Red-Breasted Nuthatch (female) at Parc Perlière -- October 30, 2012
Last Friday, at dawn, I walked out onto the back deck to water the plants before going to work. Suddenly, a little bird flew over my head and landed in the Live Oak at the corner of the house. Initially, I thought it was just a Carolina Chickadee. But it was not moving about the branches like a Carolina Chickadee. Then I saw the length of the bill and the bold face pattern -- a thick black eyeline with the broad white stripes above and below and dark cap. Could this be a Red-Breasted Nuthatch? I phished to see if I could draw it out of the oak and it flew right towards me and then did a U-turn. I think its visual acuity was hindered by the darkness like mine. He went back to the oak. I called Carl who was also able to find the little bird climbing about the branches in nuthatch style. Then, to confirm his ID, the bird gave a soft "yank-yank!" We were thrilled to tally a new bird -- number 106 -- to our yard list!
Of all the nuthatches that we can see in South Carolina, the Red-Breasted seemed to be the least likely candidate to become a new yard bird. After all, we have Brown-Headed and White-Breasted Nuthatches in our wooded areas year round whereas the Red-Breasted Nuthatch comes here only to spend the winter. Yet, neither of our resident nuthatches has chosen to venture into our yard. Before Friday, I had seen a Red-Breasted Nuthatch east of Santee National Wildlife Refuge just once. That was on Dewees Island for a Christmas Bird Count. This is not a bird that is commonly seen in the coastal areas of our state -- until this year perhaps. We had read Ron Pittaway's "finch forecast" on eBird about the cone crop failure in Ontario. They predicted that this would lead to an influx of more unusual species further south, including the dispersal of some other passerines such the Red-Breasted Nuthatch. From reports up and down the East Coast this fall, it does indeed appear that we are in an irruption year for the Red-Breasted Nuthatch. For more details, check out this 10,000 birds blog post! I wonder though what might come next due to this cone crop failure in the Northeast! Will the Great Pumpkin, or Santa even, bring to us a Pine Siskin?, a Purple Finch? a Red Crossbill?! Now, I am dreaming! Sigh!
Red-Breasted Nuthatch (male) at Parc Perlière -- October 30, 2012
Red-Breasted Nuthatch (female) at Parc Perlière -- October 30, 2012
Since Friday morning, I have not had much of an opportunity to do anything more than verify that we still had a Red-Breasted Nuthatch in the yard. We are delighted that this nuthatch has hung around this long. Our last 2 yard birds were one-moment wonders that we managed to see as they were migrating over -- the Northern Harrier (no. 104) last Spring and the Common Nighthawks early this Fall (no. 105 -- see this post). Yesterday, I was able to return home before dark and noted that the nuthatch had begun to come to our nut feeder! So I watched with camera in hand and, finally, was able to capture some images of not one, but two, different birds -- a male and a female! You will note the gray cap on the female! She was quite the well-groomed beauty! She was also bolder in behavior than the more skittish and scruffy male -- the bird with the black cap. We wonder how long we will have these 2 charmers. We have plenty of nuts for the feeder so let's hope they stick it out here for awhile! I would love to think they might stay through the season!
Vista with White-Tailed Deer and White Ibis at Pinckney Island NWR -- Hilton Head, SC -- Jun2 8, 2012
This post represents Part 2 of a series on two wading bird rookeries "down south" (ie in the Hilton Head area) that Carl and I visited one June day. Part One covered our morning visit to the fabulous, Spring Island, a private residential community located on a marsh island close to Hilton Head and Parris Island Marine Corps Air Station. That afternoon, we visited the rookery at Pinckney Island National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) and thus, this post, Part 2, will show you what we saw there.
Pinckney Island NWR is one of seven refuges in the Savannah Coastal Refuges Complex which includes Savannah NWR, Pinckney Island NWR, Tybee NWR, Wassaw NWR, Harris Neck NWR, Blackbeard Island NWR and Wolf Island NWR. All of Tybee, most of Wolf Island and parts of Wassaw are true refuges in that they are always closed to the public for the protection of the wildlife that reside there.
