BirdsEyeViews

Magnolia Plantation and Gardens' Audubon Swamp Garden

2012-01-28T21:39:00.004-05:00

It's always exciting for me to see and photograph new birds and ducks. And that was the case earlier in January when I encountered many Green-Winged Teal at Magnolia Plantation's Audubon Swamp.

The male is quite a striking fellow with his green and crimson head.

The female Green-winged Teal (below) doesn't have the flamboyant head but does have a lovely wing pattern.

According to one of my favorite online bird resources WhatBird.com, this duck is native to northern Alaska, Canada, California, Colorado, Nebraska, and New York. They winter in the South and annually find their way to the ponds of Magnolia Gardens, as the signs there indicate.
On this visit to the Audubon Swamp, it was also neat seeing another type of Teal- the Blue-winged Teal. Two males and a female are pictured below.

Also native to Northern locales, the male Blue-winged Teal has that distinctive white band down its face. I have seen these before in ponds at the old Kings Grant golf course in Summerville and more recently at the Savannah National Wildlife Refuge (look for an upcoming posting on that outing).
In the shot below you see Green and Blue-winged Teals mixed together.

Below, a pair of male Blue-winged Teals. I read on another Internet site that Blue-Winged Teals are generally the first ducks south in the fall and last north in the spring.

The Audubon Swamp waters were, in fact, full of winter ducks on this day! Even better, though it was winter, the temperature was very pleasant in the 60s and the skies were a lot clearer than the water!

Another colorful duck in the crowd I spotted was the American Wigeon.

This wintering wild fowl can be mistaken (at least by me anyway) for the Green-winged Teal but upon closer inspection the green of the Wigeon is a different pattern on the head and its beak is mostly white unlike the Teal's dark one.

The American Wigeon was formerly known as "Baldplate" because the white stripe on its crown resembles a bald man's head (WhatBird.com). If I was this duck, I'd like the name Wigeon better too!

Here's a male and female Baldplate, err, American Wigeon.

The cute little Pied-billed Grebe was also present in the busy Audubon Swamp at Magnolia Gardens.

The Pied-billed Grebe is not classified as a duck because it doesn't have webbed feet. The bird has incredible range, being found throughout North and South America. Despite its sweet face it has a number of ferocious folk names such as devil-diver, hell-diver, and water witch.

My visit to Magnolia Plantation and Gardens also included bird sightings in the trees, such as a pair of Turkey Vultures.

The Turkey Vulture's red face makes it distinct from its close relative, the Black Vulture. But someone does need to see the dermatologist about that white yukky stuff around the eyes!

Look what else I spotted high up a tree! A Raccoon. See its face in the left side of the photo.

I know you're trying to hide from me Raccoon, but I see you up there!

Notice too that long crevice in the tree that looks to be filled with one or more little coons. Look at the bottom part of this photo below the mother's tail.

One of the smaller birds I photographed was the Yellow-rumped Warbler.

I made sure to get a picture of the Yellow-rumped's yellow rump.

Eastern Kingbirds were also hanging around the swamp.

I have photgraphed the Kingbird in other area locations and have been struck by how this bird, unlike most other small birds, will stay still even around people, allowing for good photographs to be taken. Well, it is king after all!

Really good winter birding here at the Audubon Swamp at Magnolia Plantations and Gardens. In the spring, you can see nesting Great Blue Herons, Great Egrets and other large coastal birds in the sanctuary's rookery.

A very relaxing, rewarding outing here for a modest admission fee. I'll be back!

And, oh yeah, you can pay the full entrance fee and also tour the vast, beautiful and historic Magnolia Plantation and Gardens.

Ernest F. Hollings ACE Basin National Wildlife Refuge

2012-01-07T09:16:00.003-05:00

2012 got off to a healthy, outdoorsy start when Alesia and I visited one of the wonderful wildlife areas in the Charleston area. The ACE Basin is a vast protected wilderness south of Charleston. ACE stands for the three rivers that converge here- the Ashepoo, Combahee and Edisto. Thousands of acres, many of which were rice fields dating back to the 1700s, are now protected.

I was excited to see and photograph my first Northern Harrier at this site. A fellow birder we ran into helped with the identification, pointing out the Harrier's owl-like face as a key characteristic.

It's not the best photo, but here's one of the two Bald Eagles we saw at the very end of our Hollings ACE Basin first-time visit. I saw three Bald Eagles yesterday at Magnolia Plantation and Gardens Audubon Swamp. No photos from that encounter, but did see lots of migrating ducks. That will be a future posting!

Bobwhite...Bobwhite! Yes, that's what these birds are. I came upon them even before we got to the refuge entrance. There they were, on the side of the road. I stopped the car right next to them and took the above shot. When I moved up the car a bit and got out, they started to move into the grass and pinestraw. Then we saw a bunch more emerge from both sides of the road.

We saw maybe 20 Bobwhites, three or four at a time in groups along the road. They made a whimpering sound, not the eponymous "bob WHITE" call. Eponymous- Oooh, big word, impressed?

The two birders we met were doing an Audubon count and they were very impressed with our Bobwhite sighting and photos. I think we got an assist for that one on their bird list.

I got lucky with this American Crow "action" shot! Caw...Caw!

A Snowy Egret perched on a rice field trunk. It's quite an interesting history lesson at the Hollings refuge and other state wildlife management areas along the South Carolina coast. You can learn about how these trunks controlled the water levels in the rice fields. And you can easily envision the slaves toiling hard cultivating the popular "Carolina Gold" brand of rice.

Snake! The temperature of around 70 was comfortable for us and other critters too to be out and about.

We came across this snake near the old plantation house. It was about two feet long and very beautiful in a snakey kind of way. Some kind of water snake probably. My friend Rick believes it to be a type of water snake.

Glad to have that long lens! I don't think this snake is venomous, but better safe than sorry.

This ACE Basin preserve features a plantation house that dates to 1828. It is one of only three in this region to have survived the Civil War. The park offices are in the old house. It was closed on New Year's Day so we looked in the windows.

The walk up to the house is just glorious!

Love the Spanish moss!

Just beautiful out here!

Beauty, education, and exercise- lots to see and do if you're up for the drive and lots of walking.

The Ernest F. Hollings ACE Basin is a National Wildlife Refuge located off SC Highway 174 near Adams Run.

Click here for directions and other information: http://www.fws.gov/acebasin/

Already in 2012 I've had this and a few other outstanding nature and bird outings. Look for upcoming postings from another National Wildlife Refuge, this one near Savannah, from Magnolia Plantation and Gardens near Charleston, and of course, Magnolia Cemetery (subject of my that came out in late 2011).

Now Available: "The Birds of Magnolia Cemetery: Charleston's Secret Bird Sanctuary"

2011-11-12T13:26:00.011-05:00

The secret is out about The Birds of Magnolia Cemetery! Patrick Harwood's 130-page 11 by 8 1/2 book features 46 species of birds and more than 400 color photographs- all taken in the intimate setting of one of America's most beautful and historic cemeteries. To order your copy call 843.224.3112 or email
magnoliacemeterybirds@hotmail.com. The cost is $29.95 per copy or two for $55 (includes shipping).
(Updated information) To date, successful book signings have been held at Magnolia Cemetery (Dec. 3), the College of Charleston (Dec. 16) and Mount Pleasant's Wild Birds Unlimited store (Dec. 17).

"Patrick Harwood has accomplished the impossible: He has brought a graveyard to life, and he has done so beautifully by honoring those who live there through the beauty and grace of birds." Alex Sanders, former College of Charleston president and noted environmentalist

"Clearly this book is a labor of love for Patrick, and I am certain you- as am I- will be ever-enriched with these beautiful images he has given us." Greg Schmitt, College of Charleston communication professor and professional photographer

"The Birds of Magnolia Cemetery” takes a leisurely visit to Magnolia Cemetery and adds a whole new dimension. Patrick’s photography, identifications, passionate observations, and field notes open our eyes to the beauty and diversity of birds found at this Lowcountry destination, all the while encouraging us to see the cemetery from an entirely different perspective." Marvin Bouknight, “South Carolina’s Lowcountry…Naturally” author, naturalist and photographer

For ordering or other information, please call 843.224.3112 or email magnoliacemeterybirds@hotmail.com

San Francisco Summer Trip

2011-10-10T22:09:00.007-04:00

A rainy Monday night in Charleston is a good time for me to post part two of my summer Northern California spread. Part one focused on (what else?) birds and other critters. This posting brings in other more general images captured from this interesting and beautiful part of America. That's Coit Tower in the back of the picture below. The tower, built in 1933, is a tribute to S.F. firefighters.

