Taken just after a small flock of White Ibis descended on a rookery. They just charge in and take over one of the Cypress at night.
Ibis Settling In For The Night
Tag Archives: South Carolina
Mocking Bird
Old cemeteries here are filled with rusted iron fencing. Some are almost 200+ years old.
Birds don’t care. It’s a perch.
Truth be told, I have always wanted to get one of the local vultures here. Only a matter of time.
Young Herons
Recently I published several photographs of adult Black-crested Night Herons roosting together.
The kids were there too. Just didn’t get clear shots while following the adults.
These juvenile also are part of that same flock.
Peaceful Coexistence
The stumps must be a nice location.
A Great Egret and Tricolored Heron didn’t seem to have any problem being this close.
Magnolia Cemetery, Charleston, South Carolina.
Working Late (2)
The Heron had collected moss but now the sun had dropped and the bird was flying almost into the sunlight. (Photographs best viewed large)
Since I was close when the bird first landed to gather moss I was able to pan with him as he took flight.
At the time I didn’t realize how good the light was. I thought there was a chance the last shots would be blown out with the bird directly in the setting sun.
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This was the last trip for materials. The female suddenly left the male in charge and went to hunt.
Charleston, South Carolina.
Working Late (1)
Sun was setting but this Great Blue was working hard at gathering nesting materials.
The fact that I was there was not an issue. The big soft Spanish Moss was more important.
He had made several trips for this treasure and light was fading fast.
Phoebe On A Knee
Cypress trees have roots that grow straight up above the ground, called a ‘knee’. Trap might be a better name since you cannot avoid tripping on them.
Eastern Phoebes use them as perches to look over the waters surface for small insects. Swamps have Cypress Knees, insects, so of course Phoebes love to be here.
When you spot a Phoebe it’s best to focus the camera on the Knee. The bird will almost always return to the perch after each dive for an insect.
Ibis Settling In
A new routine for the end of day, Ibis flocking.
Just before dark they have started to arrive, in a Cypress tree that has always been a Heron roost. Maybe not this year though.
It might be hard for a Heron to get comfortable after 10-15 of these guys swoop in all around you. They like to mumble to each other, a lot.