Map of Savannah Coastal Refuges Complex -- Credit: US Fish and Wildlife Service
The day had warmed up considerably. It was June after all! Following our morning at Spring Island, I could have called it a day and would have been so very happy with what I had seen and shot. But Carl, who does not seem to feel the heat like I do, was very ready to continue our planned venture to Pinckney Island after lunch. He had already visited this site and was completely enthralled and eager to show it to me. Additionally, it is a long drive down south and it made sense to see it now as we had the time and we were practically there. So, I agreed, ate a cookie (it always helps), and off we went. I did not regret it!
Trail Map of the Pinckney Island NWR -- Credit: US Fish and Wildlife Service
An ocean breeze blew across the marsh and as long as we were in the shade, we were cool enough. And of course, the beautiful vistas and the rather active wildlife (even in the middle of the day! -- see the deer in the photo above!) helped me to forget the heat as we walked through the sunnier areas. You cannot drive past the Visitor Parking but the refuge is open to both foot and bicycle traffic. Carl and I walked up to the Ibis Pond which is where the large rookery is! Carl had said that it seemed as though the birds nested practically one on top of another. You had the impression of looking at a rather busy, noisy tenement! With the midday sun high in the sky, the conditions were not right for capturing a multiple nest sites. But the photographic opportunities for individual bird portraits, particularly of White Ibis, were not lacking at all!
White Ibis -- Pinckney Island NWR, neat Hilton Head, SC -- June 8, 2012
White Ibis -- Pinckney Island NWR near Hilton Head, SC -- June 8, 2012
In this rookery, we also saw several Tri-colored Heron nestlings, fledglings and a few parents such as the ones below.
Adult Tri-Colored Heron -- Pinckney Island NWR -- June 8, 2012
Juvenile Tri-Colored Heron -- Pïnckney Island NWR -- June 8, 2012
I did not see many Snowy Egrets on nests but I did see these guys.
Snowy Egrets at nest -- Pinckney Island NWR -- June 8, 2012
Several Little Blue Heron families with recently fledged chicks were also present. I loved this next series of shots showing the interaction between a chick and its parent.
Little Blue Heron chick and parent -- Pinckney Island NWR -- June 8, 2012
Little Blue Heron chick and parent -- Pinckney Island NWR -- June 8, 2012
Little Blue Heron chick and parent -- Pinckney Island NWR -- June 8, 2012
When I study the 2nd photo in this series, I confess to being a bit curious about the nip on the neck. Is this a parent of a different chick chasing off a youngster who is too close to his own chicks? Hmmm.
A few families of very shy wood ducks milled about in the marshes of the pond. I was lucky to be able to photograph this one as they disappeared rather quickly into the reeds.
Wood Duck -- Pinckney Island NWR -- June 8, 2012
As always, I enjoyed watching the birds' behaviors, such as these adult Ibis grooming themselves....
White Ibis grooming -- Pinckney Island NWR -- June 8, 2012
White Ibis grooming -- Pinckney Island NWR -- June 8, 2012
..... and this young Little Blue Heron flexing his wings and exercising.
Little Blue Heron fledgling -- Pinckney Island NWR -- June 8, 2012
After circling Ibis Pond, I decided to continue up towards the next wetland, Starr Pond and Osprey Pond, since some other visitors had noted seeing a Roseate Spoonbill there earlier in the day. True, we had seen a Roseate Spoonbill at Spring Island earlier that morning. But why settle for a one-Spoonbill day when you can potentially have a two-Spoonbill day? Well, apparently the reported Spoonbill had long departed. But this area had its own treasures to be discovered, such as this large group of White Ibis bathing and grooming.
White Ibis bathing -- Pinckney Island NWR -- June 8, 2012
White Ibis -- Pinckney Island NWR -- June 8, 2012
As I took the path around Starr Pond and Osprey Pond, I found this young Little Blue Heron molting into his adult plumage. I always find them to be so amusing -- like awkward teenagers growing into adulthood.
Little Blue Heron -- molting into adult plumage -- Pinckney Island NWR -- June 8, 2012
Finishing that loop, I spotted a female Eastern Bluebird on top of her nestbox with this big juicy cricket. Her mate soon joined her on top of the box with his own juicy cricket. After watching me, he determined that I was not a threat and he had a job to do, feed his chicks! So he dropped to the opening, did just that, and flew away. He then returned nearly immediately with another bug. Mom, however, simply was not going to follow her mate’s lead. She was not convinced that I did not merit continuous watching. So after quickly capturing a few shots, I backed away to give her some space to be a good Mom.
