundred small shore birds dotting the background here. All subtropical, and none would do well feeding in parking lots.

Now the good news, this photograph is from a huge protected area, for the foreseeable future they are safe. But it could never exist without knowing it’s needs and help.

Funding and government support is going in the total wrong direction now. Off shore oil drilling was approved here. No one wants it, but no one asked either.

OK, end of Earth Day rant.

Thanks,

Ted