Shore Birds of the South Carolina Coast

The South Carolina coast sits on the Atlantic flyway with both native species of shore birds and birds passing through the area during the Fall migration. My late September visit to the area was indeed a special treat. I had the opportunity to photograph many species of shore birds that frequented the salt marsh flats. It was important to watch the tide schedules to find the birds on the mud flats searching for small fish and juicy invertebrates in the mud. My trip this year produced special results due to the fact that the early morning "golden hour" of light coincided with the low tides creating a great opportunity for photography.  Following is a sample of some favorite "captures" from the trip... commentary not necessary. Thanks for viewing. Share a comment if you like.

Great White Egret taking Flight

Great White Egret with a Lesser Yellow-legs

American Oyster Catcher

Great Egret

Snowy Egret

Tri-color Heron

Little Blue Heron with a juicy worm

Two Great Blue Herons preforming a courting ritual.

Juvenile first year Yellow Crowned Night Heron

Black Skimmers

Forsters Tern

White Ibis

Immature White Ibis

Brown Pelican

The handsome Wood Stork

Wood Stork with an eel

Two Great Egrets having a chase - Also called White Herons

Great Egret and a Snowy Egret hanging out

Special thanks to the South Carolina volunteers who took the effort to establish the scattered preserves throughout the shore.

The Ospreys of Lake Monticello

 One of the joys of living at Lake Monticello is the abundance of wildlife that can be observed by those who pause and take it in. We love to express our love hate relationship with our deer however bird watchers have a real treat. Lake advocates have observed over 125 different species of birds that can be seen throughout the year. One of my favorites is the majestic Osprey. Though we often report to neighbors about the special sightings of our visiting eagles, taking time to observe our resident Ospreys is a rewarding experience.

 Ospreys are common and can be found on every continent in the world with the exception of Antartica. Their resurgence is part of the wonderful success story of eliminating DDT from the environment. DDT which was absorbed in the food chain resulted in softening the eggs of raptors which greatly reduced their populations throughout Virginia. American indigenous people called the Ospreys "Fish Hawks" as they are a bird of prey that feeds primarily on fish.

  Ospreys are the single largest raptor (hawks) capable of plunging into water feet first to catch its prey. The Osprey has a greasy oily plumage that allows them to submerge up to one meter in the water when plunging for a fish. Their long legs also improve their success at being an aquatic hunter.  Eagles will take a fish from the lake but will make a sweeping motion and try to avoid plunging in the water as they lack the Osprey's waterproofing. Unlike many birds there are no distinctive marks to tell the males from the females. Females will tend however to be a bit larger than males. Our lake Ospreys can be found both at the fishing pond and the main lake. A good spot to sit and watch for an Osprey are the beaches located in the coves. It is easier for the Osprey to take a fish in shallow water rather than the deeper main lake though I have seen this happen. Beach 5 in Van Buren Cove is a good quiet spot for an Osprey to sit high in a perch and wait to pounce on a fish. This majestic bird can be found throughout the lake; look particularly for the dead trees which make for a nice high perch.

 Ospreys have a striking white head which at first may make you think, you've caught site of an eagle. Their bodies are brown and black and they have a distinct black/brown eye band which makes them look like they are wearing the mask of a bandit.  Their slender bodies are 21-24 inches in height and their wing spread can be up to 6 feet. Ospreys fly with a distinct kink in their wings and can make a distinctive "M" pose as they fly. 

 If you watch long enough and are very lucky you may see the Osprey flying in a circle over the lake as he hunts for a fish. They will hover briefly before diving feet first into the water. The picture above was a very exciting capture for me as I've been trying get this shot for many years. More than often you will hear a splash in the water and by the time you turn your head you only see him flying off with a fish...after the plunge. 

 Our Lake Ospreys appear each Spring around mid-April and stay with us through the Fall. North Carolina seems to be the Northern extent of their winter range but they can fly south as far as South America. Their presence speaks to our abundance of fish and high water quality. We hope our fishermen and the lake preservation committee do not object to a few fish being taken by these delightful residents. Let's just think of them as honorary members of the Lake Monticello Fishing Club. As an Osprey fly's off with their fish take a look at the position of their legs. They are the only raptor that has the ability to position their feet one in front of the other, pointing the fishes nose facing forward. This reduced air resistence as they fly back to their perch. 

 The daily presence of our Ospreys suggests to me that we must have nests high in the trees here at the lake. I have not seen a nest here however they are hidden for good reason. Other hawks and our eagle feed on young nestlings. A fascinating behavior that I had the opportunity to witness here at the lake is the Bald Eagle stealing a fish from the Osprey. Eagles will follow an Osprey and "Body Slam" them mid-air to get them to release their fish. I've read that this is a common behavior. Our noble Eagle is a pirate and a thief.  Founding Father, Benjamin Franklin disagreed with choosing the Eagle as our National symbol because of this behavior. He much preferred the wild Turkey who proudly stood his ground and charged intruders. Our loss was Virginia Tech's gain. I digress...note the Osprey holding the fishes nose forward.

