A Day-Long Shoot in January -- 3 Lowcountry Destinations: Charleston Harbor, Pitt Street, Beidler Forest

             Some days show the promise of such beautiful weather that you must simply live that day outdoors.  The forecast for Sunday, January 29, 2012 assured just such a day, and not having any papers to grade, I decided to indeed to spend it outdoors. 

             My first goal was to hopefully capture the sunrise at Pitt Street Bridge in Mount Pleasant.   As I crossed the James Island Connector, I quickly realized that I would arrive in Mount Pleasant too late for a decent sunrise shot.  So instead, I quickly crossed the Charleston peninsula to the waterfront on the eastern side and found a good view over the harbor towards the rising sun from the front porch of the Fleet Landing Restaurant  -- just in time!

Winter sunrise over Charleston Harbor from Fleet Landing Restaurant -- January 29, 2012

Wow!  With a sunrise like that, why do they not open for breakfast?!  I would pay good money to eat my shrimp and grits while contemplating a sunrise like that!

               I still had my Pitt Street destination in mind as I had heard that on the birding grapevine that a White-Winged Dove had been sighted near there recently.  So I continued my journey to Mount Pleasant side of the harbor and parked at Alhambra Hall.  Again, the view back towards the peninsula was superb in the cold early morning light. 

Charleston Peninsula seen from Alhambra Hall, Mount Pleasant, SC -- January 29, 2012

Charleston Peninsula seen from Alhambra Hall, Mount Pleasant, SC -- January 29, 2012

View across Mount Pleasant docks towards the Ravenel Bridge -- January 29, 2012

           As for birds, there were plenty of Brown Pelicans, Double-Crested Cormorants and some undetermined sea ducks out on the harbor and on the sandbar.  In the marsh, there was a slew of Song Sparrows.  I knew I would need to walk through the surrounding neighborhood to find the White-Winged Dove and so I spent some time doing that.  Plenty of the usual suspects were singing .... such as this delightful Carolina Wren, all puffed up against the chill

Carolina Wren -- Pitt Street Causeway, Mount Pleasant, SC -- January 29, 2012

 .....  but no White-Winged Dove.  Oh well!  

          The day was warming and the light was wonderful so I had no complaints.  I was very happy simply to be outdoors.  I continued down to the nearby Pitt Street Causeway and enjoyed watching an Osprey fish and a Bottled-nosed Dolphin also.  They fished a little too far out for good shots whereas other critters cooperated a bit more.

Snowy Egrets -- Pitt Street Causeway, Mount Pleasant, SC -- January 29, 2012

Great Blue Heron -- Pitt Street Causeway, Mount Pleasant, SC -- January 29, 2012

White Ibis and Willet -- Pitt Street Causeway, Mount Pleasant, SC -- January 29, 2012

Hooded Merganser -- Pitt Street Causeway, Mount Pleasant, SC -- January 29, 2012

Brown Pelican -- Pitt Street Causeway, Mount Pleasant, SC -- January 29, 2012

 

 

                 After enjoying all of Pitt Street's revelations that morning, I left for my third and final destination -- a favorite -- Francis Beidler Audubon Swamp.  Within a leafless forest, I hoped to easily find & photograph several species of birds.  Several Blue-Headed Vireos hunting bugs helped to fulfill my wish.

Blue-Headed Vireo -- Audubon Sanctuary at Francis Beidler Forest  -- January 29, 2012

Blue-Headed Vireo -- Audubon Sanctuary at Francis Beidler Forest  -- January 29, 2012

A pair of Pileated Woodpeckers helped a bit less.

Pileated Woodpeckers -- Audubon Sanctuary at Francis Beidler Forest  -- January 29, 2012

The Downy Woodpeckers played Hide-n-Seek ....

Downy Woodpecker -- Audubon Sanctuary at Francis Beidler Forest  -- January 29, 2012

..... while this Anole enjoyed basking in the sunlight!

Anole -- Audubon Sanctuary at Francis Beidler Forest  -- January 29, 2012

               The breeze seemed to be keeping many of the birds down, and  as the shadows began to lengthen, I realized a need to return home.  The gorgeous day had lived up to it's promise and I drove home quite relaxed, ready to begin a new work week, with the anticipation of more beautiful Lowcountry winter days outdoors to come!