The streets of San Francisco are so steeeeeeeep in places! That's the lovely, twin-steepled Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul in the foreground.

Quite a load this man was hauling.

From Fisherman's Wharf can be seen S.F's iconic Transamerica Building and, again, Coit Tower.

Alcatraz Prison is a popular tourist spot, but seeing it from a distance was enough for me.

Cool lighthouse at Alcatraz. "The Rock" opened in 1907. The name Alcatraz Island is derived from Spanish for "Island of the pelicans."

From a notorious institution of hard time to one of America's premier institutions of higher education: Approaching the beautiful Stanford University campus in Palo Alto (taken with my camera's vivid setting).

Being my first visit to this illustrious university, coming upon Stanford Memorial Church was a thrill.

The non-denominational church dates to 1903. It was built by Jane Stanford as a memorial to her husband Leland, a railroad tycoon and politician who founded the university in 1891. The church has been described as "Romanesque in form and Byzantine in its details." Amen to that, I say, it is just gorgeous inside and out. Photography inside is strictly prohibited.

Across from the church, the Rodin Collection sculpture garden gave me pause for thought.

Yes, I can relate to that, my brother!

The unique architecture of Stanford University.

Stanford's landmark Hoover Tower, named for U.S. President Herbert Hoover who was one of Stanford's first graduates.

Next stop: Big Basin Redwoods State Park where the redwoods are as big and tall as you think they will be. Ok, they're even bigger and taller!

Clean air, great views and vistas up here in the mountains!

Our visit to the redwood forests was, well, a blur.

Time for the beach! But here north of San Francisco in July jackets are needed and swimming is not advisable (and sunbathing not an option)

OK, a summer day at the beach is a different experience in Northern California. Home in Charleston, those 90 degree days, hot and sunny at our local beaches, can get old. Well, not really.

Remnants of coastal fortifications were really neat to explore. I didn't realize just how deep this area's military significance and history run.

In the foggy weather this sign looked really cool.

Later in the week, the weather was brighter down on the Monterey Bay.

The small city of Monterey was a neat place to visit with lots of shops, restaurants and coastline to enjoy.

At Monterey's Point Pinos Golf Course, this is the coolest driving range I've ever seen!

The Point Pinos Lighthouse, dating to 1855, is the West Coast's oldest continuously-operating lighthouse.

Another Northern California beacon I visited was the Point Montara Lighthouse, which is also a hostel.

The intriguing story associated with this light is that it was transported all of the way from the East Coast more than 100 years ago.

A rather unassuming lighthouse with a great back story. Love it!

Always more to see and do in the San Francisco area. Hope to get back there.

Northern California Birds and other Wildlife

2011-09-18T09:39:00.018-04:00

This summer my family and I spent a week in Northern California. I kept my camera clicking from San Francisco to Monterey, from the Pacific Ocean beaches to the redwood forest mountains.

Below: A California Gull with the Golden Gate Bridge in the background.

In August 2010 we also visited Northern California and I blogged photos of several birds from that part of the country, which can be viewed here. So this visit I kept my eyes open for ones I hadn't seen before. The most memorable new one for me is the Brandt's Cormorant.

We have the Double-Crested Cormorant here in the South Carolina Lowcountry. When I saw a colony of these birds on rocks near the Monterey Coast Guard Station I saw similarities but also some differences.

The blue throat (also described as turquoise) of the Brandt's is a major distinction. This Cormorant is also much darker than the Double-Crested.

Yep, a face that only a mother would love!

Here's a closer look at the Brandt's colorful throat.

Later that day, driving back to our hotel in Palo Alto, we stopped at a beach and found more Cormorants and Gulls on this old boat.

These Brandt's Cormorants really know how to congregate! When I've seen their East Coast cousins, the Double-Crested Cormorant, it's been two or three at a time, not dozens and dozens!

Whatbird.com says the name Cormorant is derived from the Latin words Corvus Marinus, meaning marine crow or raven. These pictures were taken at the New Brighton State Beach on the Monterey Bay south of Santa Cruz.

My second favorite new bird (for me) was this smaller one I spotted while hiking with my boys at the Stanford Dish trail in Palo Alto.

This is a male House Finch. I was struck by all the red and to be honest I was expecting a more exotic name as I researched its identity. The Stanford guy at the park's admissions gate had a binder of photographs of birds and other animals photographed at the site. But there was no photo of this striking red bird. I would like to submit my photo to that book so others will know what it is!

Named for a massive radio telescope built in 1966, the Stanford Dish trail offers majestic views of Stanford University (Hoover Tower is the large structure) and the entire San Francisco/Silicon Valley region.

I spotted several hawks on and around the old telescope.

I believe they were Red Tailed Hawks.

Ground squirrels are abundant in this region. They are quite cute and strike some interesting poses.

Palo Alto also has the (free to enter) Baylands Nature Preserve on S.F. Bay. Lots of birding available here such as the Black-necked Stilt.

And the American Avocet with its "distinctively needle-thin upcurved bill" (from The Stokes Field Guide to the Birds of North America).

Cliff Swallows build nests in the crevices of the Baylands Visitors Center. Peek-a-boo!

Barn Swallows also nest under the roof. Smile for the camera!

While always neat to see unfamiliar birds it was also nice to see some familiar faces. In some trees at the Baylands Nature Preserve I was surprised to see some Heron and Egret nests. The Black-crowned Night Heron is a bird I know well from coastal South Carolina.

This juvenile Night Heron looked sad and out of sorts on the ground dangerously close to the road. Another photographer told me that this youngster had likely been kicked out of the nest by its mother because it had gotten too big. It was time for the offspring to start fending for itself. Poor little thing!

This young Snowy Egret was still up in the nest.

Gulls galore at Monterey!

It was neat seeing Sea Lions out on some rocks at Monterey.

We also saw Sea Lions in San Francisco at Fisherman's Wharf.

Note the gash on right side of this Sea Lion.

American Robins circulate among the headstones of American heroes at the San Francisco National Cemetery in The Presidio, near the Golden Gate Bridge.

I'll end this posting where I began: at the Golden Gate Bridge with some California Gulls.

My next posting I'll feature non-bird/animal photos I took from around Northern California. It was such a nice break being there in the summer away from our South Carolina heat and humidity!

Chesapeake Bay Sunrise

2011-08-20T17:42:00.003-04:00

Getting out of bed and outside are easier when you know views like these await!

Our August visit to my parents house on the Chesapeake Bay in Virginia was quite a contrast to our visit in December when it was freezing with lots of snow on the ground. I posted winter sunrise photos.

In August it was, as expected, plenty hot and humid but not so much at 6/6:30 when I took these.

That's an Osprey nest above and the bird also known as the "Fish Hawk" flying in the middle. In the photo below, a working boat gets an early morning start. What a view the crew must have!

Below: A closer look at that Osprey nest. You can just see the mother's head to the left of her mate who would fly away when I get any closer. No fear! Ospreys are one of my favorite birds.

The photo below was taken as daybreak was just starting to break!

Eight minutes later, this beautfiul scene!

Sunrise brings a new day to the marina.

Somehow I resisted the desire to snatch an apple off this tree.

Plenty of Peter Cottontails out this early in the morning.

Saw this boat, the Miss Ann, and thought of my sister Ann. Hi Ann if you see this!

Thanks Mom and Dad for another great visit to your beautiful house and the beautiful Chesapeake Bay.

Favorite St. Kitts Photographs

2011-07-31T19:16:00.001-04:00

My previous St. Kitts posting focused mostly on the birds (and other animals) I was able to photograph during our June family vacation on the lovely Carribean island. I also want to share my "Top 12" (or so) favorite other (non-bird/animal) pictures.

The beach at the Marriott Resort where we stayed was very nice. The sand was clean and wide and the permanent covered structures were much better than regular beach umbrellas.

The vast Marriott Resort on Frigate Bay as seen from a nearby mountain. The resort is on St. Kitts' Atlantic Ocean side. The Caribbean Sea is only a 10-minute walk in the other direction.

Undeveloped stretches of beach on St. Kitts can make for interesting photographs too.

Windswept palm trees are irresistible to my camera.

In the photo above, St. Kitt's sister island Nevis is in the background. A short ferry ride will get you to this smaller island. We didn't make it to Nevis. Maybe next time!

The mighty Brimstone Hill Fortress is a must-see on St. Kitts. It's one of the best preserved and largest scale historical British-built forts in the world. The long drive and hike to the top offers amazing views of the sea and the surrounding island with its rolling landscapes.