Eastern Bluebird parents bringing dinner to the nestbox -- Pinckney Island NWR -- June 8, 2012
Carl had stayed behind at Ibis Pond as he seemed to have found his own little sweet spot for photography. It was time for me to head back to him. Since the afternoon sun had dropped a bit and a breeze had picked up, I was no longer melting in midday heat as I made my way back to Ibis Pond. So I took time to pause at the corner of Ibis Pond where a significant butterfly garden was planted. Among the many plants, was one of my favorites -- the passionflower vine! Carl and I once planted one of these and marveled at how quickly the Gulf Fritillary caterpillars devoured every leaf!
Passionflower -- Pinckney Island NWR -- June 8, 2012
What truly caught my eye here though was this recently fledged Little Blue Heron exploring the top of the vine canopy. I think perhaps he was looking for bugs to eat. How intriguing to see this youngster exploring and to capture him in white plumage next to the color that he would soon enough attain as an adult.
Little Blue Heron fledgling next to passionflower -- Pinckney Island NWR -- June 8, 2012
Thankfully, his encounter with the bumblebee had no disastrous outcomes!
Little Blue Heron considering a bumblebee snack -- Pinckney Island NWR -- June 8, 2012
Carl and I have barely scratched the surface when it comes to exploring Pinckney Island NWR. Now we are trying to figure out how we might return on
mountain bikes to explore it further and still be able to carry our
camera gear! We are considering purchasing a tow-behind buggy for our bikes for
carrying our gear. This is certainly a place to visit and savor. I highly recommend it to all nature lovers! You may want to
consider more than just a half day visit though!
Thus concluded our day trip to Spring Island (see the previous post -- Part One in this 2-post series) and to Pinckney Island NWR. We have come to realize that this southern-most stretch of the South Carolina Lowcountry is bird rich indeed! It is no wonder that the Carolina Bird Club tallied 203 species at the Beaufort, SC 2011 Fall meeting! I continue to hear about wonderful birding sites in this region that merit a visit. Carl and I have not been to Hunting Island State Park since before we were birders so it must be time for us to return! Also, SC Wildlife magazine just published this month an article on Daufuskie Island as a great winter birding site. The town of Port Royal, billing itself as a bird lover's paradise, offers 3 different habitat types for birdlife including the newly completed Cypress Wetlands Nature Trail with its heron rookery (video). Of course, if you are a regular reader you have already seen the two Pluff Mud Perspective posts, one in 2011 and one this year, that I have written on the Savannah NWR. Hmmm .... so many great choices! Where should we go next?
Alley of Oaks leading up to the ruins of the Edwards House built of tabby shell -- Spring Island, SC -- June 2012
Carl and I always are interested in venturing out to explore new territories. So when we were invited to go to the southern reaches of the SC Lowcountry to do some photography on Spring Island, a private residential community close to Hilton Head and the Parris Island Marine Corps Air Station, we eagerly accepted. We decided to include a visit to Pinckney Island National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) for the afternoon portion of our trip down south. Part One of this 2-part post series will show our best photographic efforts on Spring Island on the morning of June 8, 2012. And Part Two will portray what we photographed at Pinckney Island that same afternoon.
I was already familiar with the Spring Island community due to the 2-part series by Patrick McMillan on Expeditions from the 2008 programming. Patrick McMillan highlighted the careful development of this community whose goal is to preserve the natural surroundings. Due to a low density plan of just 410 homesites on this 3000 acre island, the residents of Spring Island live for all purposes on a nature preserve. One thousand acres of the island have actually been set aside into perpetuity as a nature preserve managed by the Spring Island Trust, a non-profit organization that works to preserve the island's cultural and natural environment. The other 2000 acres are managed in such a way that most homes, built behind dense natural buffers, blend seamlessly into the natural landscape. To learn more about what this community does to preserve its wildlife habitats and natural resources, you will want to explore the many links on Environmental Protection to the Spring Island Trust page. I was delighted to be afforded the opportunity to visit and photograph this private enclave to see firsthand how the developers worked to build this community of homes without destroying the natural context of a Lowcountry marsh island.
