Chill Start to the New Year

 

I was eager to get in an early 2025 nature outing so on Jan. 9 I cleared my schedule and headed south down to the ACE Basin.

It was clear cold day with temperatures in the 39-41 degrees range. I felt it in my hands while walking around looking for birds to photograph. 

I knew the Bear Island Wildlife Management Area might be closed, and it was for periodic hunting. 

But I also knew that I could still check out Mary’s House Pond, which is accessible after parking in the entrance area. 

Having been to Bear Island many times (see this post when we took bicycles out there!), the large pond attracts many birds, especially migratory ones in the winter. 

I would not be disappointed! Tundra Swans were the stars of the show. 

Tundras are North America’s most common swan but you don’t see them too often in the S.C. Lowcountry. They breed in Canada and Alaska and migrate to the Pacific and Atlantic coasts during the winter. 

Here at Bear Island is the only place I have seen this big beauty. 

Spring Bird Roundup

I have been more active in recent weeks with my bird photography in my backyard area,  nearby parks and other places. Here are some recent favorites. 

Wood Duck family

I have seen this flight of Wood Ducks on the big pond at the former Kings Grant golf course. 

In sharing some of these photos on social media I learned that the strikingly colorful male of this species doesn’t stick around to help mama raise the youngsters. 

Other research revealed something else I did not know- that Carolina Duck is another name for this duck. 

Yellow-Rumped Warbler and Killdeer

YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERI came across two "strangers" during my latest visit to Magnolia Cemetery. I say strangers because I hadn't seen these two species before. I took some pictures of them and later at home was thrilled to discover their identities using a couple of my bird books.

                                                      

The yellow caught my eye on this small bird that was bursting from branch to branch. I had to laugh when I later discovered its unusual name: Yellow-Rumped Warbler.

I was glad to get a photo that clearly shows the yellow rump of the Yellow-Rumped Warbler!

I'll be looking for this Warbler next time I'm back at the cemetery.  For more info, check out what WhatBird.com says about it at: http://identify.whatbird.com/obj/154/_/Yellow-rumped_Warbler.aspx

KILLDEER

I came across another striking but unfamiliar bird during this same outing.  It looked like the type of bird that frequents our local beaches but what was it doing so far inland? This time of year (December) you expect to see some visitors due to migratation.  But we've also had some very cold weather in recent weeks, so maybe some local birds are confused and not sure where they should be now.

In the Plover family, the Killdeer is recognizable for the pair of dark bands around its neck area.  Its very large eyes stand out too. 

 The unusual name- Killdeer- comes from the bird's call that sounds like "kill- dee" or "kill-deer"- go to What Bird.com, play its call, and see if you agree! http://identify.whatbird.com/obj/101/_/Killdeer.aspx

Killdeers and Yellow-Rumped Warblers-- glad to make some new birding discoveries.  More to come this winter, hopefully!