The fort has plenty of firepower and interesting displays and exhibits. The role African slaves played in building and maintaining Brimstone Hill is emphasized.

Love this photo taken near the popular "Strip" area of bars and restaurants. How unusual is that cactus on top of the big rock formation?

This young man tossed a rock into the sea. Ahh, to be young and growing up on such a beautiful island!

This man also seems to have a pretty good life bathing his horses in the Atlantic Ocean near the Marriott. Horse rides on the beach are available.

I came across this cross during a drive up the rugged northern Atlantic coastline. Around St. Kitts non-resort areas there are many signs promoting education and AIDS prevention.

The Sky Safari zipline is another must do on St. Kitts! Expensive yes, but very exciting and exhilarating.

Off I go.....

I loved St. Kitts and would love to return some day. So much to do and see and a great place to just sit on the beach and bask in this exotic locale.

St. Kitts Birds

2011-07-09T14:50:00.009-04:00

This summer my family and I had a wonderful vacation on the West Indies island of St. Kitts. I kept an eye out for Caribbean birds and was not disappointed. Several local species could be observed on the grounds of the big and beautiful Marriott resort where we stayed. A dozen species are featured here with my brief descriptions.

A little scene-setting before we get to the birds. St. Kitts is very narrow in places as you see above. An Atlantic beach is on the left and a short distance to the right is the Caribbean Sea.

St. Kitts is a lovely island with lots to see and do. We did the Sky Safaris zip line, visited the

impressive Brimstone Fort, swam, sunbtathed, snorkeled, jet skied, gambled, and ate many fine meals.

Love this sign at the Marriott Resort. The coconut was wet only one day during our eight days on St. Kitts.

BANANAQUIT

Little, cute, yellow, captured one with mouth open in high-pitched song!

LESSER ANTILLEAN BULLFINCH

Great name! Red on throat, bottom and between beak and eye. Female not so colorful.

GRAY KINGBIRD

Bird I saw most on St. Kitts! Like the black mask. Sociable, boisterous, not so skittish.

ZENAIDA DOVE

Very similar to the Mourning Dove seen at home. Can see my reflection in the Dove's eye in 2nd shot!

COMMON GROUND DOVE

Smaller than the Zenaida Dove. Pinkish head. Unusual eyes.

CATTLE EGRET

Saw these all over the island. Orange streaks. Big feet! Saw a Yellow-Crowned Night Heron one time.

MAGNIFICENT FRIGATEBIRD

What a silhoutette! Swallow/forked tailed. My favorite St. Kitts bird. Prehistoric looking.

PEARLY-EYED THRASHER

Piercing eyes. Saw only once, in rain forest near zip line starting place.

LEAST TERN

Recognized from coastal South Carolina. Cool mask and yellow bill.

SNOWY PLOVER
Lttle beachcomber. Cute eyes.

BROWN PELICAN

Took these between Rum Punch sips at one of the beachfront bars on "The Strip".

LAUGHING GULL
We have these back home too. Taken at the Royal St. Kitts Golf Club across from the Marriott Resort.

OTHER CRITTERS
GREEN VELVET MONKEY

One day I saw one on our second floor balcony and on the wall behind our villa. We also spotted some around the island too. Only saw a couple mongoose which are abundant also.

GOATS

Came upon this herd while driving along the nothern part of St. Kitts on the Atlantic Ocean side.

HORSES

Bathtime in the Atlantic near the Marriott Resort...but not for everyone!

GREEN LIZARD

Had this up close enounter right outside our villa door.

RED REEF HERMIT CRAB

There's a garden along one of the Marriott Resort's perimeter walls that is home to these colorful crabs.

CAT

The Marriott Resort is home to lots of "wild" cats. They keep their distance but will gladly accept any handouts.

I definitely recommend St. Kitts as a vacation- and birding- destination!

Backyard Birds

2011-06-06T18:42:00.011-04:00

I'll be adding to this posting through the summer....

At the suggestion of a bird artist I met at Spoleto this year I've started putting out Parakeet food in hopes of attracting Painted Buntings. I may have seen a female at my feeder a couple times. But it's also attracted what my birding friends Tammy and Tom say is a juvenile Brown-Headed Cowbird (above left with a Carolina Chickadee at the suet).

My backyard buffet has been doing brisk business among our avian friends. The warmer weather has birds such as this Carolina Chickadee hitting the birdbaths more and more.

A Tufted Titmouse (below) is feeling the heat. I saw this bird and a Chickadee also with its mouth open. The

temperatures here have been in the mid-90s.

A Northern Cardinal with a billfull of seed. I never tire of this bird's brilliant red.

The black around its face and black eyes do give the Cardinal a pretty fierce look.

In recent weeks, Eastern Bluebirds have been visiting our feeders. This bird's blue is as brilliant as the Cardinal's red!

Yesterday two Bluebirds came to my birdbath, just feet from where I was sitting. Unfortunately I didn't have my camera. But I'll try to be ready should it happen again!

A Carolina Wren (top) and Downy Woodpecker share some suet.

A Carolina Chickadee has its turn with the suet.

A Canada Goose couple had five babies this spring. They hang around the pond behind our house.

Aren't they cute?

There were five little ones, but sadly one of them must have died because there are only four now.

The family stops by several times a day to feed on seeds that have fallen from our bird feeders. After just a few weeks, look how big the "babies" are already!

In just a matter of weeks, the young ones are almost as large as their parents.

This is a photo I really like with a Northern Cardinal and an Eastern Bluebird on my hammock at the same time. Only thing missing is me on the hammock!

A backyard visitor we would like to see less of is...guess who???

Red-Shouldered Hawk

2011-05-17T15:58:00.003-04:00

I recently had a neat experience with a pair of Red-Shouldered Hawks at what used to be a golf course near where I live. The golf course (Kings Grant) shut down years ago and there has yet to be major redevelopment. It's all in the courts I think. Meantime, nature is taking over, making a cool site for birders.

I can't recall ever coming upon a pair of Hawks together like this. What a handsome couple they make! And so cute, sharing a perch like they are.

A little Hawk affection?

In the past I've had trouble telling the difference between the Red-Shouldered and Red-Tailed Hawks. But now I know the key to look for is the underparts/chest area. The Red-Shouldered has the rust-red barring while the Red-Tailed has much more of a white belly (see my Red-Tailed Hawk posting)- and of course the distinctive red tail feathers. The Red-Shouldered Hawks rust coloration is more visible in this next photo.

These lovebirds found the perfect perch.

I have run a few times along North Charleston's new section of the Palmetto Commerce Parkway which includes a biker/hiker path. Good job local planners! Anyway, I've seen Red-Shouldered Hawks on each visit. The next two photos were taken along that route. Always bring the camera cuz you never know...

Red-Shouldered and Red-Tailed Hawks-- both beautiful raptors and always a treat to see and, better yet, photograph.

Red-Tailed Hawk

2011-05-01T11:53:00.011-04:00

Stopped and got out of my car when I spotted this magnificent hawk atop a utility pole. Fortunately the highway wasn't too busy and I was able to manuever around and get a few decent shots of a gorgeous bird with a with a brilliant blue sky behind it.

Red-Tailed Hawk- its distinctive red tail feathers visible in these photos taken in August 2010 at the Point Reyes National Seashore near San Francisco.

Closer to home...

Went back to September 2010 for these photos I took of a Red-Tailed Hawk at Charleston's Magnolia Cemetery.

Hawks are rare to come across at the cemetery. I've seen a few fly over but to encounter one on a fairly low branch was very exciting.

And this one didn't seem to mind the human attention.

I wasn't able to get a real good shot of its distinctive red tail feathers but you can see them a little bit in the shot below.

Recently at the wonderful Magnolia Plantation and Gardens, I saw this Red-Tailed in the petting zoo.

A little sad to see it in captivity like this.

But it does give the public a unique chance to see--and better appreciate- such a beautiful and majestic creature.

A little fuzzy, but here's a Red-Tailed in flight. Shot this along the new part of the Palmetto Commerce Parkway in North Charleston.

Great Blue Heron

2011-04-15T20:10:00.003-04:00

Last but not least in my run of herons on this blog comes the Great Blue Heron, certainly the biggest and best known of this extended coastal breed. Over the past few years I've photographed the abundant Great Blue in a number of different places. But perhaps my best shots, or at least the most close up I've been to this great bird was last November on Hilton Head Island where we gathered with family for Thanksgiving.

