Taken near the ‘Lodge Pond’ marsh. It’s a logical name since right on a slope here is an old hunting lodge that once belonged to a wealthy northern industrialist.
When the days of the southern plantations were finally done forever wealth business people bought huge tracts of the land. Many became hunting preserves, and ultimately conservation preserves.
Another game of Hop Scotch. Bald Eagle dropping down along the Santee River.
It’s a Bald Eagle, so you know we took the shot every time.
Santee Delta, South Carolina.
November 14, two weeks ago, I had one of those days where the Alligators were out getting sun, and I just grabbed random shots walking around.
We get all k nds of questions about the Alligators, a common one is how many are actually around. A good question, not sure there is anything but some official guesstimate out there.
These photos are from a single location where two large marshes are separated by a dike. Walking along the edge of the marsh I grabbed these images.
The first is what Ellen calls ‘a pig pile’. Even making the shot full size I’m not sure there is a way to count these. Find all the tails would be a good start. They like to ‘cuddle up’ in the sun. Notice no small locals got involved.
The closest gator you can see was paying attention to us. Two others were right behind him. No single Alligator shots to be had. Look close and you will also see the very end of another’s tail. The bumpy scutes (scales) are sticking above the water.
Piles were the order of the day. Around any given heap of gators others are hanging close by.
This was another photograph where I wanted to catch a single gator. However, the scutes of another’s tail is again in the way. You don’t notice these at the time you take the shot. Yet, there they are.
Out in the open is ‘one eye’. After a few years in this spot you recognize many by their markings, which are usually scars. This is not the only ‘one eye’ out here though. Living is not easy even for these alpha predators.
Here is one I almost missed, up out of the water in the glare. Pretty big, and of course parts here of two others.
Turning on to a second dike this was the scene just on the other side. Four on the bank and shallows.
The last shot here is actually ‘almost’ the same as the previous one. I just pulled back and shifted a bit to the left.
What I did was keep some of the gators from the previous shot in the frame, however by pulling back there are now two new locals on the left side.
What all this means is that on a day like this there are more than a few Alligators, just in one particular area. This swamp, dike, and water goes straight back uninterrupted for miles.
That’s why no one can ever really know how many of the locals live here.
I do do know we are really, really, outnumbered out there. LOL
Donnelley, South Carolina.
It may look a little like a crash landing but this guy was pretty accurate in the end.
Put on the brakes at the exact right moment, good thing too.
Stopped right in the middle of the lunch buffet.
White Pelicans, ACE Basin, South Carolina.
When there is space between they always act so darn relaxed. Almost cool.
On a walk, a casual glance to the left…
OK, a bit dramatic. He was down the sloped side of the trail. He was going nowhere.
This could have gone either way.
I held the lens up as long as I could just in case. Finally I grabbed a shot anyway.
I knew the Egret wouldn’t start anything, Great Blues can get pushy.
Both went on their way ignoring each other.
These big birds are not known for a fast lift off. Usually it’s like they are running / skipping on the surface for a while.
This Pelican took one hard pump of the wings and was airborne.
They are one of the heaviest birds in North America making it even more impressive.
ACE Basin, South Carolina.
