Nature Nuggets Out West Near San Digeo

 

July 9-12 was a busy wedding weekend across the country near San Diego. My nephew David and his lovely lady Sophia tied the knot during a beautiful outdoor ceremony at the Milagro Winery in Ramona, Calif. I will share a few wedding photos later in this post. 

This West Coast getaway was also a chance to enjoy some different scenery. And that included photographing Acorn Woodpeckers, a lifer bird for me. 

It wasn’t long after we settled into our resort room that I noticed a few of these birds up in palm trees around the property. It took a day for me to get some decent photographs. I thought and hoped this was a different type of woodpecker than what I see regularly in South Carolina (Red-bellied, Downy, Pileated, even Yellow-bellied Sapsucker).

Some bird websites describe the Acorn Woodpecker as "clown-faced." I don't think he likes that description! 

Edisto Beach Offers 4th of July Fun

 

You can’t beat the beach for a relaxing and patriotic Independence Day! 

We headed to Edisto Beach where the sun was out and so were American flags as far as the eye could see. 

We did our part by bringing a small flag. 

The rules at this beach allow people to bring alcoholic beverages, unlike the ones closer to Charleston. Many people on this day were drinking beer held in koozies. 

Edisto Beach does prohibit glass containers. Plastic bottles of water are allowed, again unlike other area beaches. 

Flags also adorned some of the pleasure craft that cruised along the beach. 

Special Red Bird Highlights ACE Basin Trek

 

Our trip Saturday, June 26 to the Hollings National Wildlife Refuge didn’t start well. As soon as we parked here a downpour began. Would we have to turn around and go home after the hour-plus drive? 

We took cover and waited for a bit in hopes the rain would cease. And it did before too long. This photo was taken a few hours later after our nearly four-mile hike around the ACE Basin sanctuary. 

A fortunate decision was to begin our walk through these woods that served as a canopy protecting us from rain that continued for several minutes once we got going on the trail. 

Fortunate also because within minutes a red bird caught my eye off to the left. 

At first I thought it was “only” a Northern Cardinal. 

I quickly realized through my camera lens that this was no Cardinal. This is a Summer Tanager. Not your every day bird, though some folks have had them at their backyard feeders, 

One tell is the light-colored Bill. A Cardinal's is black.