Birds
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Dickcissel on Wire
Dickcissel
Spiza americana
Dobbins Farm
Townville, South Carolina
Great Blue Heron
Ardea Herodias
Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge, Cambridge, Maryland
Snowy Egret
Egretta Thula
Huntington Beach State Park, Pawleys Island, South Carolina
Great Blue Heron
Ardea Herodias
Huntington Beach State Park, Pawleys Island, South Carolina
Great Egret
Ardea Alba
Huntington Beach State Park, Pawleys Island, South Carolina
Great Egret
Ardea Alba
Huntington Beach State Park, Pawleys Island, South Carolina
White Ibis
Eudocimus Albus
Huntington Beach State Park, Pawleys Island, South Carolina
Black-crowned Night Heron
Nycticorax Nycticorax
Brookgreen Gardens, Pawleys Island, South Carolina
Bathing in the Light
Great Egret
Ardea Alba
Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge, Cambridge, Maryland
Mistress of the Rose Garden
Female Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis Cardinalis)
Up and Away
Ruby Throated Hummingbird (Female)
Archilochus Colubris
Upstate South Carolina
Still at Last
Ruby Throated Hummingbird (Female)
Archilochus Colubris
South Carolina Botanical Garden, Clemson, South Carolina
Swimming for the Gold
Canada Goose
Branta Canadensis
Anderson, South Carolina
Young Female Cardinal
Cardinals Cardinals
South Carolina Botanical Garden, Clemson, South Carolina
Northern Flicker (yellow-shafted male)
Colaptes Auratus
Lake Conestee Nature Park, Mauldin, South Carolina
Eastern Towhee
Pipilo Erythrophthalmus
Near Townville, South Carolina
Eastern Meadowlark
Sturnella Magna
Dobbins Farm area, near Townsville South Carolina
Northern Mockingbird
Mimus Polyglottos
Jailbird
Savannah Sparrow
Passerculus Sandwicheysis
Dobbins Farm area, near Townville, South Carolina
Spring is Here
Prothonotary Warbler
Protonotaria Citrea
Lake Conestee Nature Park, Mauldin, South Carolina
Swamp Sparrow
Melospiza Georgiana
Fork School Bridge, near Townville, South Caroina
Perfect Stage for a Small Vocalist
Grasshopper Sparrow
Ammodramus Savannarum
Dobbins Farm area, near Townville, South Carolina
Grasshopper Sparrow
Ammodramus Savannarum
Dobbins Farm area, near Townville, South Carolina
Morning Meditation
Mourning Dove
Zinaida Macroura
Dobbins Farm area, near Townville, South Carolina
Morning Song
Eastern Meadowlark
Sturnella Magna
Dobbins Farm area, near Townville, South Carolina
Wood Duck
Aix Sponsa
Lake Conestee Nature Park, Mauldin, South Carolina
Three of a Kind
Red-winged Blackbirds (females)
Agelaius Phoenixes
Fork School Bridge, near Townville, South Carolina
Bird on a Wire
Grasshopper Sparrow
Ammodramus Savannarum
Dobbins Farm area, near Townville, South Carolina
Savannah Sparrow
Passerculus Sandwichensis
Dobbins Farm area, near Townville, South Carolina
While using my long telephoto to photograph waterfowl in a distant farm pond, this little savannah sparrow peered over a concrete barrier in front of me and allowed me to take a portrait. While the bottom of the image was rendered soft by the barrier, I like the way that the colors and feather structures of this little guy are revealed by the headshot.
Grasshopper Sparrow
Ammodramus Savannarum
Dobbins Farm area, near Townville, South Carolina
Green Heron
Butorides Virescent
Lake Conestee Nature Park,
near Greenville, South Carolina
Brown Thrasher
Toxostoma Rufum
What is it about "solitary" that you don't understand?
Solitary Sandpipers
Tringa Solitaria
This image makes me laugh because I've been on both sides of this situation before. I've been the person whose peace and contentment is suddenly disrupted by an unwanted intruder, and I've also been the person who has inadvertently disturbed someone else's peace and contentment. I suppose I can take solace in the fact that even solitary sandpipers often have difficulty finding solitude.
Solitary Sandpiper
Tringa Solitaria
I've discovered a small pond near Townville, South Carolina, where one or two solitary sandpipers can be seen almost every morning.
Greater Yellowlegs
Tringa Melanoleuca
The greater yellowlegs is similar in appearance to the solitary sandpiper (previous image), though the greater yellowlegs is larger and has a few other unique traits. It's understandable, however, that the solitary sandpiper is sometimes considered a small version of the greater yellowlegs.
American Goldfinch
Spinus Tristis
Diva
Grasshopper Sparrow
Ammodramus Savannarum
The grasshopper sparrow has a weak voice. Indeed, its beak is usually open as if it's singing a few seconds before a small short tweet emerges. This tiny bird has a heart of gold, however, and the passion it brings to each performance is worthy of Caruso or Pavarotti.
The Most Curious of Birds
Northern Mockingbird
Minus Polyglottos
One Solitary Encounters Another (The Photographer)
Solitary Sandpiper
Tringa Solitaria
Early this morning, seconds after the sunrise, I was able to peer through some waving grass to photograph this solitary sandpiper. When I looked across the pond and saw fifteen greater/lesser yellowlegs weaving among five Canadian geese, and then looked down at the little guy in his solitude, I knew instantly where I would fit best in the bird kingdom. Hands down, I would be a solitary sandpiper.
Grasshopper Sparrow
Ammodramus Savannarum
I recently posted other images of grasshopper sparrows, but I especially like the way that this particular image captures the complex and intricate feather structures of this tiny bird. From an aerodynamic point of view, one might have reason to question the design; indeed, it's hard to see how the grasshopper sparrow could ever become airborne. From an aesthetic perspective, however, no one could question the beauty of this species. It's exquisite.
Ready for my Portrait
House Finch
Carpodacus Mexicanus
A New World
White-crowned Sparrow
Zonotrichia Leucophrys
This white-crowned sparrow is obviously immature, which is probably the reason that it entertained my approach without fear. I wonder if it will remain as calm and self-assured after a few of life's rodeos.
Anhinga Portrait
Anhinga Anhinga
I just returned from a couple of days of birding and photography in Huntington Beach State Park, Pawleys Island, South Carolina. One of the most fascinating birds in that area is the anhinga, which is large, exotic, and beautifully designed. While I have many shots of the full bird, this headshot is the one I like most. For some reason, it reminds me of a stylishly dressed person with a fashionable haircut having lunch with a friend in a local bistro.
Eastern Kingbird
Tyrannus Tyrannus
The eastern kingbirds are moving through in great numbers this week. This morning, I could spot twelve in a field simultaneously.
Return of the Dickcissels
Dickcissel
Spiza Americana
The late spring migration has brought the dickcissels back to upstate South Carolina, and what a delight it is! Beautiful birds, and especially playful during the mating season.
