Battle might be a bit much, but the Great Blues were having a territory issue. Two birds were chasing each other around the old ponds of Magnolia Plantation.
They were turns being the chaser and the ‘chasee’. I’m sure they knew I was standing in the middle of this, but I was of no importance.
Worked for me, I caught a few decent shots.
Two quick shots I took as this Snowy Egret did the ‘Snowy’ thing. Always a bird that shows attitude, for little or no reason.
There were other small Egrets in this thick brush. I’m not sure he knew just where, but it didn’t matter.
If these strange little guys are going to walk around me, I’m taking the shot.
Nine-banded Armadillo.
Not a macro closeup by any stretch, however I wasn’t climbing down into the swamp water for the shot.
For me it was as much about the Palmetto branch and light as the Dragonfly.
Best viewed large of course.
An assumption on my part, but I think I’m right.
Swamps are a contradiction. Bugs that bite. Things with big teeth. Beautiful flowers.
The old, and first, cemeteries in Charleston were created along the Cooper River in the northern end of the city. This was only swamp and marshlands in the early 1800’s. Parts still are.
Yellow-crowns have always nested here in the big Magnolias and Live Oaks while feeding in the marshes.
While usually hard to get a clear photo, late spring and summer they are out and active with nest building and raising young. These photographs were from a particularly productive Night Heron day, which doesn’t happen often.
Below I caught two sitting in the open on an old bridge that crosses a large cemetery pond. These two small Herons are about as much weight as the foot bridge will hold. Like all the old spots here, beautiful and showing a little age.
BTW, I was hiding in the brush for the bridge shot. grabbed a few and backed away. They would not stick around if the saw me move nearby.
Cooper River and old Magnolia Cemetery, Charleston SC.
When I first looked at the owl shots from the other day the angle and missing head feather details struck me. I deleted most and held a few aside to review.
After another walk through I had one of those ‘good grief’ moments.
Of course the feathers were off… they are not true feathers. This bird still has some facial down, baby fuzzy.
There are several active Owl nesting spots nearby. This bird probably came from one of them.
I didn’t remember passing another stand of flowers until digging through the other days shots.
There must be enough late day shade for these plants. I doubt many can take constant 100 (+) days… or our nights for that matter.