A canal ran between a section of condominiums where some of our family members stayed on Hilton Head. This Heron seemed to be somewhat used to all the people being around and let me get pretty close.

Whether standing on one leg or two, the Great Blue is close to five feet tall.

Its wingspan can reach six and a half feet.

The color palette is varied. You've got rusty-gray (neck), red-brown (thighs), black (plumes running from just above the eye to the back of the head), gray (lower legs), yellowish (eyes and bill), and white (face).

The colors add up to one elegantly beautiful bird that is much beloved, the Great Blue's image used in many company logos and advertising here in coastal South Carolina.

The class of the classy Heron family? A tough call but I'd have to say yes.

Majestic but not aloof, based on my observations, the Great Blue Heron can be seen mixing with other big birds such as this Anhinga...

...and these Double-crested Cormorants.

The Great Blue Heron will always stand out in a crowd for its sheer size--and beauty.

Little Blue Heron

2011-03-26T18:38:00.005-04:00

New Little Blue Heron Photos

I went back to the old Kings Grant golf course and came across what I'm pretty sure is the same juvenile Little Blue I photographed there several weeks ago. You can see how its color is changing, from all white (see below photos) to, eventually, all dark blue. I plan to go back in coming weeks in hopes to see this heron again as its maturing process continues.

I shot the above photo in my cameras Vivid setting. Almost looks like a watercolor!
Previous Posting
I was planning to next feature, as part of my recent heron spree, the Great Blue. But last weekend I had a really neat encounter with a couple Little Blue Herons, so I decided to share these pictures first.

The Little Blue Heron is yet another of the Heron species that can be scene regularly in South Carolina's Lowcountry. I took these photos at what used to be a golf course near my home. This site has yet to be redeveloped and is returning to nature in many ways-- not a bad thing at all!

The Little Blue is much darker than other Herons. Its purplish neck is also distinctive as is its black-tipped bill. Its also smaller than many of the other Herons.

The big surprise for me at the old golf course was enountering an immature Little Blue which is more than a little white.

When getting these shots, I wasn't sure what kind of bird I was seeing here. Looked little a Snowy Egret some but when it moved I wasn't seeing the Snowy's bright yellow "slippers." Later at home I looked at my pictures and a few of my bird books. It was then I noticed the same black-tipped bill as the adult Little Blue.

So this outing proved a first for me in that I had never seen a juvenile Little Blue Heron before.

The Little Blue Heron is the only heron species in which first-year birds and adults show dramatically different coloration: first-year birds are pure white, while adults are blue. (source Cornell University's All About Birds website).

And quite a transformation it is!

Tricolored Heron

2011-03-06T11:30:00.015-05:00

I'm continuing my Heron run on BirdsEyeViews. My last two postings have been the Yellow-crowned Heron and the Black-crowned Heron. Now it's the Tricolored Heron's turn.

This bird is also or used to be called- depending on what you read- the Louisiana Heron.

What distinguishes the Tricolored from other Herons is its whte belly and the white stripe down the front of its neck.

In the photo below, you see the Tricolored (right) next to a Little Blue Heron. It's easy to differentiate between the two when you see them side-by-side like this.

I really like this next photo that captures, in a single frame, four of the most common coastal birds seen in South Carolina's Lowcountry. From left, the Great Egret, Snowy Egret, Great Blue Heron and the Tricolored Heron. This photo was taken, as are many of mine, at Charleston's Magnolia Cemetery.

This next photo, I believe, is a juvenile Tricolored Heron. The juvenile or immature one is described as similar to the adult, but more reddish.

Note the size of this young Tricolored's "feet."

I was curious about the Louisiana Heron name for this bird. With some research, I've found the name goes back at least as far back as the 1830s when the legendary naturalist, painter and birder John J. Audubon himself wrote about seeing them in Florida. Somewhere over the years the more bland name of Tricolored was adopted. Can I presume it's for the blue, gray and white colors of the adult? Please do correct if I am wrong on that point.

I've been focusing on all of the different types of Herons to be seen in my area. And the one that's really most common, I have yet to feature: the Great Blue Heron, the mightiest and most majestic of them all. That will be my next posting. But let me finish this one with a couple more Tricolored (Louisiana!) Heron shots.

Gotcha!

What a lovely and graceful bird is the Tricolored Heron!

Added this photo on March 13, 2011-- A few days ago I photographed this Tricolored on a windy day. A gust would really show off the plume that is usually pretty flat against the back of its head and neck.

Yellow-Crowned Night-Heron

2011-02-13T18:43:00.012-05:00

Added this new photo taken in April 2011 at Magnolia Cemetery- a Yellow-Crowned Night Heron launching into flight.

My last post was on the Black-Crowned Night Heron. This time the focus is on the Black's close but very different-looking relative: the Yellow-Crowned Night Heron.

The Yellow-Crowned is a species I have only seen a couple times.
The above two photos were taken in September 2009. The one below I took in Spring 2010. Both are at Charleston's Magnolia Cemetery, an excellent (and little known...so shhh!) birding spot.

When you see this bird, you know it's something different, one you don't see every day.

The Yellow-Crowned is considered more active during the day than its close relative, the Black-Crowned Night Heron (which I feature in the post prior to this one)

It's a striking, beautiful bird with large piercing orange eyes and with the namesake yellow stripe on its head or crown.

According to Wikepedia, the Yellow-Crowned Night Heron is called the American Heron and the Squawk.

I had my Yellow-Crowned encounter at Charleston's old and historic (and isolated) Magnolia Cemetery, located near the Cooper River. The cemetery has two ponds surrounded by live oaks and other trees that attract numerous types of birds.

Of late, a family of Black-Crowned Night-Herons has been calling the cemetery home. The Yellow-Crowned hasn't been around but I do look forward to future encounters, wherever they may take place. The Yellow-Crowned, such a stately, magnificent member of the illustrious Heron family!

New Photos Added: March 26, 2011. Wow, a pair of Yellow-Crowned Herons in the same shot!

These Yellow-Crowned Herons were in the same tree as some Black-Crowned Herons. I didn't realize these were Yellow-Crowned until I got home and really examined my pix. The back coat of the Yellow helped me realize these weren't Blacks. Take a look at the pair of Blacks below, then the Yellows above.

This was definitely a birding first for me- Yellow and Black-Crowned Herons together in the same tree just one big happy family!

Black-Crowned Night Heron

2011-01-23T18:13:00.007-05:00

The mysterious Black-Crowned Night Heron is an unusual looking creature that is rare to come across.

I know it doesn't-- but it occurs to me: Does this bird have a little penguin in it???

A Black-Crowned Night Heron party in a tree at Charleston's Magnolia Cemetery.

To me the adults have two distinctive characteristics: those blazing red eyes and the long black strip along its head and back, hence the black-crowned moniker. Below: In flight- the Black-Crowned Night Heron

The Black-Crowned Night Heron is considered medium-sized (23-28 inches long), stocky, short necked.

Notice the white plumes on the above left heron. The male and female aduts are considered identical as far as appearance from a distance.

This bird does its feeding at night, thus the "night" part of its name. During the day, they can be seen and seem active only when flying away from me and my camera!

Another interesting thing about the Black-Crowned Night Heron is how the young ones or juveniles look so much differently than their parents. They do share the red eyes (above). They go through some major transformation to eventually take on the black and white look of the adult.

The juvenile (below) resembles the American Bittern. But the different eye color helps differentiate the two.

I've followed this family of Black-Crowned Night Herons for a few months now at Charleston's Magnolia Cemetery. They have been enjoyable to observe and challenging to photograph. They do readily mix with other species such as the White Ibis below, and with a Brown Pelican in the photo after that.

Photo (below) an adult Night Heron shares a pond tree with several Ibis, including some jueveniles of that breed

Black-Crowned Night Herons- for more about this cool customer, see WhatBird.com

Northern Neck, Virginia Birds and Sights

2011-01-06T12:26:00.006-05:00

My family and I had a fun, busy and (for me) interesting visit with family in Virginia during the holidays. We spent time in the state's Northern Neck region and the Richmond area.

It was worth getting up early and going outside in freezing weather one morning to photograph the beautiful sunrise my parents enjoy from their home on the Chesapeake Bay.

It was very cold outside but seeing this warmed me from head to toe.

Lots of the white stuff on the ground in Virginia from the Christmas snowfall.

What a glorious site!

Later in the day: the sun's brilliance amid a clear sky.

My birding highlight had to be the fierce-looking Cedar Waxwing spotted in my parents' neighborhood.

