The second stop on our big trip was the Great Smoky Mountains. Sadly a knackered ankle kept me bedridden for a couple of days, so no birds, and no photographs. Next up was Charleston. We decided on a plantation visit, and selected Magnolia Plantation on the Ashley River. Fiona & the boys did the house, while I focused on the swamp, an equitable arrangement. The swamp here hosts a sizeable heronry, mostly
Great White Egret and
Little Blue Heron, with
Snowy Egret, Tricoloured Heron, Great Blue Heron, Green Heron, and Y
ellow-crowned Night Heron also present. Lots of
Anhinga too, my first in North America.
Non-herons included flyovers by
Mississippi Kite and
Wood Stork, both new for me.
Red-shouldered Hawk is the common raptor. More
Carolina Chickadees in the woodland, and lots of
Carolina Wrens too.
In Charleston itself the most interesting birds were the flocks of
White Ibis that passed over every morning and evening.
Anhinga
Little Blue Heron...
...and a youngster. I watched the adult diligently trying to teach three newly fledged juveniles how to fly. Hilarious.
Green Heron
Beneath the heronry the
Alligators make wait for the chicks unfortunate enough to fall out of the nests
Brown Pelican, from the boat we took to visit Fort Sumter
More
Alligators, this time at a wetland reserve south of Charleston
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