Baby American Alligator -- Spring Island, SC -- June 2012
Our photographic goal for the morning was to capture images of the wildlife, primarily the nesting wading birds in the rookery, as well as the general scenery of the island. We avoided photographing homes and homesites. Indeed, the rookery was our first destination, after meeting with our host, Chris Marsh, the Executive Director of the Spring Island Trust as well as the Executive Director of the Lowcountry Institute, a non-profit organization whose goal is to provide responsible leadership and education regarding the conservation and use of our natural resources, working primarly in the Port Royal and Beaufort areas of the Lowcountry. After meeting Chris at the island's Nature Center, we set off for the rookery with map and directions in hand.
Wading bird rookery -- Spring Island, SC -- June 2012
This rookery provided refuge to nesting Great Egrets, Snowy Egrets, Anhingas, Tri-colored Herons, Black-Crowned Night Herons, Cattle Egrets, Little Blue Herons and Wood Storks! Since the closure of the Dungannon Heritage Preserve Wood Stork nesting site to the public a couple of years ago, we have missed seeing these funny, delightful chicks on the nest. So we were thrilled to be able to observe them again!
Myself shooting across the lagoon towards the rookery -- Spring Island, SC -- June 2012 -- Photo by Carl Miller
So many densely clustered, active nests with chicks and with parents coming and going! -- It was hard to figure out where to aim and focus!
Great Egret arriving -- Spring Island, SC -- June 8, 2012
Cattle Egret in breeding plumage newly arrived in rookery -- Spring Island, SC -- June 8, 2012
I could not obtain an unobstructed view of the above Cattle Egret's nest as I watched it disappear into the foliage in the center of this islet.
Great Egret arriving -- Spring Island, SC -- June 8, 2012
Young Wood Stork nestlings -- Spring Island, SC -- June 2012
Wood Stork parent arriving -- Spring Island, SC -- June 2012
Wood Stork parent landing -- Spring Island, SC -- June 2012
Wood Stork chicks excited about a parent's arrival -- Spring Island, SC -- June 2012
I was witness to and able to record the "changing of the guard" of a pair of Wood Stork parents at the nest. The series follows:
One parent arrives at nest, wet from foraging for food -- Spring Island, SC -- June 2012
Arriving bird is warmly greeted by awaiting mate -- Spring Island, SC -- June 2012
More greetings from chick and mate -- Spring Island, SC -- June 2012
An affectionate nudge to the mate -- Spring Island, SC -- June 2012
The dry mate has turned to leave ... Spring Island, SC -- June 2012
A little wing stretch while the newly arrived mate tends to the chick -- Spring Island, SC -- June 2012
On your mark, set, .... Spring Island, SC -- June 2012
Go! -- Spring Island, SC -- June 2012
Wood Stork leaving nest to forage for family -- Spring Island, SC
Of all the species of waders, I find Wood Storks to hold my interest the most in terms of their personalities. After all, who is not going to like a goofy, happy-looking, big bird? -- Besides Mitt Romney? I cannot resist sharing with you a few more family portraits and photos from the neighborhood!
A Wood Stork adult looking after her neighbor's chicks (?) -- Spring Island, SC -- June 2012
Again, another adult Wood Stork looking after the neighbors' chicks -- Spring Island, SC -- June 2012
Sibling Wood Storks on the nest -- Spring Island, SC -- June 2012
Here's a short little video clip of another pair of nestlings.
Getting to know the neighbors -- the gregarious Great Egret chicks (left) meeting the calmer Wood Stork chicks (right) Spring Island, SC -- June 2012
Young nestling Wood Stork -- jumping and wing-stretching -- preparing for a first leap from the nest -- Spring Island, SC June 2012
I am very sorry that I did not capture the above "happy dance" on video! Yes, I am completely fascinated by the Wood Storks and yes, there were other wonderful waders in the rookery. But I profess to being partial to the Wood Stork chicks. They have such a calm demeanor in comparison to the other more raucous, feisty neighborhood "children." Let's take for example these unruly Black-Crowned Night Heron chicks.
Black-Crowned Night Heron chicks -- Spring Island, SC -- June 6, 2012
Black-Crowned Night Heron parent has arrived to feed the raucous chicks -- Spring Island, SC -- June 8, 2012
Black-Crowned Night Heron parent looking to escape -- Spring Island, SC -- June 6, 2012
We often see egret and heron parents taking a break from the unruly children such as in the photo below.