I read that the Cedar Waxwing is a highly social bird that when lined up in a row on a branch is known to pass berries to each other from one end to the other. Note the yellow on the tail feathers (two above pix) and the different colored tail feathers below.

I also spotted some Waxwing's with orange/red tail feathers. From what I read on this website, the colors are influenced by the types of berries eaten by Waxwings.

The Cedar Waxwing is known for getting "drunk" from its prolific berry eating. Years ago, I recall this bird flying into my downtown Charleston office window and a colleague explaining this unsual habit.

The Eastern Bluebird was another bird spotted during walks around my folks' neighborhood.

It was a treat seeing these Bluebirds. Just don't find them around my South Carolina neighborhood as much these days.

The Bluebirds don't seem to mind the snow.

Really enjoyed seeing some Eastern Bluebirds!

Photographed this Northern Cardinal from inside my car. It really stood out from a distance. I was happy to get a Cardinal near my folks' house after they gave us really neat Cardinal salt and pepper shakers for Christmas. Thanks Mom and Dad!

A Canada Goose pair on the move.

We kept seeing this Red-shouldered Hawk on power lines along a Northern Neck highway.

If you're wondering, as I did, how birds can perch on power lines and not get fried-- well, there are conductivity issues. If you want to investigate further, see this site.
On to Richmond...

After visiting her mother at Richmond's historic Hollywood Cemetery Alesia and I walked around the vast grounds and spotted American Robins all over the place.

Between the berries in the trees and the worms in the ground, the Robins found lots to eat here.

I found the white circles around the Robins' eyes particularly interesting.

This Robin didn't care for being photographed! Giving me the "evil eye"!

Along with the family visits and bird sightings, I also enjoyed the Civil War experiences of this holiday trip. At Hollywood Cemetery, I'm next to the gravesite of legendary Confederate Gen. Jeb Stuart.

Cold Harbor was a bloody 1864 Grant-Lee battle near Richmond. There's a Harwood from New York who died from wounds suffered in this battle. He and hundreds of other Union soldiers are buried at the Cold Harbor Natioinal Cemetery.

Finally, Alesia and I visited another of the many preserved Civil War sites in the Richmond area. This one is Drewry's Bluff (called Fort Darling by the Yankees). This was a Confederate defensive position on the James River south of Richmond near Chester. In 1862 the troops and cannons here turned back a Northern naval assault on the Southern capital. You can see the strength of this postion in the shot below.

This fellow fishing on the James River had the right idea about how to spend a pleasant and peaceful New Year's Eve!

My first blog posting of the new year-- the longest to date. Much more to come in 2011.

Winter Backyard Birds

2010-12-26T13:52:00.011-05:00

Pine Warblers have been the among the winter visitors to my backyard feeders. Many thanks to Tammy Sanders of Charlotte who gently corrected my earlier misidentification of this bird as an American Goldfinch. Two Chipping Sparrows are in the background.

The Pine Warbler is a new bird to me. According to some reference material, it is in South Carolina year-round but I can't recall seeing it in my backyard until this winter.

The White-breasted Nuthatch is another new discovery this winter in my backyard. This bird really likes to go upside-down!

I hadn't seen this bird before. At first, I thought it was the Carolina Chickadee. But the Nuthatch is much larger and is striking and stylish in its black and grey coloring.

The Nuthatch just about drove me nuts trying to photograph. They are quite flitty, never staying put but for a few seconds. But I got a few decent photos.

A third newcomer to my yard also took some bird book and online investigation. Meet the Dark-eyed Junco. This snowbird, also called the Northern Junco, spends the rest of the year up North, as far away as Canada.

The Junco's white/pink beak caught my attention first, then its clearly separated dark top half of its body and its white bottom half. This bird likes to graze for food on the ground, and didn't fly up to my feeders.

Northern Mockingbirds are common in my area but not in my backyard. But recently they've been regulars at my feeders. I've never really seen this bird up close. Doing so reveals its cool eye pattern, the dark straight line through its eye reminds me of war paint. This probably works for the aggressive, fiesty Mockingbird when it attacks larger birds, as it's known to do.

At my feeders, the Mockingbird is a perfect "gentleman." It shows no aggression toward the other bird breeds. Maybe because they are usually much smaller?

Red-bellied Woodpeckers are year-round in my area. These colorful birds are not above swooping down to my feeders at least a few times a day.

The smaller Downy Woodpecker has been a mainstay this winter. I like the claw detail captured in this photo.

The cute Tufted Titmouse is one of the most common birds I see. But common doesn't mean that I take them for granted!

The Titmouse and Carolina Chickadee often hang out between feeds in holly shrubs next to my backyard patio.

The Carolina Wren is South Carolina's state bird. Back in June, I did a posting about a crowded Carolina Wren nest in a bird house hanging from my front porch: http://mybirdseyeviews.blogspot.com/2010/06/carolina-wren-nest.html

Thanks again to Tammy Sanders for identifying the above bird as a Chipping Sparrow. It's similar somewhat to the Carolina Wren but the black line through its eye is a clear distinction, among others.

The Chipping Sparrow is a winter visitor to coastal South Carolina. Its found more inland in the Southeast and Deep South.

The Carolina Chickadee is a chirpy active bird and a common site around my house.

You may be more familiar with the Black-capped Chickadee. I know I was and thought that's what I was seeing. Only later did a discover that our region has its own Carolina Chickadee.

The Black-capped version has narrow white edges on on its wing feathers that the Carolina doesn't have.

I'll be interested to see who else shows up this winter. The food and water will be out for all comers.

ADDED DECEMBER 26, 2010
A rare snow in the Charleston area this afternoon. Bird activity as busy as ever, if not more frenetic.

A Pine Warbler feeds away amid the snow flurry.

Pretty cool having some snow today. The birds seemed to like it too!

American Goldfinch

2010-12-21T09:36:00.002-05:00

What a pleasant surprise this winter to start seeing American Goldfinches frequenting my backyard feeders!

I had to do some research to correctly identify. I learned the Goldfinch is sporting its winter plumage so the bright yellow I associate with this bird isn't apparent-- however yesterday I did see a more yellow one at my feeder. I'm hoping to capture one of these on camera soon- if they come back.

I'd like to see the male in its breeding plumage which features a black circle at the top of its head. Check it out on this website: http://whatbird.wbu.com/obj/91/_/American_Goldfinch.aspx

The American Goldfinch has a striking wing pattern which really stands out when you see it from behind

The straight line created by the wing pattern is an unusual and distinctive look, don't you think? Almost like a shawl or wrap.

Hey buddy! Save some for the rest of the birds!

I hope to be adding more American Goldfinch pictures this winter. I have a thistle bag out which in other photos I've seen them using. But so far the finches in my yard prefer the regular seed feeders and suet.

Yellow-Rumped Warbler and Killdeer

2010-12-12T17:13:00.005-05:00

YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERI came across two "strangers" during my latest visit to Magnolia Cemetery. I say strangers because I hadn't seen these two species before. I took some pictures of them and later at home was thrilled to discover their identities using a couple of my bird books.

The yellow caught my eye on this small bird that was bursting from branch to branch. I had to laugh when I later discovered its unusual name: Yellow-Rumped Warbler.

I was glad to get a photo that clearly shows the yellow rump of the Yellow-Rumped Warbler!

I'll be looking for this Warbler next time I'm back at the cemetery. For more info, check out what WhatBird.com says about it at: http://identify.whatbird.com/obj/154/_/Yellow-rumped_Warbler.aspx

KILLDEER

I came across another striking but unfamiliar bird during this same outing. It looked like the type of bird that frequents our local beaches but what was it doing so far inland? This time of year (December) you expect to see some visitors due to migratation. But we've also had some very cold weather in recent weeks, so maybe some local birds are confused and not sure where they should be now.

In the Plover family, the Killdeer is recognizable for the pair of dark bands around its neck area. Its very large eyes stand out too.

The unusual name- Killdeer- comes from the bird's call that sounds like "kill- dee" or "kill-deer"- go to What Bird.com, play its call, and see if you agree! http://identify.whatbird.com/obj/101/_/Killdeer.aspx

Killdeers and Yellow-Rumped Warblers-- glad to make some new birding discoveries. More to come this winter, hopefully!

Osprey

2010-11-24T19:08:00.004-05:00

I had an incredible encounter with an Osprey recently!

I've photographed Osprey before but never from this close. The large fish it is clutching in its right claw seemed to make it less willing to fly off as Osprey usually do when they catch site of humans from much greater distances.

Going eye-to-eye with the regal Osprey like this is a nature/bird photography highlight for me.

