The Birds of The Netherlands

In December I made a short visit to Amsterdam where Alesia has been working with her consulting job. What a thrill for me to head back to Europe for the first time since being born in what was then West Germany more than half a century ago!

We had three days to explore the ancient city and really packed in a lot. Visited Museums included the Rembrandt House, Van Gogh, Dutch WWII Resistance, Jewish Holocaust, Maritime, and "Our Lord in the Attic." Each was so amazing and interesting.

Amsterdam's public train, tram and bus systems are really good. And kudos to Alesia for purchasing for us I Am Amsterdam cards, which for one set fee gave us hassle (and Euro) free access to all transportation needed and dozens of Amsterdam's best sites and attractions.

Cheers and Enjoy the Holidays!!!

Book Signing Blitz A Blast!

Whew! The past few weeks have been busy and intense! Final classes, exams and grading at South Carolina State and College of Charleston, plus five book signings since Nov. 19 that ended yesterday at the Barnes and Noble in North Charleston.

Yesterday's B and N stop was a fitting end to my book signing blitz.

Four other Charleston authors participated in the afternoon event. I enjoyed seeing these old friends and making a new one.

From left we have: cookbook author extraordinaire Nathalie Dupree, novelist Melissa Wiggins (aka M. Susanne Wiggins), history and religion writer Skip Johnson and Holly Herrick, also an accomplished cookbook author.

Book Signing News!

So proud of my three books! 

"Black Friday" at Mount Pleasant's Wild Birds Unlimited was a big success and neat experience, meeting so many fellow bird and nature lovers!

Thanks for the support Victoria Hansen! 

They included WCIV-TV news anchor Victoria Hansen who stopped by to buy two of my books to give as Christmas gifts- great idea!  

"Black Friday" Book Signing at Mt. Pleasant's Wild Birds Unlimited

The Eagle Has Landed! My New Bird Book Has Arrived!

As Hurricane Matthew bears down on the Carolinas and while I still have power in my house, I wanted to post the news that I've taken delivery on the first batch of my new book, "Nature-ly Yours! Bird Photography From A to Z." (ISBN # 0984749829).

October 3, 2016 they finally arrived!

And I am so pleased with the job Whitlock Business Systems (formerly 360 Digital Books) and its contractor have done with the printing and binding. I definitely recommend this company to other authors and those with printing needs.

I am proud to say my book is printed in America! (and I say so in the book).  Whitlock is located near Detroit and its binder is in Indiana. Midwest quality at its finest!

The book is now available on Amazon for $19.95 (plus shipping). Here is the link to my Amazon author's page.

You can also purchase signed copies from me directly, at the same price. If interested, please email me at birdseyeviewspublications@gmail.com.

My New Bird Book About to be Released!

I am so excited to reveal that I am just days away from receiving the first batch of my new book, "Nature-ly Fun! Bird Photography From A to Z." (BirdEyeViews Publications, ISBN 978-0-9847498-2-9).

Locked and loaded for a fun nature outing!

Tonight I have been working on some promotional and marketing content in anticipation of soon having this new book for sale.

My Pix in Post and Courier Magazine!

I was excited this morning to read Charleston's newspaper, the Post and Courier, which included the latest edition of its magazine, My Charleston. Photographs in the issue included those submitted by readers in its weekly photography contests, which cover a wide variety of topics.

Well, I was thrilled to read it this morning and see not one, but two of my photographs in the magazine!

Caption (partial): "Patrick Harwood had a 'locked eyes' encounter with a deer while on the Boynton Trail at the Donnelley Wildlife Management Area in the ACE Basin, south of Charleston.

Caption: Patrick Harwood found this busy colorful scene under the Folly Beach Pier." 

Cover of the Post and Courier's special magazine that came with the newspaper on Saturday, August 27.

Charleston: The Intersection of Trade & Tourism

Charleston has long been a center of trade and commerce. Ports and shipping have always been part of the landscape- and seascape- of "The Holy City."

This was evident Sunday when my wife and I went to Sullivan's Island. At one point two massive container ships passed each other as one left the Charleston Harbor and the other one entered.   

Botany Bay Beach- Always a Great Getaway!

Still another Charleston-area diamond in the rough is the State Wildlife Management Area (WMA) property called Botany Bay Plantation, which became part of the state system in 2008.

It features hiking trails and a driving tour, but the neatest thing about Botany Bay is its barrier island. A half-mile walk on a well-maintained boardwalk is required to reach the shell-filled boneyard beach. That lengthy walk, plus the remoteness of the the wildlife refuge located off Highway 174 approaching Edisto Island, keeps the crowds down. So when you go to Botany Bay you can be assured plenty of room to relax, explore or both, without the influx of people common at the Charleston area's more popular beaches.

From Highway 174, it's still a few miles of dirt road driving to the Botany Bay entrance. Along the way you will be treated to a beautiful avenue of (live) oak trees.

Botany Bay, I should mention, is in coastal South Carolina's ACE Basin, a vast protected preserve of former rice plantations, rivers, islands and waterways.

Earlier this month I posted pictures from another ACE Basin wildlife area, Bear Island.

Bear Island Bonanza!

Father's Day- June 19, 2016- found this pop headed south of Charleston down Highway 17 to the wonderful ACE Basin. Destination: Bear Island. This is one of the Lowcountry's secret jewels. It is a vast preserve of former rice plantations, woodlands, waterways, barrier and marsh islands that have been protected for visitors and seasonal hunters to enjoy and appreciate.

Virginians Visit Magnolia Cemetery

I had a really nice time on March 15 showing a group of Virginians from my parents' (Northern) Neck of the state around Magnolia Cemetery. 

 Thanks to cemetery superintendent Beverly Donald for her hospitality and the man upstairs for delivering delightful Chamber of Commerce weather! Special thanks also to Diana Russell who organized the three day trip to Charleston for your friends and neighbors. 

We walked the grounds around the front part of the cemetery for a good two hours before the visitors, unfortunately, had to leave for lunch and to visit some other Charleston attractions. 

On a Splendid Saturday CofC Students See Magnolia Cemetery

I was so excited and proud to take my 20 College of Charleston "Beyond the Grave: What Old Cemeteries Tell and Teach the Living" students to Magnolia Cemetery on a special Saturday tour. On Feb. 20 we all met in front of the Stern Student Center for the short bus ride to the Cunnington Ave. Thanks to the First Year Experience program at the College for funding the transportation via Lancaster Tours.

Backyard Bird Visits on the Rise!

As February slowly turns into March I've been noticing more activity at my backyard bird feeders. It has been fun to see the surge in traffic, and I've been scrambling to keep my buffet well stocked.

This American Goldfinch seemed to harken the spring harbinger. Still in winter plummage this bird offers a preview of the glorious golden yellow to come in a few months.

Glad the sunflower seeds are to your liking pretty boy-- or girl.

Hooded Mergansers Encounter

You just never know where you might encounter birds!

That's why when I'm outdoors for any length of time I try to remember to bring my camera, even if it's just putting it in the car.

I was glad that I did this in December when I went on a Sunday morning run in North Charleston's Palmetto Commerce Parkway, a light industrial area near my home.

I chose to run in an area of the industrial park I had not been in before. While running by a holding pond, I spotted a pair of Hooded Mergansers, waterfowl that migrate south in the fall and winter from as far north as Canada.

Upon finishing my run, I prepared my camera and monopod, then drove a short distance, in hopes the birds would still be on that pond. Lucky for me they were!