Magnolia Cemetery- Bustling with Birds!

Charleston's beautiful and historic Magnolia Cemetery continues, for me, to be a great place to visit, especially when it’s one of those “It’s so pretty out, let’s do something” Sunday afternoons. And especially when beach season is over. 

Such was the case on Sunday, Nov. 2. Upon entering the cemetery, the front lagoon quickly came into view and so did lots of birds in the trees by the pond. 

Not just any birds either. This is the colorful paddle-billed Roseate Spoonbill. Such a unique bird! 

A second Roseate Spoonbill was on site, joined on a live oak tree by a trio of White Ibis. 

Back on the Trail Deep in the ACE Basin

 

Two days before Thanksgiving worked out well for a visit to the ACE Basin, the Lowcountry treasure of vast wilderness and wildlife. 

With the Donnelley and Bear Island state nature preserves closed for seasonal hunting I made the 50-mile drive to the Ernest F. Hollings National Wildlife Refuge, which prohibits hunting.

This refuge near Hollywood and Meggett was established in 1990. It consists of 11,815 acres. The ACE in ACE Basin stands for three rivers- the Ashepoo, Combahee and Edisto that run and drain through a protected system of 350,000 acres representing one of the largest undeveloped wetland ecosystems remaining on America’s East Coast. Ernest Hollings (1922-2019) of Charleston was a longtime and colorful political figure as a South Carolina governor and U.S. senator. 

Among the features is the Grove Plantation house that was built in 1828 by George Washington Morris (1799-1834), grandson of Lewis Morris, a signer of the Declaration of Independence. The late Federal-style structure is one of the few antebellum mansions in the region to survive the Civil War. Today it serves as offices for U.S. Fish and Wildlife staffers who maintain the vast property. 

The front of the house faces toward the Edisto River. Back then the river was a key mode of transportation and transport so when friends, family, or business associates arrived by boat they would see the front of the home. 

Bald Eagle Highlights Fall Nature Excursion

 

I didn’t see too many birds in a trek Sept. 23 to the Santee Coastal Reserve Wildlife Management Area, located north of McClellanville.

However, encountering a Bald Eagle early in the visit made the outing a huge success. 

We parked near the visitor center (old hunt club) and walked to the fishing pier. I had just spotted an Osprey and took the photos you’ll see if you keep reading. 

To the left of the trail in what looked like a dead or dying tree I saw America’s national bird. 

Can you see it? 

Bet you can now. On my Canon SX70 I switched to the HDR (high dynamic range) setting figuring the setting would pop. 

I was pleased the Eagle didn’t fly away. 

Wood Stork A Nice Sight to See (Belted Kingfisher Too)

 

Since Hooded Mergansers came to my backyard pond a week ago I’ve been checking on them a few times a day. They are still here and the “Hoodie” pond population has been at 13 for a few days.

Another nice surprise was a couple days ago when I went out for my morning check and found a Wood Stork had joined the party on the pond!

Over the years I have seen Wood Storks at other golf course ponds in my neighborhood. This may be only the second time I have spotted one in “my” pond. 

It seemed to find some good eating in shallow water along the far bank (above). 

I have seen these Storks elsewhere in the Lowcountry. Here are a couple links that show other Wood Stork encounters: Magnolia Cemetery and in the ACE Basin. 

The Stork had plenty of feathered company during the visit. In this photo there’s a Great Egret (left) and a White Ibis (Middle) with its trademark long curved orange bill. 

Back With More Backyard Birds!

Yesterday while doing some errands outside I heard the distinctive cackle of a bird I know well: the Belted Kingfisher.

Grabbing my camera and monopod, I went into the backyard, which is close to a small pond.  I soon spotted the Kingfisher and lucky me it landed nearby on my neighbor's Purple Martin house.