Tag Archives: wildlife

Tricolored Heron Crossing A Rice Field

We were out walking the old rice fields a few days ago with no real expectations. It’s an odd time of year here. I guess it’s ‘almost fall’ season. Some birds have migrated through but not in any numbers that I’ve seen photographed.Most of what I spotted were Tricolors.

These images are a Tricolored Heron that flew around me several times. Finally when out in the open I grabbed a few shots. The distance was a bit too much but I was seeing just what I could get out of a small lens…that was too cheap to pass up.

Tricolored Heron Crossing A Rice Field
Tricolored Heron Crossing A Rice Field
Tricolored Heron Crossing A Rice Field
Tricolored Heron Crossing A Rice Field

Looking at this now I can see how brown some of the grasses have become.

Anhinga, Drying Her Wings

The anhinga (/ænˈhɪŋɡə/Anhinga anhinga), sometimes called snakebirddarterAmerican darter, or water turkey, is a water bird of the warmer parts of the Americas. The word anhinga comes from a’ñinga in the Brazilian Tupi language and means “devil bird” or “snake bird”. The origin of the name is apparent when swimming: only the neck appears above water so the bird looks like a snake ready to strike. (Wikipedia)

Anhinga, Drying Her Wings
Anhinga, Drying Her Wings

Anhinga are a year round resident in the Lowcountry. They breed in a rookery near my house, and have the second ugliest babies in the bird world. Gallinule win the ugly contest, by a big margin.

Passing Tricolored Heron

I admit it. I was spinning around in place.

New camera, new lens, now a pair of Tricolors almost dive bombing me. Olympus camera dials work the exact opposite of Canon. I’ve been shooting Canon forever.

Passing Tricolored Heron
Passing Tricolored Heron

Ellen came up to me and casually mentioned, ‘they gave you plenty of chances’.

Tricolored Heron, Bear Island, South Carolina.

Marsh Residents

A few residents of a local marsh.

The first is a Tricolored Heron, unfortunately he was down where two canals met, and fed into the Ashley River. A deep cut, plenty of muck, and a pretty bird.

Marsh Residents
Marsh Residents

Not far from the Tricolor above a Great Blue Heron. Since he was out in the marsh itself we substitute muck for thick reeds and Duck Weed.

Marsh Residents
Marsh Residents

Final photograph is a female Anhinga perched on a stump. View her large and you will see small clumps of the ever present Duck Weed on her feathers.

Marsh ResidentsMarsh Residents

I consider a walk like this a success when I can catch several different species.

Looks Confused, Juvenile Little Blue Heron

Still in the young Little Blue white stage I found him sitting in a swamp, staring at the water like some free meal would be delivered.

Sorry little guy, those days are over. The good news is probably within 25 feet there’s enough food to feed him for a month.

Looks Confused, Juvenile Little Blue Heron
Looks Confused, Juvenile Little Blue Heron
Looks Confused, Juvenile Little Blue Heron
Looks Confused, Juvenile Little Blue Heron

By now he can hunt on his own. Probably day dreaming about the good old days of Moms free delivery.