One of the ways you can know when  a hawk or the eagle is in the area is that you will hear the loud caws of the crows and the  cries of the blue jays. These alert calls warn all the other birds to seek shelter in the brush because a predator is in the area. I call them "the crow police". They will actually form a group and "escort" a coopers hawk or the eagle out of the area.  Not so for the Osprey. The birds do not see the Osprey as a threat because they know his diet is only fish. The only way you will know he is in the area is by hearing the Ospreys shrilled schreek or whistle as he sits on his perch in a tall tree.

 The pictures posted here have been captured as recently as the first week of September and over the past several years. Ospreys can be observed every day at the lake...getting a picture by having a camera at hand at the right time is a different thing. Photographing these birds requires a long telephoto lens with the range of 400 to 600mm and lots of patience. Enjoying them however does not require a camera.

Sitting by the waters edge, or paddling your kayak or canoe on a peaceful morning is one of the great pleasures of living here at Lake Monticello. Nurturing your sense of wonder and appreciating God's creation centers us and refuels our engines to take on the tasks of the day.  Next time you are out make sure to look for our Lake Osprey.

Easter Holiday in Yorkshire

Our Easter weekend began with Easter Service at the York Minster. We attended a beautiful service conducted by the Archbishop of York complete with the Children's choristers, the Adult Choristers and a wonderful processional with herald banners and all the traditions of the Church of England. Julie and I arrived early enough to experience the pealing of the bells.  Arriving early allowed us to get seats near the front of the church and time to have a pleasant chat with the parishioners around us. As a Christian working for the YMCA I've been blessed to worship in varied settings all over the world. Whether with a small group of friends praying in Russia , 200 gatherers in a dirt floor village church in northern Thailand, my home church Westminster Presbyterian or 1000 worshipers at the Minster,  I have felt the presence of God in all of them. This being said I must give accolads to the York Minster for excellence in pagentry.

With temperatures is in the 70's, Julie and I decide to fill out our day in the Yorkshire countryside. First a full English Breakfast at a city cafe and then the walk back to our apartment.

The ancient city wall of York

built to repell the Scots and the Vikings

On our return walk Julie found the shortest route home by walking the top of the ancient city wall. Now I must say, I've been walking gingerly with a cane for the last two years while healing from several pinched spinal nerves, which have weakened my legs. Tackling the city wall walk, complete with a lack of safety barriers was definitely a challenge I will not forget. I survived and saved 5 pounds for not taking the Taxi.

After a brief rest and a change of clothes we head north to the north country. Next destination Rievaulx Abbey.

 The Abbey was built in the 1100's by the Order of Cistercian monks. As the Orders height they had over 600 followers both lay and ordained. The abbey was placed in an absolutely gorgeous valley. Driving to the abbey was an inspiring experience in itself. During the reign of Henry VIII, the Abbey was destroyed and all its artifacts were confiscated by the Crown. The ruin today stands as a memorial to these devoted and enterprising people.

 After a lovely afternoon we drive back to York with the cars navigation system set to "Scenic Route"

 The fields planted with rape seed are in bloom

Arriving back at our home base in York we went to sleep exhausted by a very special and beautiful day.    Happy Easter to all.

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Upon awaking Easter Monday morning, Julie and I decided to head back to the countryside and seek out Thirsk. Thirsk is the home of the late James Herriot, author of many books. His best known is All creatures great and small which was made into a movie with Anthony Hopkins. Julie and I are fans of "The Yorkshire Vet" TV series, which can be found on the Acorn Channel. The Yorkshire Vet is a series about the continuation of James' practice and stars the varied animals of Yorkshire.

 We arrive in Thirsk and to our surprise its market day. Julie is ecstatic as she was hoping to find an open market to peruse. I was pleased to find a nice bench in the square and locals to chat with.

This "Barker" selling her produce was just too much fun not to record. 

To my surprise we didn't buy anything at the market other than a bag of scones which we will enjoy tonight. After another traditional English lunch we headed off to the home of James Herriot.

After our visit to Herriot's home and office we stop for our daily ice cream and drive the slow route back to York. 

This has been our last full day on our adventure. Tomorrow we head to Manchester Airport for a night stay at the Holiday Inn and then home on Wednesday. We will find some sites along the way to Manchester but for the most part , its time to head home.

This was a trip that nearly got canceled. Julie did a wonderful job picking locations and housing but my back and leg problems concerned me as to whether I could handle this trip. Several months of physical therapy brought me to the point where I could safely drive and walk short distances.  The trip was on and I am so glad we did not cancel. I thank Julie for putting up with my slow pace. We enjoy our travels, whether through the Blue Ridge of Virginia or far away as these past two weeks. We feel very blessed to have each other and the promise of many more adventures near and far.