Osprey are also known as Fish Hawks. Another reason this one stayed put with me staring straight up at it from the ground below, I think, is because it was calling out to is partner to come share in the fish feast.

With big, brilliant and bright eyes and a sharp, can opener of a beak the Osprey is well-equipped for successful fishing.

I was glad to get a shot like this that showed the wings in full extension- six feet plus-- as tall as I am!

This chance encounter was the chance of a lifetime- one I may never get again, so I'm happy to get the images I did. Live long and prosper Osprey!

Hooded Mergansers

2010-11-13T21:12:00.004-05:00

December 10, 2010: Posted the above new photo taken today. There are now a couple dozen Hooded Mergansers at Charleston's Magnolia Cemetery.

This small duck has such a striking look.

The Hooded Merganser has returned to the Magnolia Cemetery ponds for the fall and winter. The male sports distinctive white patches bordered by black on his paper-thin head. The female doesn't have the patch but instead more an orange tinge to her head.

Affectionately called "Hoodies," these ducklike birds spend most of the year north in Canada, Alaska and the Great Lakes region. In November the past two years I've noticed them locally at Charleston's Magnolia Cemetery.

They are the cutest little things don't you agree? Cute yes, but not so little. They are 16-19 inches long so a bit big for your bathtub! A smaller Hoodie rubber ducky would work though.

They're called "Hooded" Mergansers because they have a crest at the back of their heads that can be expanded or contracted. The female (above left) is in hooded mode.

View from behind a Hoodie. The white on the wings nicely complements the other white markings giving the bird an artsy, almost toylike look.

Hoodies are quite active and social. The males' mating and masculine antics can be very animated. According to Reader's Digest's "Book of North American Birds": They swim circles around females and if ignored too much will leap vertically from the water and execute a perfect somersault. She's got to at least give him style points for effort." I've yet to personally see such a leap but hope I will sometime!

The Hoodies' eyes seem too tiny for their big heads. But observant and quick they are. They notice even my stealthiest efforts to get closer and quickly change directions...away from me.

The Meganser's will likely stay here in the South until March or so before flying back to their Northern ranges.

So we'll enjoy them while they are in our area!

As it gets cooler here, just where your hoodie and go see these Hoodies.

For more on this unique and sport bird, go to this site or this one: http://identify.whatbird.com/obj/390/_/Hooded_Merganser.aspx

Double-Crested Cormorants

2010-10-31T18:35:00.005-04:00

This unsual looking bird is called a Double-crested Cormorant. I'm surprised to learn there are some 40 species of Cormorants in the world. The Double-crested in the most common type in the U.S.

There are many things distinctive about the Cormorant. Its bill, blunted or hooked at the tip, helps separate it from the somewhat similar Anhinga. This Cormorant is called Double-crested for the feathered tufts on its head, which are not easy to spot.

The Cormorant has webbed feet and is quite a swimmer. It can stay underwater and catch fish and other marine critters.

The name ‘Cormorant’ has been derived from the Latin words ‘Corvus Marinus’, which means ‘marine crow’ or ‘sea raven’. Cormorants are also known as shags in some parts of the world.

Cormorants are fun to watch especially when drying themselves after a swim. And they don't seem as skiddish toward humans as other big birds I've encountered.

Awkwardly regal-- that's the Double-crested Cormorant. Armed with its own can opener beak to crack crustaceans and mollusks.

Unusual eyes too on the Cormorants! Took these photos at Charleston's Magnolia Cemetery in October 2010. By the way, a flock of Cormorants is called a "gulp." Another odd fact about this odd bird.

Added these next two shots in November 2010

Green Herons

2010-10-17T19:57:00.005-04:00

What a delight to discover this small bird at Magnolia Cemetery recently. The Green Heron, also called the Green-Backed Heron, is the smallest of the Heron family measuring just 18-22 inches. Compare that size to the Great Blue Heron which stands 50-54 inches tall. The Greenie is the runt of the Heron family!

I guess the more you take pictures, you'll get a nice surprise now and then. I didn't see the Dragonfly when I took this shot. What a thrill when I got home, viewed my photos and, wow, found this shot! I liked this image so much I had a mid-size canvas reproduction made at Imaging Arts Gallery and Fine Art Printing on King Street in Charleston.

Love trying to get- and getting- good reflection shots like this.

The Green Heron has a minnow in its mouth. Note its large feet.

It was such a thrill to meet this new bird (for me) and be able to photograph it for several minutes like this from fairly close range. Thanks to my birding friends Sal and Suzanne for their help in identifying the Green Heron for me.

I ran into another Green Heron just last week. My bird book says when alarmed the bird will raise the spiky black feathers on its crown.

This is the same bird, just moments before. Didn't mean to alarm you my little friend. You can ask that other Green Heron I photographed previously-- I'm harmless!

Wood Storks

2010-10-11T16:43:00.002-04:00

Normally when I see Wood Storks they are up in trees or flying so this was a thrill to see several together in a pond at Magnolia Cemetery this summer.

This Wood Stork is a strangely beautiful bird, don't you think?

The Wood Storks are quite magnificant in flight, with full wing extension

Treetop chillin'!

Wood Storks- it was these magnificant creatures that got me into birding!

Snowy Egrets

2010-10-03T19:54:00.003-04:00

Elegant and petite, Snowy Egrets are always fun to see. Their yellow "slippers" make them easy to recognize. Plus they are much smaller (but just as great!) as the Great Egret.

It's often possible to get pretty close to this bird. It's very intense when hunting/fishing and doesn't seem to notice or mind a human slowly getting closer.

The Snowy Egret's dark bill is also distinctive from the Great and Cattle Egrets which have yellow bills.

A pond at Magnolia Cemetery in Charleston offers the fish and frogs the Snowy craves. Snowy's will eat snakes too. I don't see snakes at the cemetery-- at least on land.

Below are a couple of my favorite Snowy Egret photos, taken at Magnolia Cemetery in July 2010.

They are just so photogenic! It's as if they are posing for the camera, holding nice and still with excellent posture too!

Snowy Egrets- just a lovely coastal bird that I feel fortunate to be able to frequently see around the South Carolina Lowcountry.

Vultures!

2010-09-26T09:43:00.003-04:00

A summer fish kill at Charleston's Magnolia Cemetery attracted...what else? Vultures!

The two types of Vultures-- Turkey (above) and Black (below) were present and accounted for. The Black Vulture shares a branch with some Wood Storks.

There's no mistaking the differences between the two types of Vultures. The Turkey one has the red head. This one has some weird stuff going on around its eyes.

The Wood Storks didn't mind the Vultures being around. The Black Vulture's wingspan is around five feet. The Wood Stork's is a bit larger at five and a half feet.

I read this about Vultures: "Decay is their ally, softening the bodies of large animals so that they can be picked clean." I'm not touching the cemetery anologies!

"But an old carcass can be a messy meal, and so it is that the vulture's head is naked, unfeathered-- not pretty perhaps, but beautifully suited to the way this hardworking bird makes its living." (Quotes are from the Reader's Digest "Book of North American Birds")

Vultures-- nature's clean up crew.

Downy Woodpeckers

2010-09-19T19:19:00.011-04:00

December 2010- I added these two photos of a male Downy Woodpecker taken recently in my backyard. The Downy is one of my favorite backyard birds. I've put out extra suet and this large food block, which they really take to.

Thus is the best closeup shot I've taken to date capturing the male's distinctive red spot. What I like about the Downy too is they're not as skiddish as many other birds. I was maybe eight feet away when I took these, standing out in the open. It knew I was there and didn't fly away. Gotta like that!

Previous Posting:

For weeks now I've been trying hard to get down with the Downy Woodpeckers that visit my backyard for the suet I keep out there.

They find the suet quite tasty and are back and forth on my three set ups numerous times daily.

I must admit I sought help from birding friends in identifying this small salt and pepper bird. I had never heard of the Downy Woodpecker species, thinking this couldn't be a 'pecker because it is so small.

I became especially intrigued by the Downy when I began noticing the red spot on the male's head.

I like the "W" on the back of this guy's head-- "W" as in Woodpecker I guess!

I've been setting a chair behind an azalea shrub to try to stay hidden but there have been occasions when I've been even closer and more open and the Downy still comes down for a treat

It has just a little, bitty mouth!

The Downy Woodpecker has been a very challenging litte bird to photograph. I've deleted many, many out-of-focus, poorly lighted pix. Patience and persistience have been needed to get down with the Downy!

