More Owls (and a Hawk) Oh My!

 

The morning wasn’t starting well. A certain cat of ours who will go nameless used the small rug in the kitchen for his business best done upstairs in the litter box. So I took the rug out to the front porch and was spraying it with the hose when I heard that distinctive hissing sound. Distinctive because in recent days and nights i have seen and heard Barred Owls making this noise. 

So I look up and what’s looking at me but a Barred Owl up in a tree not far from where I was spraying the rug! 

So I go inside and grab my camera. I’m getting some nice photos of the owl when a second one arrives at the scene. In the below photo you can see the pair. 

Big Talk at Summerville Church on My Graveyard Research!

It was a treat and honor to be the guest speaker Friday, June 25 at Bethany United Methodist Church in Summerville. About 50 members of the church’s Happy Hearts group attended their first get-together in more than a year due to the pandemic. 

My general theme was “How the Holy City Became So Holy.” I’m deep into writing a new book about Charleston’s 14 existing old churchyards, including the KKBE synagogue’s Coming Street Cemetery. Many thanks to Dot and Dick Prevette for the invitation and to Danny Trump for the audio-visual assistance. I can be contacted regarding my books and future such presentations at birdseyeviewspublications@gmail.com. 

Last Day of Spring- Summer is Here!

More beach scenes from the comfort of my chair set firmly in the sand at Station 17 on wonderful Sullivan’s Island, S.C. This was on Saturday, June 19, the last day of spring. Summer began officially the next day. 

Owl Encounter a Rare Delight

Owls are notoriously nocturnal so spotting and photographing one during broad daylight was special and memorable. It was around 4 p.m. one day last week when I went out my front door and caught a glimpse of a large dark bird flying across the street and landing on a tree near my driveway. I thought it might be a vulture so what a surprise when it turned its face toward me!

It was preening at first with its back to me. When our eyes met and I saw the distinctive round face I quickly went inside to get my camera and invited Alesia to come see too. 

From a few past owl encounters, I figured it would still be there and that I’d be able to get lots of pictures. I was right. 

This is a barred owl. Lately, on local And statewide bird and nature Facebook sites, I’ve seen a number of Barred Owl posts.

I shared my photos on a few of these sites and have received lots of kudos, especially on my neighborhood Facebook. People just love owls! A neighbor, the next day, came to my house with a letter introducing herself, sharing her interest in bird photography, especially owls, and asking me to let her know if/when I see owls in the future. 

Alligator Comes A Calling!

 

Well this was a first! Living in coastal South Carolina on a golf course with several man-made ponds, including the one that adjoins our backyard, we are used to alligator sightings in the waters, and their comings and goings slithering across yards and streets. 

But Sunday night was a first as far as one coming a little too close for comfort! This youngster came to our front porch. I spotted the reptile through a window around 7 p.m. when going up the stairs by the front door. 

I soon brought in the frog ornaments you see at the top of the steps. Maybe it thought they were real and would be an easy meal? I don’t know how gators think! 

The size indicated to me that this was a juvenile. Looking for mama or other family? 

It didn’t get closer to our porch. It stayed here for a couple hours. And fortunately was gone by the morning. 

Sunday night I shared these images on my neighborhood’s Facebook site called “Coosaw Creek Living.” Within hours fellow residents posted half a dozen recent pictures of what looked like this and other alligators on the move. 

This is part of living where we live. Don’t bother them and they won’t bother you, I say. But do be careful to always keep your doors and garages closed! 

Memorial Day 2021- Begins Summer and Our “New Normal”

 

We returned on Memorial Day to our favorite spot on the beach at Sullivan’s Island. It would be another memorable visit and a nice unofficial start to summer. 

And with great relief, things continue to return to some normalcy after nearly a year and a half under the deadly and disruptive COVID-19 pandemic. 

Folly Beach Fishing Pier Update

 

We hit Folly Beach on Friday of the long Memorial Day weekend. It was our son Joseph’s birthday and he came down from New York City to spend his special day with us. 

I also wanted to see what was going on with the landmark fishing pier that opened in 1995. What’s going on is that it’s coming down. 

Charleston County Parks and Recreation, which oversees the pier, announced last year that the structure would have to come down. But the good news is it will be replaced by a better pier with concrete pilings and other improvements and amenities. 

The current pier's wooden pilings are not in good shape. They've been infilitrated by destructive little critters called shipworms or marine borers.