This afternoon my birding pal and I went to Magnolia Plantation. I just found out I can go for free with my artist/photographer business card! We spent all but a bit of the time in the Audubon Swamp Garden, but went to the domestic animal section briefly to see Cherrie's pet rooster, Cocky-Locky, who lives there now. The first picture is of his peacock friend and the next is him--he's famous for his large wattles. The rest of the pictures are of birds in the swamp garden. The flowers are not open full yet--I'll go back for them.
The egrets that we were afraid had decided not to nest here this year are all back in their breeding finery of veils and green eyes.
Can you see the teeny baby great blue heron just in front of mama's right leg? Just a bit of fluff--not more that two days old.
Anhingas. Look at his big blue breeding eye surround in the next picture!
The great egrets were all on their flimsy nests. It was windy so it was hard to get sharp shots. I took 240 anyway......LOL.
Red-shouldered hawk that was very vocal--wonderful call !!
We also so lots of alligators and turtles and many little birds too. More tomorrow.
Another great day you had!! Those Anhingas are beautiful birds. :) I look forward to the flower ones when you take them.
ReplyDeleteJoan
Boy, nice shots, Bruce!! Remind me to get some artist/photographer cards before I go there!! The Audubon Swamp Garden is one of my favorite places.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Joan. We'll probably go next week when Cherrie has no school, but there will be too many people there too unfortunately.
ReplyDeleteLin, you will really love the new boardwalk--you remember how awful the old one was. The new one is magnificent. Makes it too easy for more people though--I say selfishly.......LOL
What a wonderful day you had! My friend at work just spent a week in Charleston and brought a brochure about Magnolia Plantation to work on Friday! Can't wait to see your return photos of all the flowers in bloom. Thanks for some sunshine on a dreary day here.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful and colorful pictures, Bruce! I would never have known that was a baby heron....that tiny little fluff bit! How neat to see a baby. We went to Magnolia Plantation when we were there but I sure didn't see all the birds that you did....alligators and flowers, mostly. I must have misidentified what I thought were anhingas, because they were not beautiful like that. Wonderful photos...makes me what to go back!
ReplyDeleteIs there any blue more beautiful than peacock blue. Nice head shot! Do you think he knows he is so fine? What a great place to photograph birds!
ReplyDeleteHi Bruce! I'm back! I'm going to try and get down your way this year, so we'll be able to go there - I'll bring my "pro-cards" with me for free admission. I was in such a rush this morning, that I didn't get a chance to really notice the details on the anhingas. Love the blue eyes. I'll have to go back and look at my Everglades anhingas to see if they have that. Definitely beautiful. It looks like the Great Egrets are showing the breeding green, too. You'll have to watch for the orange on the Snowies.
ReplyDeleteToday, driving over see to Mom, we counted 5 red tails along the road, then got to my sister's house, and four hawks - not sure, but think they were red tails - fighting in the woods. They were screaming like I've never heard before and dipping and zooming around like you wouldn't believe!! I had my camera but couldn't focus through all the branches, but what an amazing event. You would have loved it!
I'm green with envy. Ooooo, I'd love to see a two-day old heron. What a great display of birds here. Bravo! This was a treat for me.
ReplyDeleteWow--so many comments! I'm thilled. To answer some questions. Kathie, I think the peacock thinks he's even finer than we think he is. He was playing one-up-manship with an albino peacock they have there too. The black birds were anhingas with a little added breeding plumage, Rambles. Thank you Marys and Jayne for the nice words. Now I'm issuing an edict here that if any of you or your friends come to Charleston you are here by ordered to let me know so we can meet and I'll take you to some of the non-touristy places. That goes for you especially, SP. I have it in writing now that you are coming, right!!
ReplyDeleteGonna work on it, with or without Lee. All depends on Mom, but that goes without saying. I surprised you once. I'll do it again!
ReplyDeleteWOW, WOW, WOW, they are all so beautiful. That first shot of the peacock, looks like my turkey on blue!! Such incredible color. Glad you got a close-up of the hawk, nice to see what they look like!
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