Finally some clouds to help with sunrise photographs.
Usually we shoot dawn in this area from a little further south in Litchfield. Unfortunately the Brown Pelicans are missing here.
Coffee didn’t stay hot for very long.
Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.
When you have small groups of these big Pelicans spread across this larger marsh it’s hard to keep track of any counts. It’s nice to be able to compare info over the years. We go back over time to find what has happened in any given area.
On this morning last week the Pelican were swimming in giant circles. They swam off into a cut, we lost sight, and then would appear from another open cut in a different area. There are lots of tall grass mounds in the marshes that block your view. Otherwise this could be a huge lake.
I gave up on the counting, instead I walked over to places with an eye towards getting a shot as another bunch ‘popped’ out.
White Pelicans fishing.
Shots taken quickly as an Egret flew past a group by the reeds.
Most here were other Egrets, however at least one Wood Stork was in the mix.
The Alligators are still out and about, just not first thing in the morning. It needs to warm up a little first.
I spotted this one moving slow along the reeds and I walked around until I could get a few different angles for these.
Low light, no breeze, and lots of fall gold reflections had the makings of nice images. Every year I get photographs like this. The gator does all the work, I just shoot from a dike as I walk around.
Rice fields, Donnelley wildlife area, South Carolina.
The other day I published a few shots of morning fog taken as we headed towards the big marshes and rice fields. I had forgotten I also took some photos when we first arrived out there.
1) Below is a view looking down a cut between stands of thick grass and reeds. When clear there is usually something hunting along the edge. There were a few ripples in the water but nothing to be seen.
2) The water opens up after a while becoming a large shallow pond. By large I mean the back side could be a mile away. Fog hung low over the reeds, having the Great Blue made for some perspective.
3) Last is the old ‘spoonie’ tree, or what’s left of it. No Spoonbill here but Great Egrets, an Anhinga, and in the water the ever present floating Alligator head. You can’t get many wide shots without a head.
Donnelley, ACE Basin, South Carolina.
We knew the day would not be all that bright and sunny. However, the wet and fog was unexpected. Mornings like this, especially in the cool fall, I prefer covers over my head.
Below was our greeting at the first open marsh we passed through. I had a mid sized lens, not made for lowlight, on the camera but just went with some shots anyway.
Next is a quick shot, monochrome, of the road we take into this wildlife area. The marsh in the first shot above is on the right when looking down this road.
The left side here is a ‘ghost forest’ now. A swamp filled with dead trees. Encroaching underground salt water is my guess. Ghost forests are becoming common in the Lowcountry.
Last another image of the marsh fog we passed through on the way to the old rice fields. The rice fields start about 3 miles from this spot. As you can see there’s no high speed driving here.
I thought a few general photographs of our drive in would provide some perspective on the Lowcountry swamp/marshland environment.
BTW, it’s probably not a great place to have your car break down. Something we have thankfully avoided so far.
The Egret was flying by, however I wasn’t sure where he was heading so my usual is to wait. I did and caught the first sign of his turn before dropping away.
I was probably lucky to catch these, they can twist and turn faster than you would think.
This stork has long legs so the water here was deeper than many of the other birds would have been working.
The rust colored reflections in the background are from the reeds fall colors.
Wood Stork, ACE Basin, South Carolina.
