These birds can be very graceful as they land. Even better is when you can catch the angle that shows off their layers of wing feathers.
This Heron flew past us flying up a marsh. I was just trying to get a flight shot when he pulled up to land.
OK, this was a first.
I’ve been close to Wood Storks, but close is a relative thing. This is wildlife and you always keep a respectful distance. Unless the Stork lands and feeds almost on top of you.
I had to move to get him in the view finder. Apparently there were schools of small fish right here.
The rocks were being replaced on a jetty that sits between a salt marsh and fresh water. For some unknown reason the wading birds were fascinated by the process.
Murrells Inlet, South Carolina
Found on a walk, still blooming in places.
Magnolia Cemetery, Charleston, South Carolina.
We did find some White Pelicans the other morning. This was one section of the marsh, so it was impossible to get a count.
Best viewed large.
Yawke wildlife area, Mosquito Creek, South Carolina.
One of the few times a Gallinule didn’t run away screaming. This male sat there letting me get an angle for the shot.
Besides showing off the ‘candy corn’ plastic beak his feet are on full display. Those huge toes allow the bird to walk on top of marsh/swamp vegetation. With wings flapping they can almost walk on water.
One of the strangest birds out here.
This Great Egret underestimated the fish he had spotted flying by. I underestimated the breeze across the water for good focus. The Egret was the real loser, at least I caught a few action shots.
Below the Egret dropped down to the waters surface while flying by. Not common behavior, risky actually, but I’ve seen it before.
Yes he grabbed a fish while hovering in the air.
Unfortunately the fish turned out to be bigger than the bird thought.
He dropped the fish back in the water.
There was nothing he could do. This was deep water, the center of a pond in rice fields. I’m sure he would not touch bottom. Besides this spot is filled with alligators. Swimming is not an option.
ACE Basin, South Carolina.
Two fun shots trying to capture as many different birds as possible. Shot too far, too wide, but a big collection. And of course a few Alligators way in the back. The list I found is below.
The second shot was taken as I walked a little closer. Here there are four different bird species.