Black-Crowned Night Heron parent taking a break from the unruly chicks -- Spring Island, SC - June 6, 2012
That Black-Crowned Night Heron was not the only parent taking a break. This Great Egret parent also distanced herself temporarily from the children.
Great Egret parent with chicks on nest -- Spring Island, SC -- June 6, 2012
This Great Egret was ready for her/his break and moved a few branches over -- Spring Island, SC -- June 6, 2012
These Great Egret "kids" do not quite seem to understand why "Mom" left -- Spring Island, SC -- June 6, 2012
The Little Blue Heron chicks?
Little Blue Heron chick -- Spring Island, SC -- June 6, 2012
Well, yes, they pester their parents, too!
Little Blue Heron chick clamouring after its parent -- Spring Island, SC -- June 6, 2012
Among my wading bird favorites, Roseate Spoonbills, which are not known to breed here is South Carolina, rank high right alongside Wood Storks. We seem to be seeing more and more of these birds in our summer months here in SC in recent years in a phenomenon called post-breeding dispersal. Young birds and some adults move north off of their breeding grounds in Florida. Carl and I had not yet seen any Roseate Spoonbills this year when this beautiful individual flew in to visit his "cousins" in the rookery.
Roseate Spoonbill -- Spring Island -- June 8, 2012
Roseate Spoonbill -- Spring Island, SC -- June 8, 2012
After an hour and a half of shooting at the rookery, we decided that we had better spend some time exploring other parts of the island before we ran out of time. We next went towards the area of the old plantation ruins. All that remain are the tabby walls of the Edwards House and tabby walls of the water impoundments closeby.
The Edwards House ruins -- Spring Island, SC -- June 8, 2012
Outbuilding close to the Edwards House ruins -- Spring Island, SC -- June 8, 2012
Tabby ruins under the majestic oak alley -- Spring Island, SC -- June 2012
Close to the house ruins are the Old Tabby Links ponds. In "bird community" marsh on one of these ponds, Boat-Tailed Grackles nest in abundance. We watched them interact and come and go with nesting material as they began building nests. I also was able to photograph this courtship dance of a pair of them.
Boat-Tailed Grackle -- Spring Island, SC -- June 2012
Boat-Tailed Grackles in courtship dance -- Spring Island, SC -- June 2012
Apparently, the Green Herons also preferred this area for nesting over the rookery. We saw several of them chasing each other and flying to nests hidden in the wax myrtles.
Green Heron -- Spring Island, SC -- June 2012
Green Herons defending their turf -- Spring Island, SC -- June 2012
A Green Heron defending his turf -- Spring Island, SC -- June 8, 2012
This was also a great area for watching the dragonflies!
Four-Spotted Pennant -- Spring Island, SC -- June 8, 2012
Halloween Pennant -- Spring Island, SC -- June 8, 2012
The next photo is my lucky shot! I was focusing on the Halloween Pennant when the aggressive Four-Spotted Pennant flew into to chase off the Halloween Pennant!
Halloween Pennant about to be chased away by a Four-Spotted Pennant -- Spring Island, SC -- June 2012
Few places remain in the Lowcountry as refuges for Fox Squirrels and Spring Island is one of them. In fact, they have a rather healthy population of Fox Squirrels. This one obliged me for quite awhile.
Gray Fox Squirrel -- Spring Island, SC -- June 8, 2012
In early June, the lotus flowers are beginning to open. As I was setting up the photo, I did not know that I also was capturing the investigating fly -- another lucky shot!
Lotus bloom opening -- Spring Island -- June 2012
Finally, to round out the final selection of photos, here are a few other local Spring birds that I was able to photograph that morning.
Eastern Bluebird keeping his eye on me as I watched his newly fledged youngsters slip away into the grass -- Spring Island, SC -- June 2012
House Finch -- Spring Island, SC -- June 2012
Red-Headed Woodpecker -- Spring Island -- June 8, 2012
When I looked back over the selection of photos for this post, I marveled at the large number of great shots that I was able to obtain just during that one morning! Spring Island offers so much in the way of fabulous, protected habitat for so many species, that for us, it was indeed a target rich morning! Kudos to the Spring Island community for being a role model on living with wildlife and on protecting their habitats! Carl and I wish again to express our hearty gratitude to Chris Marsh of the Spring Island Trust and of the Lowcountry Institute for this wonderful opportunity to photograph this little piece of heaven for wildlife and humans alike!