Unique bird this Downy Woodpecker. Keep coming around my yard. I'll make sure there's always suet for you! October 2010- Just added the photo below. A Downy Woodpecker in my backyard and a golfer in the background.

For more on Downy Woodpeckers check this cool site: http://identify.whatbird.com/obj/177/_/Downy_Woodpecker.aspx

Dragon Flies- Creepy Beauties

2010-09-09T20:25:00.003-04:00

What a treat it was when this Dragonfly patiently posed for pictures in my backyard.

I had never really examined one of these insects up close like this. But how intricate and beautiful they are. I tried to identify this type of Dragonfly but didn't have any success-- not suspecting at all that there are dozens of types.

The wings with their black tips are a really cool feature. Its coloring is an attractive mix of black, yellow and white. The eyes behind the "goggles" don't miss a thing.

I think this one knows it's hot and doesn't mind being photographed and admired.

The Dragonfly-- fierce name, fierce look. Kind of friendly too.

Cardinals- Red Glory!

2010-08-29T11:49:00.008-04:00

The Northern Cardinal, along with the Carolina Chickadee and Tufted Titmouse, are my backyard's most frequent bird visitors. The cardinals, though, are more wary of humans than the other two and are a more challenging photography subject.

The cardinals are elusive to my lens and the shots I do get are usually more at a distance. Plus there's the desire to capture their image in direct sunlight, not shade, to show their brilliant red glory (for the males anyway).

These birdbath shots were taken from inside my house.

I love the cardinals' black mask and fierce eyes. They look intense and mean even.

I like how when they come into my yard the cardinals come in groups of three to five or more. They seem to have "family values" and stick together which is cool.

Munching on a sunflower seed. Yum!

A female cardinal (above). This bird is one of the easier ones to tell the difference between males and females.

Fierce and fun. Love the Cardinals (but in baseball it's the Dodgers baby!)

Northern California Birds

2010-08-21T08:51:00.004-04:00

I kept an eye out and my camera ready for birds during my family's August visit to San Francisco and Northern California. At the famous Golden Gate Bridge, a California Gull admired the iconic structure along with me.

These gulls are quite abundant. My family and I spotted some down the coast at the Pigeon Point Lighthouse.

This is another gull we spotted along the coast. Not sure the exact kind, unable to match using Google images and other sources despite the bird's distinctive black tipped beak.

Black Oystercatchers like rocky coastlines and that's where this one was spotted along the rugged Pacific Ocean coast.

I was excited to see this Red-Tailed Hawk at the Point Reyes National Seashore north of San Francisco. I photographed it from a pretty great distance.

I saw this next bird in different places along the Northern California coast, a little bit inland. Looked like a Blue Jay but upon further research I discovered it to be a Western Scrub Jay. It does have a scruffy, scrubbed sort of look. The first time I saw one, I couldn't get a photo of it, but then I would see them a few more times in different settings and had more success. The one below I found on a fence near the Point Reyes National Seashore visitors center.

This Scrub Jay in a tree is pictured at the Ano Nuevo State Reserve.

Another new bird for me is the White-Crowned Sparrow. Spotted some along a path at the Ano Nuevo State Reserve along the coast south of San Francisco.

San Francisco Trip

2010-08-15T11:06:00.007-04:00

We just had an amazing week in the San Francisco area. What a beautiful area and a nice reprieve from the hot and humid South. What's not to love about Northern California? You've got San Francisco (and Oakland), the rugged Pacific coast, the low, brown mountains, and Silicon Valley, the home to Apple, Google, Yahoo, McAvee, Intel and countless other cutting-edge technology companies. Of course I took a lot of pictures, about 600 to be (somewhat) exact. Here are some of my favorites!

Here are my obligatory Golden Gate Bridge shots. Really liked the Presidio too, the old army fort that we accessed to get to the bridge. I was also very impressed with the Bay Bridge connecting S.F. to Oakland. This photo was taken from AT&T Park, home to the baseball Giants. We caught a day game between the Giants and Cubs.

AT&T Park is a beautiful stadium with a neat location on the bay downtown. Statues of Giants legends Willie Mays (pictured), Juan Marichal, and Willie McCovey surround the park. I wonder if Barry Bonds will ever be memorialized this way by the Giants.

We spent enjoyable time touring the Northern California coast north and south of San Francisco. The water was a little too cold for swimming for those of us used to the Charleston area warm summer waters. The boys and I had fun rappelling down one bluff south of Half Moon Bay. A rope was tied to the top to help people descend and return to the top.

We visited two lighthouses in the area at Pigeon Point and Point Reyes. Point Reyes (first below) took a lot of driving then walking to reach, including more than 300 steps to descend and (ugh) to walk back up. But well worth it for the views and adventure!

At Pigeon Point a worker told us, upon hearing that we are from Charleston, that this Lighthouse, built in 1871, is the same design as our Morris Island light.

Back to San Francisco for these last shots. Coit Tower on Telegraph Hill was cool to see on our last night. It was too dark to read the statue's inscription. Only later via the Internet did I learn that it's of Christopher Columbus.

I was struck by the residential housing in the city, its stacked, steeped and layered look. My older brother Matt is an artist in Alexandria, Va. This photo reminds me of one of his paintings. Hope you like this Shout Out brother!

Finally, a parting view from Treasure Island of San Francisco from across the bay.

Hope this isn't my last visit to this wonderful and interesting part of America!

Birding Hot Day Hot Spot (Part 2)

2010-08-05T11:24:00.002-04:00

Charleston's historic Magnolia Cemetery is the final resting place for many prominent people throughout the Holy City's history. Hundreds of Civil War Confederates are also buried there, including a few hundred South Carolinians killed at Gettysburg. The cemetery's ponds, Cooper River proximity and marshes make it a popular bird habitat.

This posting is the second part featuring photos I took at Magnolia Cemetery in late July on a blistering hot and humid day. This is probably my favorite photo from that outing- a Snowy Egret at a pond next to the remains of an old tree.

A pair of White Ibis standing by at Magnolia Cemetery

The distinctive American Anhinga at the top of this tree (note its webbed feet) and just below is an American Bittern.

This Wood Stork's open beak indicates just how hot a day it was. My car gauge indicated 99 degrees outside while there then climbed to 102 during the drive home.

Birding Hot Day Hotspot

2010-07-30T13:28:00.003-04:00

My favorite local birding spot continues to be at, of all places, a cemetery. I stopped by Charleston's Magnolia Cemetery one steamy afternoon this week thinking birdwise it would be dead (ugh). But it turned out to be one of my best birding photography adventures ever!

A couple sweaty hours later I had photographed no less than eight species and I saw a couple more. The star to me was the Wood Stork, my favorite bird because of its size, prehistoric looks, cool black bordered wings and rarity. You just don't see these big birds as often as many of the other coastal species.

Seeing a Green Heron was also a treat. I had never seen this small bird before and needed some help to accurately ID it. It may have been the intense heat making the birds not want to fly away so quickly but I was able to get fairly close to many perched birds. They knew I was there but didn't fly away, allowing me to get all the photos I wanted.

Like Wood Storks, American Anhingas are big and awkward. And also like the Wood Stork seeing an Anhinga with its wings extended is an impressive site.

Iguanas

2010-07-25T17:45:00.004-04:00

St. John's many iguanas were a neat surprise. They were everywhere around the resort where we stayed this summer. They don't bother people and they are really interesting to observe. So rugged looking and they come in many sizes and coloring. And their tales are just magnificent! The hotel grounds people say the iguanas are no trouble. I was told they eat some of the pretty flowers on the grounds but on this tropical island the flowers bloom year-round so no worries.

Virgin Islands Birds

2010-07-20T09:26:00.001-04:00

I came across some interesting birds during our St. John vacation this summer. My favorite photo is of a Yellow Warbler my family and I saw while hiking to Leinster Bay, one of St. John's many beautiful beaches. The pretty little bird kept flying around this vehicle parked in the woods. It seemed to be fascinated by its reflection, perhaps thinking it was another Yellow Warbler! It didn't stay in one spot but for a few seconds so getting good pictures of it was a challenge.

Black-headed Gulls were bountiful on the shores of this Caribbean island. Using some treats, I attracted some to my hotel room terrace and soon one gull turned into several. They raised quite a ruckus with their shrills and shreiks. I have a video clip of the ruckus on a YouTube video I just produced about our trip (it's at the very end).

It can be viewed at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=izSlqjqifCE

Probably the island's most common bird is the Pearly-eyed Thrasher. They have a vibrant and endearing song and always seemed busy, busy. We'd see them around the resort and everywhere else on the island.

I see lots of herons back home but not with the coloring of the one spotted a few times in a marsh at the Westin resort where we stayed. My friend Suzanne helped confirm that this is a Little Blue Heron in the process of changing from white to blue.

My featured last bird I spotted while snorkeling in Leinster Bay. It was cruising the waters below for fish reminding me of the Brown Pelicans seen back home. But I quickly noticed the different profile and thought it may be a Frigatebird. I had seen some of these large birds over the waters of Puerto Rico during our previous Caribbean excursion. I took this photo with my snorkel camera. I was hoping it would fly lower over me but it never did so this was the best I got. I cropped the original to give a better look at it. Later at the hotel I got on the internet and confirmed it to be the mighty Magnificent Frigatebird.

Favorite Five: St. John Vacation

2010-07-11T09:53:00.006-04:00

New note: Check out my St. John YouTube video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=izSlqjqifCE

This is no easy task: selecting my five favorite photos from my family's St. John (U.S. Virgin Islands) vacation this summer. My first pick is a gorgeous sunset we enjoyed our first night on the island. We were dining at the Westin Resort where we stayed. We were at one of the outdoor restaurants as the sun began to set. The beautiful sunset would set the tone for a wonderful week of ideal weather and fun in the sun and water.

St. John's reputation for excellent snorkeling did not disappoint. There are numerous places to snorkel and we visited several during our stay. We saw squid, turtles and many colorful fish big and small. The water was clear and the beaches and surrounding rugged lands were beautiful. Here we set out at remote Leinster Bay which takes some effort to reach because once you park you must hike for about 30 minutes to get there.

I enjoyed learning about St. John's history, how Denmark long owned the island until selling it to the U.S. in 1917. American Laurance Rockefeller, in the 1950s, bought much of the island with the intention to protect it from development. He would turn some 50,000 acres over to the U.S. National Park Service. What a joy to today travel through the Virgin Islands National Park and take in all of its natural beauty and reminders of its sugar cane history. There are historic sites and ruins throughout the park including the Annaberg Sugar Mill Ruins. I've been a big fan of sugar mill ruins since seeing so many on Barbados several years ago.

Curvy mountainous roads and left-side driving are part of the St. John adventure. But you are rewarded by many spectacular vistas and views. Photo opportunities abound. I really like the grayness of this sailboat setting and the little touch of blue on the boat. This was taken at very eastern point of St. John at Coral Bay.

Iguanas, many huge, are common sites on St. John. They were everywhere at the Westin Resort, as accepted as the human guests. They are no threat and make for an unusual part of the exotic island landscape. I was excited to find one in a natural setting on some rocks near the Westin beach. I like this photo because it really shows the iguana's claws and face, at the expense of not seeing its really long tail-- so I've included a sixth shot as part of my Favorite Five. It's my blog-- so I guess that's OK to do!

Great times on the Virgin Islands! I definitely give St. John and the Westin Resort five stars. Hope to get back there again. Still many things we weren't able to squeeze in during our week. Cheers!

Bull Island Pelicans

2010-07-07T08:38:00.005-04:00

Brown pelicans were abundant on the Bull Island beach during my recent visit. It was fun to walk up and try to capture them close-up with my camera. A couple types of terns also turned out for the beach party.

Bull Island Clouds

2010-06-25T09:06:00.001-04:00

Visited Bull Island this week, one of my favorite Lowcountry places. This remote barrier island, north of Charleston, is only reached by ferry or private boat. Temps were in the 90s, humidity was high and the bugs were plentiful along the trails, but I still had a blast. Swimming in the ocean there felt great and there were lots of shells to collect, including sand dollars and whelks.

Interesting cloud formations on this day made for even better photo opportunities. I definitely recommend an excursion to Bull Island. Here's a link with all the information about where it is, how to get there and costs: http://www.coastalexpeditions.com/index.php?page=bull-island-ferry

Weird Water Creature!

2010-06-20T10:14:00.001-04:00

A few months ago Alesia and I came across this unusual sight near Charleston's Waterfront Park. It seemed to be emerging from the harbor. From a different angle the "monster" appeared headless!

There was just something in the air that day and night that was making the natural word very unnatural!

Butterflies

2010-06-17T09:55:00.005-04:00

I'll photograph butterflies when I have the chance. Here are two I spotted recenlty, the first in my backyard and the other on the campus of Northwestern University. Thanks for my birding (and butterflying) friends Suzanne and Sal for the help identifying this first one as a Palamedes Swallowtail and the second as a Mourning Cloak.

Northwestern University Birds

2010-06-15T10:23:00.001-04:00

During a very pleasant walk around my grad schoool alma mater Northwestern University I encountered a delightful variety of birds. The flashy yellow one caught my eye and I did my best to capture its image from a pretty good distance. Peterson Field Guide and Google images helped me identify this beauty as an American Goldfinch.

It was a nice surprise to see several Red-Winged Blackbirds in a couple places around campus. Used to see these all the time at the old Kings Grant golf course here in Summerville, S.C. The males are distinctive by their red and yellow epaulets. The other bird pictured on the fence I believe to be a female Red-Winged Blackbird. The females don't have the flashy markings of the male.

I also enjoyed seeing a number of American Robins. They are quite busy birds and are approachable, allowing me to get fairly close for my photos.

Purple Martin Houses

2010-06-13T09:30:00.002-04:00

Came across these purple martin houses at Chicago's Lincoln Park right on Lake Michigan. Loved the big puffy clouds and knew some good pictures could be made here! The park offers ample waterfront walking and great views of the big city. This part of Lincoln Park also has a small bird viewing area.

House Sparrow "Mud Huts"

2010-06-10T08:09:00.001-04:00

Came across an unusual nesting site this week while visiting my graduate school alma mater Northwestern University in Evanston, Il. outside Chicago. A colony of house (or English) sparrows had built mud nests on one of the school's buildings. It was quite a flurry of coming and going among the small colorful birds. Several other passersby stopped at the surprising site. The source of the nesting material seemed to be the nearby creek or reservoir embankment. House sparrows are common in downtown Charleston too. I think I impressed a few other watchers by being able to identify the resourceful urban dwellers!

Carolina Wren Nest

2010-06-06T10:16:00.001-04:00

In April Carolina wrens moved into a nest on our porch. The babies were really packed in there, four or five of them! The Carolina wren is the state bird of South Carolina.

Yellow-Crowned Night Heron

2010-06-03T08:06:00.002-04:00

Spotted a few yellow-crowned night herons yesterday at Magnolia Cemetery in Charleston. I was able to get pretty close to this beautiful bird. It flew away but only to another nearby tree where I got the neat shot of its head poking up over a branch. Love the night heron's big eyes!

Container Ships and Lighthouses

2010-06-01T11:59:00.002-04:00

To me it's always an amazing site to see the huge container ships coming in and out of Charleston Harbor.

When they enter and depart the harbor near Sullivans Island you're struck by the sheer size of the vessels. From this point on the beach you also get an upclose view of the Sullivans Island Lighthouse. Built in 1962, it was the last major lighthouse built by the U.S. government.

Alien Landing?

2010-05-30T10:22:00.000-04:00

A spaceship has landed! And it couldn't have found a better spot: by the beach on Sullivans Island, S.C.
If you're in the area, check it out near Station 28.

Backyard Chickadees

2010-05-29T07:47:00.003-04:00

Cute little chickadees frequent my backyard bird feeders. This one stopped by for a bite to eat and a drink of water. I first thought that these are black capped chickadees but then in my bird book there is identified a Carolina chickadee. The black capped ones have more of a white stripe on their wings and are a bit larger.

Birds and Pigs Oh My!

2010-05-27T15:43:00.003-04:00

The Dungannon Heritage Preserve in rural Charleston County is such a hidden treasure, especially this time of year when the woodstork rookery is really rockin'. Here are some pix from an outing this week. Surprises also included spotting some wild pigs and turkeys. In one tree an osprey nest is at the very top and below are several woodstork nests with little ones poking out (can be seen with binoculars and/or long camera lens).

Pretty Yellow Bird

2010-05-27T08:33:00.000-04:00

Spotted this colorful bird, determined later to be a prothonotary warbler, at Dungannon Heritage Preserve in rural Charleston County. Just gorgeous!

Time to Blog!

2010-05-26T08:19:00.002-04:00

I've been wanting to start my own blog for a few years now. I've finally found the time and focus to do it! I really enjoy bird, nature and travel photography so I'm excited to have this online outlet. My camera is a Canon PowerShot SX 110. I like the small size, 20x zoom and the larger-than-most viewing screen.